10 Simple Ways to Make a Bathroom Safe for Seniors  

The bathroom is one of the two most dangerous rooms in the house. (The other is the kitchen.) For seniors, bathrooms in particular present extra risk. Water that splashes on the floor and nighttime visits to use the facilities can lead to falls, one of the greatest causes of accidental deaths in the US.

How can you make your loved one’s bathroom safer? Follow these 10 tips:

1. The floor of the bathroom should have textured or nonskid tile. Smooth tile is hazardous when wet!
2. Floor mats can prevent slipping, especially when stepping out of the bath or shower, but they can also be a tripping hazard. Be sure they lie perfectly flat, especially at the corners, before putting them into the bathroom.
3. Tubs and showers are especially slippery when wet. Apply nonskid appliqués to make them safer.
4. Put a shower chair or bench into the shower to make it easier for seniors to wash themselves.
5. A handheld showerhead is easier to use than a fixed showerhead.
6. Grab bars, both inside and outside a tub and shower, will allow for easy entrances and exits. Install them near the toilet, as well. Using grab bars instead of towel racks is a smart way to add extra security.
   Even if your loved one doesn’t need grab bars, they will find it helpful to have something stable to grab onto if they slip.
   Moreover, even if they don’t need it now, they may need it in the future. It’s better to install them to prevent a fall, rather than after one.
7. Adequate lighting, in the bathroom — and en route to the bathroom — can prevent falls during the nighttime, when a senior might be groggy and less cautious.
8. A higher toilet seat is easier to use. Seat extenders are available if changing the toilet is not practical.
9. Everything should be within easy reach. Seniors should not have to bend, reach high, or stretch to reach anything they need.
10. Glass containers have no place in a bathroom. However decorative they may be, they can easily be dropped, creating a major hazard. Transfer anything that comes in glass to a plastic container.

Sometimes “age-proofing” the bathroom is not enough. If the senior is not safe at home, it is important to be willing to consider other options, such as Laurel Bay Health and Rehabilitation Center, in Keansburg, NJ. Our residents receive the highest quality rehabilitative and skilled nursing care in a homelike and compassionate environment conducive to healing.

Our family-owned and -operated 123-bed facility, is tucked away in the quiet beach town of Keansburg, NJ at the Jersey Shore, within sight of Sandy Hook and the New York City skyline.

Our services include short-term rehab, long-term care, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, hospice care, and respite care for those times when the caretaker needs to be taken care of.

We proudly provide the following specialty healthcare services: complex medical care management, intravenous (IV) therapy, wound care, enteral feeding, pain management, oxygen therapy, tracheostomy care, a dedicated pulmonary program, hospice care with private suites, a stroke rehab program, respiratory support, eye care, dental care, podiatry care, and psychological consults and counseling.

We pride ourselves on healing the entire patient through a holistic and individualized approach.

Our meticulous care planning helps us ensure that each and every resident receives the best in clinical care, support and unconditional love.

For over 25 years, we have been a staple of health and wellness, serving the members of our community and partnering with our local hospitals like Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel, NJ and Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, NJ.

We provide a tailored program of physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as all types of specialized care under one roof.

Read our reviews on senioradvisor.com, wellness.com, and caring.com to hear what our residents and their families have to say.

If you or your loved one is starting to feel unsafe at home, don’t wait for something to happen. Contact us to schedule a tour by clicking here or by calling (372) 787-8100.