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Is Your Bathroom a Safe Haven or a Minefield?

By Michael Masson

A bathroom should be a safe place. It should be warm, cozy, and inviting, a place for revitalization andreflection. Of all of the rooms in your house, it should be the safest, but unfortunately it also hides many dangers. We may overlook these dangers believing that such an intimate space would inherently be safe. It can be, but attention must be paid to the risks that every bathroom poses.

I'm going to go through some simple, effective methods to make your bathroom as safe and welcoming as possible. The greatest danger in any bathroom is the possibility of slipping, falling, and harming oneself. The water in the bathroom can easily splash on the floor, causing a slip hazard. There are close to 200,000 bathroom accidents every year. This accounts for a full 70% of all household accidents. These dangerous situations can easily be avoided.

Photo credit: pinterest.com

First, keep the floor free from water as much as possible. Ensure there are no leaks in the sink or toilet, andif using a shower obtain a lined shower curtain to keep the water from spraying out. Some people have young children or pets and often find the floor wet. If this is the case, it's a good idea to keep something handy like a mop or spare towel to clean away the water immediately.

Second, remove any loose throw rugs and replace them with non-slip bathroom rugs. Most slips occur when transferring between the shower and the bathroom floor. A non-slip rug will help alleviate this risk. Hardware and bathroom stores also have adhesive non-slip strips that can be attached to any rug for more stability.

One of the best safety additions to any bathroom is a handrail for the shower, tub, and toilet. Most stair risers have a 6-8″ clearance between steps and most stairs are built with handrails. The average tub has a 13″ clearance, yet most tubs and showers are built without them. Be careful not to mistake towel racks for handrails. Towel racks are not meant to bear all that much weight. Secure handrails will ensure safe transitions through the entire bathroom.

Photo credit: ebay.com

One of the best safety additions to your shower is also the simplest. A shower seat or bench will allow the occupant of the shower to leisurely wash themselves without fear of falling. This will be especially important for those with weak legs, or trouble standing for long periods of time, or after a major surgical procedure. It's also important to keep the bottom of the tub clean and free from soap residue, as this increases the chance of slippage.

One aspect of shower safety that is often overlooked is the shower fixture. There is a greater chance for an accident when an occupant has to move, bend, or stretch to adjust the temperature or the water flow. Some fixtures are difficult to maneuver for people with arthritis. Install the fixtures within reach of the occupant and test them to make sure they are easy to use.

The tub and shower are not the only areas that can compromise safety. Some senior citizens have difficulty sitting down and standing up from the toilet because the seat is often installed low to the ground. A seat extension can be added to make the process much easier. Adding handrails around the toilet would also ensure its safety.

Photo credit: gettyimages.com

Make sure that there is sufficient lighting in the bathroom, and the light switch should be placed near the doorwhere it is easy to find. Also, keep the tub and sink area free of electrical devices such as radios or blow dryers. These can prove very dangerous if they should slip into the water while they are plugged in.

Most of these safety precautions can be addressed by installing a Walk-in Tub in your bathroom. A Walk-in Tub provides the convenience and luxury of a bathtub. It also provides something even more important when speaking of bathroom safety: peace of mind. A Walk-in Tub eliminates many of the dangers inherent in tubs and showers, while addressing many of the safety concerns already mentioned.

As previously stated, most tubs have a 13″ clearance to negotiate. Walk-in Tubs have a six-inch clearance for easy access. This lowered entry height means you no longer have to worry about handrails or making that big step. Just open the door, enter, and sit down. Inside the tub are additional handrails for sitting and standing in the tub.

Photo credit: tubking.com

One tip I mentioned earlier was to install a seat or bench in your shower. The Walk-in Tub has anADA-compliant, slip-resistant safety seat installed for your convenience. The door of the tub has a patented locking system with a watertight seal to insure less water spillage on the bathroom floor. Our tubs come from the factory with a slip-resistant floor so there is no need to install non-slip adhesive strips.

Another safety tip I mentioned was the importance of easy-to-reach fixtures. All of the fixtures installed in our Walk-in Tubs are perfectly positioned so that the seated occupant can reach them with ease. They're ADA-compliant and customizable to your individual tastes.

At the end of a long day, you don’t want to see your bathroom as an obstacle course. It shouldn’t be a series of challenges to be overcome. Your bathroom should be a welcome refuge designed to eliminate the stresses of the world. The last thing you want to worry about in the bathroom is coping with the possibility of being injured. You want your bathroom to be a safe haven, not a minefield.

Walk-in Tub Buyer's Guide

In this article, I discussed the potential dangers that exist in any bathroom, especially for seniors. I also shared ways to eliminate these dangers to make your bathroom a safer environment. If you enjoyed reading this article, please leave a comment in the Comments section below. Feel free to share this with your family, friends and colleagues as well.

