Home Safety Bathroom Tips For Seniors Living At Home

Home safety for senior citizens suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and living at home is very important. For example, falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans.

Falls threaten seniors’ safety and independence and generate enormous economic and personal costs. And, this refers to seniors that are not suffering from Alzheimer’s. With senior’s that do have Alzheimer’s, of course, safety is an even greater challenge.

Home Safety: Tips for Senior’s Who Have Alzheimer’s

Keeping a person with Alzheimer’s disease safe is a major concern for caregivers. This is especially critical if the senior has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

There are changes you can make to their environment that can help. Check out these tips on what you can do in the bathroom to reduce the risk of injury. They are recommended by the National Institute on Aging (NIA):

• Do not leave a severely impaired person with Alzheimer’s alone in the bathroom.
• Remove the lock from the bathroom door to prevent the person with Alzheimer’s from getting locked inside.
• Place nonskid adhesive strips, decals, or mats in the tub and shower. If the bathroom is uncarpeted, consider placing these strips next to the tub, toilet, and sink.
• Use a raised toilet seat with handrails or install grab bars beside the toilet.
• Install grab bars in the tub/shower. A grab bar in contrasting color to the wall is easier to see.
• Use a foam rubber faucet cover (often used for small children) in the tub to prevent serious injury should the person with Alzheimer’s fall.
• Use a plastic shower stool and a hand-held shower head to make bathing easier.
• In the shower, tub, and sink, use a single faucet that mixes hot and cold water to avoid burns.
• Store medications (prescription and nonprescription) in a locked cabinet. Check medication dates and dispose of outdated medications.
• Remove cleaning products from under the sink or lock them away.
• Use a night-light.

You can get more tips like this from the NIA with their room-by-room checklist. It will help keep a person with Alzheimer’s safe at home.