For the growing population, falls remain over half of all senior injuries. Most of these falls occur at home, especially the bathroom. This is because of lost mobility and strength that make getting in and out of a bathtub or bathing in a shower a risky proposition. Thankfully, you can do a lot to turn your bathroom with the help of Houston bathroom remodeling experts into a safer haven for elders and others. Senior-Friendly Bathroom RemodelingImproving the Location Most seniors have trouble going up and down the stairs. If it is a multi-story building, make sure to have a bathroom on every level. Have the full bathroom on the level where seniors mostly spend their time, which often remains the main floor. Install Slip Resistance Tiles When selecting tiles for the floor, look for a rougher texture to have enough resistance when moving in the bathroom. You can choose by touching the available samples to get a good sense of the product. Improving Bathroom Safety The combination of bathtub and shower may be versatile, but separating them gives more accessibility to seniors. Showers For showers, converting a part of the room as a “wet room” makes the floor and walls moisture-proof. The walk-in space will have no curb or other types of barriers to get into the shower area. Ensure that the door is wide enough for easy movement of a walker or wheelchair, and there are grab bars in the showering place. For seniors, remaining standing could be troubling. So, having a seat with a handy grab bar could be a good choice. The presence of a seat makes it easy for the user to scrub body areas like the feet and backs safety. Bathtubs For seniors who like to bathe, installing a walk-in bathtub is a great choice. These bathtubs are taller and have a door to open and close. It also has a chair at a reasonable height to seat. However, keep in mind that walk-in tubs could be a source of danger for small children due to their deep water level. Whatever your choice may be, make sure to install grab bars on the nearby walls of the bathtub. Other than preventing a fall due to slip, these bars are also helpful to sit and stand. Raise Toilet Seat Heights For seniors, sitting and standing can be a bit of a hassle. When it comes to going to the bathroom often, life could become difficult for the seniors. A taller toilet seat comes quite helpful for those having painful joints. Make sure to have a grab bar beside the toilet so that one can sit or get up holding the bar. The toilet paper should also be within easy reach. The presence of a bidet/dryer is helpful for senior people with arthritic hands or body that is less flexible. Improving Bathroom Lighting
Having low lights not only gives us a blurry vision, but we are unable to see things well around. The presence of brighter lights and in greater number is a better decision. Typical bathrooms include a single light in the center of the ceiling, above the vanity and the mirror. However, most of these bathrooms do not consider grooming task or to facilitate people with impaired vision. By having a separate light in the shower area will help seniors from accidental falls. Make sure to include a lighting option to be used for mid-night bathroom visits. Bathroom Renovations For Safety’s Sake Accessible design of a bathroom should consider the functionality to make it a great design. Without usability, the finishes or colors of your bathroom have no meaning. If you are looking for a bathroom that considers the needs of seniors, get in touch with one of the Houston bathroom remodeling experts of Marwood Construction.
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