Michael Masson is a guest blogger for Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida. Tub King is a Walk-in tub distributer with many years of experience in the senior bathtub industry. This company not only provides superior products, it is also as multi-award-winner, having received the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” three years running. To contact Tub King, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231 or email alan@tubking.com.

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Serious Things Our Seniors Need to Know About Falling

By Kerry Knight

X-ray image of my own hip, with top of femur broken (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is a frightening reality that every senior needs to be aware of because it can easily happen to anyone over age 65. More importantly, there's an easy way to prevent this from happening. If you're 65 or older, this information is of vital importance to you. It’s not necessarily a pretty picture, but a subject that needs to be examined and taken to heart.

Among older adults, falling is the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries. A serious look at the issue of falling could very well save your life, or at least extend the quality of your life. Consider the following:

Each year, one in three adults, age 65 or older, falls. The resulting injury resulting from that fall can be moderate to severe. Injuries range from bruises; cuts; and fractures of the hip, forearm, spine, neck, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm, hand or even more serious results such as head trauma. Any of these can increase the risk of early death. In 2010, 21,700 older adults died from unintentional fall injuries.

Courtesy of spie.org

In 2010, 2.3 million non-fatal fall injuries among older adults were treated in the emergency rooms and more than 662,000 of the patients were hospitalized. Reports from that same year estimated that direct medical costs from falls were $30 billion.

Men are more likely than women to die from a fall. The fall rate is 40% higher for men than women. People age 75 and older who fall are four to five times more likely than those age 65-74 to be admitted to a long-term care facility for a year or longer.

In 2000, 46% of fatal falls among older adults were due to traumatic brain injuries.

Many people who fall, even if they're not seriously injured, subsequently develop a fear of falling. This fear may cause them to limit their activities, which could reduce their range of mobility and create loss of physical fitness, thus again increasing their actual risk of falling.

To make matters worse, it's easy to get sick when you're in the hospital. I've heard countless stories where people were admitted to the hospital for a broken bone, only to die from an infection they contracted in the hospital!

Fortunately, there are certain guidelines seniors can follow to reduce the dangers of falling:

Residents of the Century Village Retirement
Community Gather Around Pool for Daily
Exercise Session. (Photo credit: The U.S. National Archives)

Have your doctor review your medications and over-the-counter drugs. Especially look for side effects that could cause dizziness or loss of balance.
Develop a regular exercise program, especially one designed to make your legs stronger.
Have your eyes checked regularly by a professional.
Eat balanced meals and take supplements with your medical provider's supervision.

Make your home safer.

This last step is something that seniors can do for themselves. The most common location for falls in the home is the bathroom. The reasons are many.

Because the room is small and the walls are closer, it creates the illusion of being safer. However, the problem is there are many obstructions in the bathroom, such as the sink, the toilet, door knobs, rugs, shower curtains and especially the bathtub or shower.

The floor in the bathroom can become slippery, especially if it’s tiled. Stepping into or out of the tub is where most falls occur. Older adults often assume they have the same flexibility they once had and end up missing the mark.

Poor eyesight may also cause a misstep. A brief loss of balance can be fatal … literally. The surfaces in the bathroom are normally “rock hard.” Porcelain and cast iron are the most commonly used, and they don’t give upon contact.

The senior Walk-In Tub is a tremendous benefit for seniors for two major reasons:

It allows them to be independent in bathing themselves.
It provides many safety features to keep them from falling.

The seat and floor of the Walk-In Tub are slip-resistant. There is a handy grab bar inside the tub and other grab bars that can be placed around the tub. There is a water-tight door, with a very low step-in threshold. The senior can close the door, lock it, and sit down while bathing. There is a hand-held shower sprayer for rinsing and easy-to-reach controls. Other options could include air jetted hydrotherapy for treating many medical conditions. There’s also a water jetted whirlpool capable of massaging away aches, pains, and soothing tired muscles. The inline heater allows one to stay in the tub without the water getting cold.

Tub King Walk In tub Testimonial

Falls are serious, but there are steps seniors can take to make them far less likely. Create a list of things to make your environment a safer place, and you’ll live a longer and more independent life. Especially in the bathroom, investing in a Walk-In tub can be a real life saver.

In this article, I discussed several serious statistics about seniors falling and how these mishaps adversely affect one in three seniors over age 65 each year. I provided a list of preventative measures, which include installing a Walk-in Tub. I also discussed the various safety features and benefits seniors derive from having Walk-in Tub. I also talked about the advantages of a Walk-in Tub, including the various safety features and benefits that seniors benefit from having a Walk-in Tub.

If you found this article useful, please share it with your friends and co-workers. If you have a comment related to this article, leave it in the comment section of this blog. If you’d like to receive a FREE Walk-In Tub Buyers’ Guide, click here. Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the end of this article and I’ll personally get back to you. It’s been my pleasure sharing this information with you. We hope to be helping you in the near future.

Until next time.

