Overcome Mobility Concerns By Improving Safety In Your Bathroom
Posted on: 7 July 2016
As you age, it's not uncommon to have mobility concerns. In small spaces like the bathroom, this can really pose a challenge. Fortunately, there are ways to improve safety within these spaces without having to give up on your independence. Here are just some of the ways you can improve safety within your bathroom.
Walk-In Tubs
Consider investing in a walk-in tub. Walk-in tubs offer all the convenience of a shower, but with all the comfort and luxury of a bathtub. Instead of having to lift your legs to get inside the tub you simply walk in through a door on the side of the tub.
Since the door seals tightly, you don't have to worry about a water leak. This tub style also comes equipped with a raised seat that allows you to rest safely while soaking without having to bend down to reach the base of the tub.
Lighting
With age, the function of your bladder can also decline. Elderly people often find themselves traveling to the bathroom more frequently than they once did. Unfortunately, a fair share of these trips are at night, when your home is dark.
Consider increasing the amount of light in your bathroom to avoid a mishap in the dark. A great addition is to add extra lights in the space to make it brighter. You should also consider having the switches moved to an easily accessible location so that you don't have to worry about trying to feel around for a switch when it is dark.
Skid-Resistant Rugs
If you are struggling with mobility concerns, your flooring selection is probably working against you. It's a good idea to add skid-resistant mats to the floor. Skid-resistant mats have a special backing that helps them stay in place. When wet, just about all hard flooring options are dangerous.
The reason for this is that they offer very little in the form of friction as your feet move across the floor. Without friction your feet won't grip and you can slip. Adding the skid-resistant rugs gives you greater grip. In addition to the rugs, you should also avoid polishing your floors as this will only make them even more slippery.
The more effort you make to increase safety in your bathroom, the less you have to be concerned with injuring yourself. Safety updates help protect your physical safety and also ensure you get to keep your independence.
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