Hospice Tips to Help With Bath Safety

In honor of Bathroom Safety Month this January, we have decided to focus on how to keep your senior loved one safe in hospice care in Santa Clara and elsewhere while navigating this busy and integral room of the house. According to the CDC, 36 million falls occur among older adults each year, which results in more than 32,000 deaths. About three million older adults go to the ER for a fall injury each year, and one out of every five slips and falls will result in an injury such as a head injury or fracture. The bathroom happens to be one of the most dangerous rooms in the home.

Here are some tips to help with bath safety as you care for your senior loved one in their home.

Add a Tub Transfer Chair

Many bathroom accidents involve slips and falls around or inside the tub or shower. This is why a bench or bathroom chair would be a great addition to the bathroom. Choose a sturdy, reputable model — one with a backrest that can aid in stability. You also want one that will be easily able to accommodate transfer from a wheelchair.

Use a Handheld Showerhead

This is an inexpensive modification that can be incorporated into any shower. Stay away from fancy spa shower heads with high pressure and stick with a practical model with an adjustable flow that can easily be manipulated with arthritic fingers.

Install Safety Handles and Grab Bars

Before installing, inspect the bathroom with your loved one and see where grab bars would be most helpful, such as to the side of the toilet or in the shower. In addition to location, you will also want to consider precise placement, as your loved one’s height and weight can make a difference, as well as how they tend to get up from a sitting position. Once you have all this mapped out, you can mount the grab bars. The most common spots include inside the tub or shower, at the entrance to the tub or shower, and to the side of the toilet.

Add Elevated Toilet Seats

The toils is one of the most common places in the bathroom where falls happen. Low toilet seats are more difficult to sit on and rise from, especially in those with arthritis or mobility issues. If a brand-new toilet isn’t in the budget, add a raised toilet seat or frame with non-slip grab bars on either side. You can adjust the height and make sure it suits your loved one perfectly.

Place Non-Slip Rugs and Mats

Ideally, having no rugs or mats in the bathroom would be best, but if your loved one insists on having them, make sure you only use the non-slip kind. You’ll also want to pick up an anti-slip tub or shower mat that sticks to the bottom securely when wet. Another alternative to that is to apply non-slip treads to the tub floor.

Add Motion-Activated Night Lights

In the middle of the night, it can be disorienting to switch on the harsh overhead light when it’s so dark. However, your loved one needs some amount of light to safely navigate the area. Place night lights in the hallway along the path from their bedroom to the bathroom, and add lights in the bathroom itself that automatically switch on when motion is detected. This is safer because then your loved one doesn’t have to fumble with a light switch when it’s pitch black. While you’re at it, install lights on all staircases as well.

De-Clutter the Space

Keep the home neat and tidy, with no clutter than can cause a trip hazard. Make sure there are clear paths throughout the home with no obstacles so your loved one can navigate it even in the dim light of evening.

Have Them Wear a Waterproof Medical Alert Necklace

Even when you have addressed all of the above safety measures, sometimes falls still just happen. That’s why a backup plan is critical. Have your loved one wear a waterproof medical alert pendant or necklace so they can press it if they fall and get immediate medical help. A waterproof model means they can wear it in the shower without having to take it on and off, and risk losing it — or worse, not being able to access it if they fall while bathing. There are also wall-mounted devices that are activated by touch and voice, as well as automatic fall detection, if your loved one prefers that.

We hope these safety tips help you and your senior loved one maintain safety in the bathroom when in hospice.

Contact Pathways Home Health and Hospice

Our hospice caregivers in Santa Clara and elsewhere will help your loved one follow safety protocols when it comes to bathroom navigation. To learn more about how else we can help your loved one remain safe in our care, contact us today at 888-978-1306.