Intro to Walk In Tub Buyers Guide

Alan and Kerry Knight are the owners of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida. Together they have many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. Their companies not only provide superior products, they are also award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” three years running. If you’d like to contact them, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231; or send an email to alan@tubking.com.

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Don’t Look a Gift Tub in The Mouth!

By Kerry Knight

Gift Horse (Photo credit: failing_angel)

Have you ever heard the phrase, "never look a gift-horse in the mouth"? Well, my

article today is about a man whose pride got in the way of receiving his gift.

I recently heard the story of a senior gentleman who refused the offer for a walk in tub, and then paid dearly for his reluctance. Several months previously, when his children discovered that their father had fallen, not once, but numerous times, they began to discuss among themselves how to help Dad maintain his mobility, but be safe as well. He had fallen once in the kitchen, slipping on a rug, while suffering a mere bruise. However, he had fallen three times while trying to get into and out of the bathtub. They decided to get rid of any loose rugs in the apartment, but were more concerned about what to do in the bathroom. With ceramic tile floors and walls, a fall there, could create a much greater risk of injury.

Research Can Help if You Let it

After doing some research, they discovered the WalkIn Tub. It was the newest innovation in bathroom safety. A person could walk into the tub through a watertight door, close the door and fill the tub, and actually sit down using a handy interior grab bar. The tubs were tall enough that you could fill the tub with warm water and cover almost to the shoulders. They could then lean back and soak, bathe, and relax. There was even a hand held shower for rinsing, which would retract back into the tub when not being used. The controls for water supply and drain were within easy reach, and they could even add hydrotherapy jets for a soothing massage.

Client Testimonial

"This is it," the daughter said to her brothers. "Dad, can continue to bathe himself and not run the risk of falling again." The cost of the tub was obviously a little more than a conventional tub, but well worth it. One brother said, "Okay, how do we pay for it?" "Well Dad certainly has the money. Let's start there," the daughter remarked.

When they approached their father about the idea, even showing beautiful, full color pictures of the different models, he was immediately dead-set against it. "I don't need that!" The daughter explained all the features and how it could help. "Who's going to pay for it?" When she went over the pricing with him he laughed out loud. "No way! As long as I can get around, I'll just use my old tub. It's worked just fine." They knew he could be stubborn, so decided to lose the current battle in hopes of winning the war in the end. They left.

The Kids Where Ready to Pitch in

Out in the parking lot, they all agreed to pitch in and pay for the tub themselves. It was a strain on their budgets, but they knew it was a small price to pay in the end if they could keep Dad safe and sound.

They went back into the apartment building, knocked

on his door and waited. He was surprised to see them back so soon. "No, I haven't changed my mind, " he said. "No, Dad, we want to get the walk in tub for you ourselves. We'll pay for it."

"No way I'm going to let you do that. I told you I'm not interested. I don't care if it's free. I don't need it. And that's the end of it."

They said goodbye for the last time and slowly walked away.

Then the Worst Happened

A few days later, at 6:00 am in the morning, the daughter gets a call from the apartment building. It was management. They explained that someone had heard calls for help coming from inside her Dad's apartment. Management went in and found him immobile on the bathroom floor. An ambulance had just arrived and after examining him said they thought he had broken his hip. He was being rushed to the hospital.

By the time the daughter and one of the sons had arrived at the medical center, the doctor came out and confirmed the earlier diagnosis. We need to get him into surgery right away. The doctor had explained how it would require a lengthy convalescence. He would be in therapy for months, and would need around the clock care. Even with Medicare the costs were going to be extremely expensive. It would also require constant care and attention from the children.

After seeing their father and visiting for a while, the brother and sister left the hospital. After returning to the apartment they learned that their Dad had slipped while trying to get out of the tub, then grabbed the shower curtain as he fell hard on his left hip. Their worst fear had happened. And they knew something else. Even after all the surgery, therapy, and rehab, when he finally came home, it could happen again. And this time it would be far worse.

They also knew that if they had talked him into the

Walk In Tub option, all this could have been avoided. The daughter immediately went online, made the call and ordered a Walk In Tub. "He's going to have this tub, "she said. "We'll deal with his stubbornness later."

The Senior Walk In Bathtub is a life saver, and in the end it's worth every penny. What is a Mom and a Dad worth? Can't put a price tag on that.

In this article, I have shared with you the story of a man whose pride got in the way of common sense. It got in the way of his children's wishes to provide him with greater safety, independence and freedom. Being grateful would have removed the danger of falling in the bathroom. His children would be able to sleep better knowing he was safe. If you found this article useful or enjoyable, please pass it on to your friends and neighbors. If you have a comment, leave it in the comment section below, If you have a question, feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the end of this article.

Alan & Kerry Knight are the owners of Tub King, Inc and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville Florida. Together they have many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. Their companies not only provide superior products they are also award winners, winning the best of Jacksonville Chamber Award three years running. If you would like to contact them call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231 or email them at alan@tubking.com.

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