Shower Fall Prevention for Seniors Aging in Place
Create a plan to improve shower fall prevention in the bathroom. All seniors need to think about how their bathroom is designed and laid out to reduce the chance of a fall from occurring. There are several tips below that will keep you on your feet and eliminate the chance of a life-threatening injury from happening. The bathroom is one of the most used places in the entire home and it should be set up for successful aging in place with safety at the forefront.
15 Tips for Shower Fall Prevention
This list of 15 tips will get you thinking about the right bathroom improvements you need to prevent a fall in the shower or bathtub.
- Take your time getting in and out of the bathing area
- Install handlebars or rails
- Change fabric rugs for non-slip mats
- Add grips to transition areas
- Use a shower chair
- Keep the bathroom dry
- Install a raised seat on the toilet
- Invest in a transfer bench
- Add a nighlight with motion sensor
- Eliminate clutter in the bathroom
- Keep the bathroom clean
- Add shelves at eye level for basic needs
- Install an a hand held showerhead
- Consider a full remodel of bathroom for aging in place
- Evaluate a walk in tub
Shower Safety Basics
Following a few shower safety basics eliminates a lot of the problem areas in the bathroom. The bathroom is one of the location in the home where falls are the most likely to occur. However, where they happen is very predictable. Transitions down and up to the toilet. Getting in and out of the bath tub or shower. And lastly standing at the sink to take care of personal needs. Address these three hotspots for bathroom falls and it is possible to reduce risks in the bathroom significantly.
Grab Bars
Grab bars are an essential component of shower fall prevention. Install the grab bar right where you step in and out of the bath tub or shower area. A secondary location in the bathroom that is helpful is adjacent to the toilet to ease getting down and up. However, the most important place for a grab bar is always the transition zone into and out of the shower area. Placed at arm height it should be easy to reach and physically mounted to the wall. Therefore, avoid the suction cup grab bars.
Floor Mats
A non-slip bathroom floor mat for seniors is essential. I recommend that this be placed outside of the shower. Consider adding nonslip mats in front of the sink and in front of the toilet. These are the three areas where additional foot support is necessary and where moisture may build in the bathroom. Keeping the floor clean and clear of water is important.
Bathroom Shower Design
A well-designed shower reduces falls in the bathroom. The shower design should include a small transition zone in and out of the shower. Grab bars for extra support when bathing independently. A handheld shower head for showering assistance. Lastly, a well-designed shower should include a built-in shower bench or enough room that a temporary bench or shower chair can be added.
When a Shower Chair is Right
Learning how to use a shower chair or bench is important for seniors who have difficulty standing for periods. Seniors who can stand for short periods still benefit from a shower chair. This reduces that off chance of a slip in the shower. All it takes is one small slip or fall while moving or trying to pick up a bar of soap to cause a serious injury. A shower chair eliminates that need and when matched with a hand-held shower head bathing becomes simple from a sitting position.
Should you install a shower bench?
Adding a shower bench can be helpful. When redesigning a bathroom with aging in place, I always recommend including a shower bench as part of the remodel. It serves multiple purposes. For younger seniors who do not need additional support at the moment, you can keep bathroom essentials close by. You never know if a change in your life is going to warrant the need for a shower bench. If it is included in the remodel it is there waiting for you when you need it. This eliminates sending a family caregiver on a random errand to find a shower bench that may r may not be perfect for your needs and certainly will have the typical medical chair look. A well-built shower bench will look like it was part of the room from a design and decor perspective.
Improve Shower Fall Prevention in Bathrooms
Let’s dive into each of these specific tips and understand why they reduce fall risks in bathrooms for individuals aging in place.
1. Take your time getting in and out of the bathing area
Be conscious of your movements in and out of the shower or bath tub. There is no need to be in a rush. Use the grab bars to help you transition in and out and always keep three points of contact with the ground and walls as you move around wet surfaces. Going slower is a major key to reducing fall risks in the shower.
2. Install handlebars or rails
Installing grab bars, handlebars or rails gives you places to place your hands and support your body as you move around in the bathroom. Install something to hold onto near the toilet, next to the sink, and of course in the bathing area. Avoid using a shelf, cabinet, sliding door, or the fixtures for your shower or bathtub as a replacement for a properly installed rail or grab bar. Ultimately, you want something that is installed and designed to support your weight and those things are not designed to do that.
3. Change fabric rugs for non-slip mats
Typical bathroom mats do not have nonslip characteristics. They may slide on the bottom causing you to lose your balance. Or get bunched up causing an uneven surface that is easy to trip over. While they may be aesthetically pleasing to look at, they are a disaster in waiting. A high-quality nonslip mat has a dramatic effect on improving the safety of your bathroom.
