Can your bathroom become dangerous?
More than just ablutophobia
Have you ever walked into your bathroom and thought to yourself, 'OMG this room is going to one day kill me?'
For those who experience ablutophobia it stands to reason the thought of moving into a bathroom might cause fear. However, even the rest of us should exercise a fair amount of caution when navigating bathrooms.
Bathroom Safety
If you haven't, now might be a good time to take a close look at your home's bathrooms and ask yourselves:
How are the showers designed?
What about the flooring? Is it a slippery material or perhaps uneven?
If you have a tub how deep does it sit and how does one safely climb in and out?
Do you have any kind of grab bars installed?
I know, I know - these may not be topics you have ever given any thought to before but leave it to Keeping it REAL Caregiving to do just that - KEEP IT REAL!
So here's what I want you to do. First, SUBSCRIBE to the Keeping it REAL Caregiving newsletter.
Next, look at your bathrooms with a new sense of awareness.
When bathrooms go bad
When bathrooms go bad, it can happen fast. And that is especially true for an elder who might have a hard time navigating all the challenges one faces in the bathroom. Simply stepping into a tub or shower can become a death sentence.
Shower Grab Bars
How about forgetting just how low the toilet seat is and then almost falling as you sit down. Consider these actions once you are a senior:
Scary moments for elders
Perhaps your balance and gait is shaky due to simply old age or Parkinson’s Disease or a diabetic-related injury to your feet/legs. These situations can make a seemingly easy task more like a horror movie because when bathrooms go bad – it can be terrifying!
Maybe the eyesight has begun to deteriorate and no matter how long you wait for your eyes to adjust in the dark, they don’t. Or even with motion-detecting lights in the hallway, you just cannot see.
If your loved one uses a walker (of any kind), be aware of how hard it is to navigate this balancing device into a bathroom, get positioned at the commode, close a door and still hang on for safety. It can be dangerous.
Realities of when bathrooms go bad
Tasks that you and I do several times a day without giving it a second thought can become treacherous or impossible. It may sound like a bad b-movie but when bathrooms go bad everything can change.
Commode Shopping
Consider this: standard toilet seats are at a height range of about 15-inches from the floor. Once older and with negligible balance or strength in legs, the ability to lower oneself to the commode can become an almost impossible proposition. And there's more.
The thought of even trying to get in and out of the shower or tub is something more like a possible death sentence. In fact, The National Council on Aging reports that for those 65 and older, one out of four take a fatal tumble with a count of almost 3 million fall-related injuries each year.
Getting older doesn’t have to mean falling
If you are a caregiver you may ask, ‘Where to even start to address these safety issues?’ Is there a way to make a bathroom safe for your senior loved one?
The answer is YES! In my experience of caregiving for my mother I took the mitigation approach. I looked at all the ways I could TRY and make a trip to the bathroom less terrifying. I didn’t want to be responsible for a moment of when bathrooms go bad!
Remember, there may also be an emotional component to this. What you and I may perceive as mom or dad simply being ‘fussy’ can involve something more. It may not necessarily be about not wanting to go to the bathroom or take regular showers/baths. It could be FEAR.
Your loved one may be afraid of slipping or falling or injuring themselves in some way. Be patient. Try and remember they bathed and changed your dirty diapers at some point. You are now simply returning the favor!
National Falls Prevention Awareness Week is just around the corner. This year, it is September 20 - 24, 2021. It is a perfect time to think about how common it is for folks to fall and steps to take for prevention.
As much as I wanted to make sure my mother had personal privacy, I (and she) had to quickly move beyond the niceties. I needed to understand what challenges she was having in the bathroom. Then I had to figure out ways to allow her to have as much independence for personal care for as long as possible.
The first step was to watch her patterns and routine. I recommend you do the same.
I quickly discovered pushing the bathroom door open, sliding her walker inside and then managing to get to the commode was simply too difficult. It was a fall waiting to happen.
The solution? We removed the door and hung a curtain (for privacy). Perhaps not optimal but it allowed her easier and safer access to the bathroom.
Bathroom Safety
We installed metal grab bars along the side of the commode – one on each side. Depending on your bathroom, you may only be able to install only one but that is better than nothing. Before determining the location to place a bar watch your elder’s patterns in how they position themselves.
Do they lead with their right or left side?
How high are they able to reach their arms and how far?
Do they have any leg-strength for balance?
These observations will help you figure out how best to help your elder. Installing the grab bars allowed mom to hang on and balance herself, then lower herself to the commode. That minor change offered her a small bit of continued independence.
Comfortable commodes
I also purchased a seat extender. Not a flimsy, wobbly chair that sat atop the commode. I found one that screws onto the seat and locks in place. It provided an additional level of safety and comfort.
We also installed grab bars in the shower and tub areas. I chose to place one on the outside door and on the inside so there would never be a time when a hand was not holding a bar for balance and support. This is KEY for stopping a ‘when bathrooms go bad’ scenario.
And… I DID NOT use the grab bars that suction or affix to the tile. I believe A PERSON PLACING THEIR FULL WEIGHT ON THESE – IN A WET AND SLIPPERY ENVIRONMENT, IS ASKING FOR AN ACCIDENT.
It may cost a bit and take some doing, but I had a handyman install the bars. He anchored them solidly into the wall and tile.
Remember, your elder’s needs will change as their conditions change. That means you must always stay alert and aware of minor changes in their habits or comfort level.
You have to start somewhere. And providing the safest environment you can is as good place!
What modifications if any have you made in your home or safety techniques which have worked well for you? I would love to hear from you. And remember, if you have a unique personal story and would like to share, reach out! Email me at info@juliayarboughmediagroup.com.
See you next time! Ciao~