Home Caregivers Follow Bed & Bath Safety Tips for Elderly Persons

Jul 13, 2010
Mary King

Handicapped Bathroom Design Features Tub Grab Bars - Dan Perry

A nightlight in the bedroom and grab bars in the bathroom top a list of safety precautions suggested for the home caregiver of an elderly family member.

The adult son or daughter who takes on the role of a caregiver for an aging parent or other senior family member assumes a tremendous responsibility. If the older person suffers from an illness or is recuperating from an injury, the caregiver's workload weighs even heavier. The elder's safety at home is a priority for any caregiver. Many home accidents occur in the bathroom. There are dangerous obstacles in the bedroom that can cause an elderly person harm, as well.

Grab Bars are Essential Bathroom Safety Equipment

The bathroom can be a dangerous place for anyone of any age who isn't careful. By thinking through the elderly person's routine, and making a few easy modifications, a caregiver can prevent many of the most common bathroom injuries. Grab bars are essential safety equipment in a modified bathroom. Grab bars can be purchased for the home from a local home repair center or hardware store.

Install grab bars by the toilet and in the shower/bath area for added safety and security. The website, The Family Handyman, shows the correct installation in the article, "How to Install Bathroom Grab Bars" (DIY Project Experts, 2010). The grab bars must be installed correctly to prevent serious injury.

Families don't have to wait for an elderly person to move into the home to take advantage of the safety and security bathroom grab bars provide. The author(s) in the above mentioned article state, "In your own home, a strategically placed and solidly anchored grab bar can mean the difference between a relaxing bath and a trip to the emergency room."

Safety Tips for an Elderly Person's Bathroom

Frail elderly persons are at risk for falls and injuries in the bathroom. A home caregiver can make the surroundings relatively safe with a few inexpensive modifications. Installing grab bars is a step in the right direction, but there are more safety precautions a caregiver can take to make the bathroom safer and the caregiver's job easier:

Make certain the bathroom rug is slip-resistant (as well as any throw rugs in the rest of the house).
Avoid storing medications in the bathroom medicine cabinet; lock them in a safe place. Elders may get confused and take old expired drugs or medicine that belongs to another family member.
Be sure to use a bathmat to avoid stepping into a slippery tub.
Keep space heaters and other electrical appliances out of the bathroom.
Avoid keeping sharp objects like razors or scissors in the bathroom.
Prevent scalds from water that's too hot by setting the hot water heater to 120 ºF or lower.*

*Or, install and anti-scald device. An unnamed contributor to the June 2010 issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine gives information on page 236, in the "Better Health" section: "The Home Safety Council recommends the HotStop tub spout or shower head available at home improvement stores."

How do the tub spout and shower head work? The H2otStop website home page provides information: "When hot water reaches an unsafe temperature HotStop quickly reduces the water flow to a trickle to avoid scalding. Once the water in the line cools, the flow re-starts automatically – usually in less than 30 seconds."

Bedroom Safety for the Elderly Person

A bedroom could be unsafe for an aging loved one. A senior with mobility problems and poor vision can easily trip on a bedspread that reaches the floor. How can a caregiver make an elderly person's bedroom safe?

To prevent feet from getting tangled, avoid bedspreads, bed linens and draperies that reach the floor. Keep electrical cords safely out of the way.
Provide a lamp for the bedside table or use a nightlight (hallway lights) to help the elder see the way to the bathroom.
Discourage a long nightgown or too-long pajama bottoms that could cause the elder to trip and fall. Elders should wear slippers that fit well.
Remind other family members (particularly children) to keep walkways clear of clutter. Evaluate how much maneuvering room is needed for the elder who uses a mobility device (cane, walker or wheelchair).
Try to keep pets out from underfoot when an elderly person is around. Small pets may be hard for the elder to see. High-strung pets can cause falls.
Avoid using a space heater that could cause an elder to fall. Bed linens could easily catch fire if they come in contact with a space heater.

Safety is a top priority for an elderly person who has come to live or spend time in the home. The key to elder care safety in the bedroom and bathroom is to think through possible danger situations. Decide what hazards need to be addressed and corrected.

Modifications may cost only a few dollars. An elder who takes serious fall could cost thousands of dollars in surgical procedures and rehabilitation therapy. Experienced caregivers prefer prevention – a much better deal than enduring months of recovery at home caring for the elderly loved one.