4. Add grips to transition areas
Consider adding a nonslip coating to the floor of the shower or bathtub. Alternatively, adding grip to the bathtub floor via adhesive stickers that when applied to the surface provide grip. A full floor grip is possible through the application of an anti-slip coating that is painted onto the surface.
5. Use a shower chair
As we grow older it is harder to stand for long periods. Moving around becomes more of a challenge. Therefore, I recommend seniors and their caregivers encourage the use of a shower chair paired with a handheld shower head. The chair assures that a fall will not happen and gives the elderly person something else to hold on to when showering. The most important characteristics of a good shower chair include rubber feet on the chair, a nonslip surface for the seat, and proper drainage to eliminate any build-up of moisture and the potential for mold or bacteria to grow on the chair. Many seniors also like adding a wash brush when using a shower chair for ease of bathing and reaching all parts of the body without strain.
6. Keep the bathroom dry
Avoid the build-up of moisture in the bathroom. This serves multiple purposes. First, water is slippery, and when its unexpected creates a serious fall risk for seniors coming and going from the restroom. Secondly, mold and bacteria thrive in bathrooms when they are left wet. Cloth rugs on bathroom floors soak up moisture and invite bacteria and mold to grow. Use nonslip mats that are designed to eliminate pooling water and it is possible to lower the risk of mold developing in the bathroom. Mold in the bathroom is a cause of respiratory issues in seniors.
7. Install a raised seat on the toilet
A raised toilet seat increases the height of the seat by three to four inches. This makes transitioning down and up from the toilet safer. After falls from the transition to and out of the shower the toilet is the second most likely place for a fall to occur in the restroom. By adding a raised seat and a nearby handlebar this problem can be addressed before it ever occurs.
8. Invest in a transfer bench
Seniors with a traditional bathtub with a high wall have more difficulty getting in and out than those with a low-wall shower. A transfer bench is a fixed aid that allows the seniors to brace themselves as they sit down and slide over into the tub. They will also serve in the same capacity as a shower chair making the bathing process easier and reducing the time spent standing while getting clean.
9. Add a night light with a motion sensor
Nightlights with motion sensors are one of the first things I start adding to a senior’s home when helping them to prepare for aging in place. Looking for a light switch in the middle of the night is a recipe for disaster for elderly people. I recommend adding them in the hallway in between the bedroom and the bathroom and one inside of the bathroom. Of course, when using the bathroom at night, please turn on the regular lights. However, with motion sensors as soon as you open the bathroom door the light will pop on and make it easy to see where you are going as you enter the room.
10. Eliminate clutter in the bathroom
One of the simplest methods for improving shower fall prevention at home is eliminating clutter. Do not use the bathroom to store random items. There should not be a bunch of papers, magazines, or knick-knacks on the counters. If these items fall on the floor unnoticed they become an immediate tripping hazard. Keep the bathroom streamlined to essential bathing and personal hygiene items so they are accessible without having to fumble around nonessential items. Reduce fall risks by decluttering the bathroom and the entire home.
11. Keep the bathroom clean
A clean bathroom is a safe bathroom. Avoid letting the trash overfill or keeping excess beauty products on the counter. The shower or tub surface should occasionally be cleaned to avoid the build-up of soap residue, mold, or grim which creates a slippery surface.
12. Add shelves at eye level for basic needs
Avoid using any shelves that are higher than arms level to reduce the need to reach and extend oneself into unbalanced positions. Do not use lower cabinets in a bathroom counter to store things that need to be used frequently.
13. Install a handheld showerhead
A handheld shower is an essential tool for shower fall prevention. When used with a shower chair bathing becomes a simple process for seniors who have difficulty standing or getting assistance from a caregiver. All caregivers should recommend the use of a shower chair and handheld shower head if they are helping with this part of the daily routine for their elderly client or loved one.
14. Consider a full remodel of the bathroom for aging in place
Younger seniors have the time to plan for their long-term care needs. This should include a redesign of the bathroom with aging in place in mind. A well-designed bathroom with a built-in shower bench and heavily secured handlebars and grab bars allow the bathroom to be functional and aesthetically pleasing now and prepared for the moment that all of the capabilities are needed. When a bathroom is upgraded after an incident it is much more likely that function is going to come before form, which is certainly fine. However, younger seniors who can plan, they can build the bathroom of their dreams with a remodel that will have their best interests at heart as they age and need support.
15. Evaluate a walk-in tub
A walk-in bath tub is a luxury for most, however, if your means allow it, it is an excellent option. A walk-in tub provides alot of the benefits of a small transition in and out like a shower with all the benefits of being able to take a full bath and soak. Most seniors as they get older have a real difficult time laying down in their bath tub. The walk in tub removes that challenge to allow you to soak in comfortable warm water and enjoy a bath like you always have.