[BLOG POST] Top 5 Ways to Outfit the Bathroom for Disabled or Elderly Loved Ones – Assistive Technology Blog

 

Bathrooms can be very dangerous, both to the disabled and the elderly. The smooth surfaces, awkward movements, and generally solitary usage of the bathroom makes it one of the most common areas for accidental falls and injuries to occur, both for the elderly and the disabled.

However, given the prevalence of falls and injuries in bathrooms, there are many useful products on the market that can help prevent falls, and allow greater autonomy.

Let’s take a look at 5 of the best ways to outfit bathrooms to help your loved ones avoid falls and other dangerous situations, and give you greater peace of mind.

Grab Bars

Grab bars are perhaps the single most important addition you can make to a bathroom to help your loved ones avoid falls and injuries.

These simple devices are generally made out of a durable plastic or a high-quality stainless steel, and can be applied to walls in the shower, bath, or next to toilets to allow for increased grip and stability during awkward movements, such as getting on or off the toilet, stepping over a shower landing or a tub, or getting feet situated on a more slippery surface.

Grab bars are especially important for the disabled, as those who have trouble walking or are confined to wheelchairs will be unable to otherwise pull themselves onto the toilet.

They’re inexpensive, easy-to-install, and highly recommended as a preventative measure for falls.

Anti-Slip Mats

Anti-slip mats are incredibly important – but not just any mat will do. In fact, improperly secured mats and rugs are another leading cause of falls and injury among the elderly – a poor quality mat, or one that’s installed incorrectly, can actually increase the risk of injury in the bathroom.

The best anti-slip mats are made of a solid, durable rubber which offers great traction, and are usually quite thick – the thickness of these mats prevents the corners and edges from turning or flipping up, and reducing the hazard of tripping.

Anti-slip mats should be placed wherever slipping is likely to occur – not just in the shower, but also on smooth tile surfaces that are likely to become wet, or in front of the toilet if stability is a concern.

Shower Stools

The shower is one of the most dangerous areas in the bathroom. Most often, the cause of a fall in an elderly or disabled person in the shower can be traced to slipping – covered with an anti-slip mat – or fatigue.

The hot temperatures of the shower, combined with an inability to change the temperature or move easily out of the way of the water can cause an elderly person to lose energy and fall.

The best way to combat this is with a shower stool – these high-strength, high-traction, durable products are built to stand up to the shower, and allow your loved one the option of sitting down if they feel that standing is too tiring or risky.

Disabled people generally need shower stools for other reasons – if they cannot stand, a stool makes for a much more comfortable experience than sitting on the floor of the shower or the tub, and even those who can walk may wish to have the option to sit in case they feel tired.

Raised Toilet Seats

Though the shower is often thought of as the main culprit behind accidental falls, the toilet is just as likely to cause serious injury to an elderly person, and disabled people often have trouble adjusting to the awkward movement necessary to sit on a standard-sized and shaped toilet seat.

The best way to help prevent toilet falls is by making the toilet easier to access, and a great way to do this is with a raised toilet seat. These seats usually offer a 5-8 inch rise in height, along with other features like lockable latches and extra side handlebars to aid sitting and standing.

Make Sure That Bathrooms – And Hallways – Are Well Lit At Night

The elderly tend to visit the bathroom more than younger people – and quite a bit more at night. This can be dangerous – especially if there is a long connecting hallway between the bedroom and the bathroom. Often, there are unexpected objects and obstacles in hallways, and if these areas aren’t well-lit at night, your loved one could stumble and fall.

The hallways leading to bathrooms should be lit with as many night lights as necessary to illuminate the path to the bathroom, and ensure that any unexpected object can be seen and reacted to. Motion-sensing lights can be purchased if you’re worried about wasting energy.

The bathroom should also be well lit at night – a night light or motion-activated light is a good idea, as it will allow your loved one to easily locate light switches and other necessities with ease.

Make a Big Difference with Small Tweaks

While the bathroom still can be a risky area for the disabled and the elderly, the above five solutions are inexpensive, easy to implement, and can have a huge effect on your loved one.

Allowing your loved one to be able to use the bathroom with greater autonomy and peace of mind will also help you and the rest of your caregivers relax, knowing that you’ve protected your loved one from the risks of bathroom falls to the best of your ability, and that they have all the tools they need to stay safe.

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This post was written by the www.vivehealth.com team.

Source: Top 5 Ways to Outfit the Bathroom for Disabled or Elderly Loved Ones – Assistive Technology Blog

[BLOG POST] Disability-Friendly Homes: Easy Modifications You Can Make Today

If you’re living with a disability that makes it challenging to carry out normal activities in the typical home, it can be overwhelming to tackle the necessary modifications. There are many types of disabilities, and each has its own set of helpful home modifications. Of course, these recommendations will not work for everyone, but many can be helpful to a number of common disabilities. If you’re looking at disability-friendly home alterations, here are some good projects to start with.

Accessible Home Security

If you have a mobility issue, keeping yourself safe in your home can be a challenge. Door chains are often placed too high for some people to comfortably reach. Install a door security measure such as a chain at a lower level so that you can easily open the door and talk to someone without putting yourself at risk for forced entry.

Deadbolts are also an ideal home security measure. If your deadbolt is difficult to twist, have someone help you adjust the hardware so that the bolt can glide more smoothly.

Organize for Accessibility

Certain areas can be more expensive to modify for accessibility. The kitchen, for example, has a number of places that should ideally be adjusted such as the stove, sink, and countertops. However, remodeling a kitchen is no easy feat. Instead, you may want to consider organizing it for maximum accessibility.

Place all heavy items, including food items, on lower shelves. Lesser used items such as holiday serving platters can go in harder to reach areas. For deep cabinets or even refrigerators, lazy susans can be a great way to ensure that things in the back are within reach. You might also purchase a grasping tool that extends to reach things that are up high or farther away.

Bathrooms are the Riskiest Room in the House

There are many hazards in the average bathroom. Some disabilities increase the risk of slips and falls. Fortunately, modifying the bathroom can be affordable in many cases. Handrails beside the toilet are a great first step, making it easier to sit and rise from the toilet. A shower seat is another excellent precaution.

Slipping in a shower or tub can be fatal or at least seriously damaging. Furthermore, standing for a shower can be difficult for people with chronic fatigue. The ability to sit makes personal hygiene much simpler.

Dim Lighting Should Be Corrected

Dim lighting can make traversing your own home dangerous. Mobility or vision problems can lead to tripping or other accidents. On top of decluttering your home, improving the lighting can vastly improve your safety and mobility. Take care to light areas that do not receive much natural light and add fixtures where necessary to light main areas of the house.

Altering your home to make it more disability-friendly can vary widely in cost depending on your needs. If you’re struggling to find the money you need to upgrade your house, you can always begin with simpler projects such as reorganizing for convenience or placing smaller safety measures. Every small step can make your life easier.

Image via Pixabay by midascode

This post was written by Paul Denikin, who runs dadknowsdiy.com. On his blog, Paul shares his knowledge with home improvement novices, and connects with other people seeking to modify their homes for a loved one with a disability.

Source: Disability-Friendly Homes: Easy Modifications You Can Make Today – Assistive Technology Blog