Three Bathtub Replacements for Senior Safety

My goal is to modify bathrooms to make them safe and accessible for seniors.  So I love to see a spacious bathroom with a 60”x 60” turning radius for a senior who is, or may one day be, moving around in a wheel chair.  But most bathrooms are just not big enough.

I’ve noticed, however, that there’s usually a bath, about 60” x 30,” that seniors no longer use.  They’re legitimately scared to climb over the edge to get in and out of it, knowing that one misstep can lead to a life-changing fall. Seniors want to know what they can do with that space to make it usable.

Here are three practical ideas for bathtub replacements.
  
1. The Walk-In-Bathtub

Some walk-in bathtubs fit into the same 30” x 60” footprint squandered by the obsolete bathtub.  There are also narrower, shorter models, 28” x 48”, which use a panel to fill in the gap, keeping remodeling costs to a minimum.   Not only does the walk-in bath tub provide a warm, relaxing, and luxurious in-home-spa experience, it’s also safe, accessible, therapeutic, and health-promoting.

Six Steps to a Safer Bathroom

Walk in Showers,
Safety can be Beautiful

You’ve seen signs that say “Beware of the Dog,” but have you ever seen one that says “Beware of the Bathroom?”  It sounds a little extreme, but in 2008 the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that almost 22 million people over the age of 15 were injured in the bathroom.  In contrast, the CDC reports, a mere fraction of that number, 4.5 million, were bitten by dogs in 2009. 

The bathroom is considered the most dangerous room in the home. And while injuries span all age groups, people over 65 are most likely to end up with broken bones.

The CDC reports that many injuries could be prevented by making simple changes like adding grab bars .  So that got me thinking.  What else could be done? 

First, let’s look at how and where the CDC says the accidents are happening.  80%, of the injuries are from falling.  Whatever your age, the activities most hazardous to your health are:  bathing, showering, and getting in and out of the tub.  For older people there’s another bathroom hazard:  the toilet.  Over half the injuries to people 85 and over happen on or near the toilet.

Many people are simply unaware of the issues or what to do about them.  And ignorance isn’t bliss.  It’s dangerous. So here are six tips for bathroom safety, focusing on the main offenders: bathtubs, shower stalls and toilets.