Making Showering Safer for Seniors
Personal hygiene is very important to staying healthy, but for home hospice patients, staying clean, especially by showering, can be difficult and even dangerous. There are, however, several things you can do to help yourself or your loved one stay safe while bathing.
Avoid Falling
Falls are dangerous for everyone, but especially for seniors. The combination of water and slippery surfaces makes the shower one of the most dangerous spots in the home. Tub-shower combinations that require a step over a wall can be even more treacherous.
The first consideration to reduce fall risk is to remove anything that can make your bathroom more slippery. Make the surface of your shower as “grippy” as possible, by using texture stickers or bath mats. If you do add a bath mat to your tub or shower, ensure that the suction cups on the bottom grip firmly.
Remove any bathroom rugs that don’t have a rubberized/non-slip backing, and ensure that clothing and towels don’t get left on the bathroom floor either. If you or your loved one uses a walker or tends to shuffle their feet, consider taping down the edges of the rug so that it does not become a tripping hazard. Add additional rugs to the bathroom in any areas that are prone to accumulating water, such as around the sink.
Clear the Way
Many hospice patients use walkers or wheelchairs to get around their homes. Be sure to create a clear path between their bed and favorite seating areas that is wide enough so that their walker or wheelchair doesn’t catch on anything. If they bring their walker or wheelchair into the bathroom, ensure that hampers and trash baskets aren’t placed where they will be easily knocked over.
Get a Grip
Grab bars are an important tool in the fight to make showers safer for seniors. They’re easy to install and use, and they offer a number of benefits. For one thing, they keep seniors from slipping or falling when stepping into the shower. This is especially helpful for those with limited mobility or other health-related concerns, such as arthritis or balance problems.
Grab bars also help reduce injuries from falls by supporting you in a way that allows you to maintain your balance while stepping over the edge of tub-showers. They also provide a stable surface to grab onto while standing in the shower during water use.
To make things even better, grab bars can be installed in just about any size bathtub or shower with ease.
Take a Seat
Sometimes standing for long periods of time is difficult for seniors. Also, exposure to hot water can sometimes cause temporary dizziness or lightheadedness. Installing a fold-down shower bench or having a bath/shower chair can give you a place to rest. It can also give you the opportunity to stay in the shower a little longer, which many people find to be soothing and relaxing.
Bring the Shower to You
Hand-held shower sprayers can also make showering much easier. They can reduce or even eliminate the need to bend over to wash off your legs, and make it much easier to wash your entire body than a typical shower head does. They are especially useful if you need to use a shower chair.
Hand-held shower sprayers are surprisingly easy to install, and there are many models available with various spray patterns and on/off switches.
Try Not To Shower When You Are Alone in the House
If possible, try to shower when someone else is home and notify them that you are showering so they can check on you in case of a fall. If that is not an option, consider getting a Coastal Lifeline system installed in your home. There are several models available, all of which include a wearable pendant and some of which include fall-detection technology that automatically calls for help even if you are unable to push the “help” button on the pendant. Learn more about Coastal Lifeline by clicking here.
Taking the time to develop a safe showering environment can be the difference between a relaxing bathing experience and a nasty fall. Don’t put off making your bathroom safe!