By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Grab bars are a necessity within the bathroom when it comes to aging in place as they can help prevent many falls and subsequent injuries within the area. In particular, the bathroom is the source of around 80% of the falls taken by 1 in 3 seniors every year within the USA (with a full 30-50% of those falls being avoidable as they were caused by environmental factors such as slippery surfaces, tripping hazards, poor lighting etc).
Due to this, installing grab bars and other safety features within the room should be one of the first procedures done when making a household more accessible.
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By Anna Hazard
Introduction
As one ages, it's pretty typical that a person may require larger bathroom storage including shelving & cabinets in order to accommodate more equipment. This would include the storage of common bathroom ableware or daily living aids for bathing or grooming as well as medical or health related devices (such as toiletry aids, extended reach bath sponges, transfer benches & other adjustable seating etc).
Here are a selection of tips & advice for remodeling, retrofitting, or simply tweaking a bathroom's storage, shelving, and cabinets to better fall within the guidelines of accessibility & universal design for properly aging in place.
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Using the toilet and using the nearby sink should go hand-in-hand due to hygienic reasons and thus the bathroom sink & vanity is an area of the household that will also be used multiple times a day by every inhabitant in the household.
Similar to the kitchen sink & counter, the bathroom sink & vanity should also be adjusted to be properly accessible for aging in place. This should be done early on in the retrofitting or remodeling process along with the tub/shower and toilet due to their frequent use and the severity of the problems that may occur if the sink is not accessible after the user's health or mobility has deteriorated.
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Another main area of concern when it comes to accessibility and universal design in the bathroom centers around the ease of use and safety of the toilet. The toilet is one of the most commonly used features within the bathroom, normally requiring multiple visits throughout the day, and can be somewhat tricky to navigate for those with mobility limitations or other health conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Management, around 14% of the 235,000 emergency room visits that occur per year due to injuries suffered while in the bathroom occur while the person is using the toilet.
Here are a variety of general suggestions & tips for improving the function and safety of the toilet commode and surrounding area within the bathroom.
By Anna Hazard
Barrier Free Showers
For aging in place, the most accessible type of bathing area is a barrier-free shower stall (also known as a curbless, roll-in, or walk-in shower). These types of installations have no lip or raised edge at their entrance so they are completely level with the rest of the bathroom floor.
This means that a walker, wheelchair, or transfer chair can be rolled straight into them for easy access and positioning which is especially beneficial for those with more limited mobility. For wheelchair use the entrance to the shower should be a minimum of 36" wide and its interior should be at least 36" x 60" (with more clearance space making maneuvering in a bathing wheelchair or other mobility aid far easier).
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Getting into, out of, and maneuvering inside the shower or tub is one of the most common causes for falls, accidents, and injuries suffered while in the bathroom. This is particularly dangerous for seniors (who often may have balancing issues as well as greater liability for injury due to more fragile bones & lack of musculature) as well as those who have other mobility issues.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention cites that around 1/3rd of all senior injuries happen within the shower or bath. Thus remodeling the bathing area (whether for a shower or bath tub) should be one of the highest priorities when it comes to making a home more accessible, safer, and aging in place friendly. Here are a selection of general tips & recommendations applicable for improving safety & accessibility in both shower and bath tub style bathing areas
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
In order to lower the potential risk of tripping and falling within the bedroom, proper lighting should be installed throughout. This would include having ambient lighting from diffused sources in order to minimize glare as well as having adjustable task lighting over high-use areas such as desks, computers, dressing and reading areas (including the bed, if that is where reading & other tasks are done).
Like in the other areas of the house, light fixtures should be installed in locations with easy access for light bulb replacement and the lights themselves should be aimed downward instead of horizontally to help reduce the production of shadows and to further illuminate any potential tripping hazards. In addition, the walls of the bedroom should be painted in light colors in order to help further brighten the room as well as minimize potential shadows. In particular the glare from undiffused lighting or other reflective surfaces can cause visual acuity problems. This can be particularly dangerous when traversing the room if there isn't sufficient contrast between the flooring and walls.
By Anna Hazard
Introduction (General Flooring)
When it comes to flooring in the bedroom the focus should be on varieties that will minimize the risk of slipping or sliding by both humans and furniture. This is a particular concern due to the bedroom being one of the higher fall risk areas within the entire household.
Otherwise, much like the rest of the home, the flooring here should be easy to maintain & clean and all parts of it (whether it be carpet, laminate, or other floor boards) should be properly fastened down so that no edges or bulges pose as a tripping hazard. In addition. the bedroom floor in particular should be comfortable to walk over when barefoot while also being easy to traverse while using a variety of mobility equipment from canes to rolled walkers to wheelchairs. While the floor color should contrast against the wall colors in order to help define the edges of the rooms, highly contrasting or intricate patterning should be avoided on both carpets & hard floors as they can sometimes cause visual acuity and depth perception problems especially amongst those who may be suffering from Alzheimer's or dementia
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Besides the bed, care should be taken that the other furniture and equipment within the bedroom remains safe and easily accessible to those who may have limited mobility as well as various strength or other health conditions. In addition to larger pieces of furniture there are also an assortment of smaller accessories as well as electronics that can be added to the room to make it more aging in place friendly.
While many of these items would fall under the blanket description of ableware that has been specifically tailored for seniors or the disabled, there's also a plethora of commonly available & more general use gadgets that would also be beneficial to include.
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Previous studies have indicated that the bed and other bedroom related furniture are a the cause of a high percentage of home related injuries after accidents suffered in the kitchen and bathroom. This is particularly so for seniors who tend to spend more time in the bedroom and are already prone to injuries and accidents due to frailer health, to the point that more than 300,000+ seniors over the age of 65 are treated in emergency rooms per year due to bedroom related accidents.
Due to this, special care should be taken when it comes to choosing the proper furniture for an aging in place or accessible bedroom. |
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