A bathroom is supposed to be a place to relax, pamper ourselves, and get ready in the morning or before bed. Unfortunately, bathrooms are often dangerous for seniors.
Whether you are taking care of a senior or plan to age in place, these bathroom ideas for seniors will help prevent falls. They will also make your bathroom safer.
Handheld shower head
Showering becomes more difficult for seniors, especially those with mobility issues.
Install a handheld shower head in your shower to make things easier. These heads allow seniors to get clean without moving around the shower, even if they have to sit down.
You should ask a plumber to install your handheld shower head if you feel uncomfortable doing it alone.
Shower chair or built-in bench
If seniors want to upgrade their showers, they should add a built-in bench. This will prevent falls when seniors shower while being appreciated by those who can’t stand on their feet for too long.
Instead of a built-in bench, you could get a shower chair. A shower chair is convenient because it’s light and portable, and you can move it out of the way whenever it’s unnecessary.
Walk-in shower
A walk-in shower, or a curbless shower, is essential for someone in a wheelchair. But it’s also helpful for seniors with fatigue, balance loss, or mobility issues.
Since a walk-in shower has no threshold, they can get in and out without tripping. Just be sure to get your shower installed by professionals because water could splash everywhere in your bathroom if it’s not installed correctly. A wet floor is always more dangerous than a dry one.
Walk-in bathtub
A walk-in bathtub is better for seniors who don’t enjoy showers. Its door can be opened, making it easier for them to get in and out of the tub.
Perhaps the only downside is that they have to sit in the tub before filling it and wait until it drains before they can get out.
Comfort height toilet
Seniors might have difficulty sitting down on the toilet and getting up again. An excellent solution to this problem would be to install a comfort-height toilet in their bathroom.
Comfort-height toilets are higher than regular toilets, so seniors can use them more easily. If you are not ready to change your toilet, you could get a raised toilet seat instead. They are easy to install and feature convenient handles.
Bidet
It can be difficult for a senior with a limited range of motion to use toilet paper properly. A good idea is to replace your toilet with a bidet, which is hygienic and simple to use.
A wall-mounted bidet toilet is a great option since you can install it high enough for a senior to sit on it easily. Alternatively, you could get a bidet attachment for your current toilet, which would be more affordable.
Grab bars
Grab bars are another good idea for seniors’ bathrooms. You should have grab bars near the toilet, the shower, and the bathtub.
If the bathroom is large, more grab bars might be necessary around the room. You need to ensure that seniors always have support within reach, no matter where they are standing.
Lever-handled faucets
A senior with arthritis might have trouble using knob-style faucets. On the other hand, lever-handled faucets are easier to grab and can even be turned on and off with an elbow.
You can install them in your sink, shower, and bathtub. Of course, it’s best to ask a plumber to replace your faucets.
Slip-resistant floor tiles
Many serious slip-and-fall accidents happen in the bathroom. Wet floor tiles are dangerous, especially for seniors.
Fortunately, slip-resistant floor tiles can cover your bathroom and shower floors. Textured ceramic or porcelain tiles are ideal for a bathroom, but slip-resistant flooring could be vinyl, rubber, or cork tiles.
Night light
The last of our bathroom ideas for seniors is to install a night light in the bathroom. This will ensure seniors can safely use the bathroom at night without having to turn on a bright, blinding light.
When it comes to bathroom lighting, opt for warm or neutral light bulbs, which mimic natural light. Cool white bulbs can feel uncomfortable in senior eyes and tend to create harsh shadows.
