January is when most people are recovering from the holidays and starting to think about making changes. That makes it the perfect month for National Bath Safety Month. Take a few days to break up some of these tasks and evaluate what your senior needs and how you can ensure that she’s as safe as she can possibly be while she’s in the bathroom.
Do a Safety Sweep and Make Some Adjustments
If it has been a while since you’ve done a safety sweep of your senior’s bathroom, now is the time. Look at all of the different features in the bathroom from your senior’s perspective. Is it difficult to turn on the faucets? Are there grab bars in the tub or near the toilet? How about adding non-slip floor coverings? What would help her to be safer?
Consider Adding Assistive Tools, Too
You may also want to take this opportunity to look more closely at what your senior needs in terms of assistive devices in the bathroom. There are a lot more options available than you might expect, including transfer benches, shower chairs, and shower heads with extended hoses that enable your senior to use the shower head while seated.
Double Check the Water Heater’s Temperature Setting
Anti-scalding tools are also an important addition to your senior’s bathroom. The easiest way to help to prevent scalding is to look at the setting on the hot water heater. If it’s higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit, lowering the temperature is a good idea. You can also get shower heads and fittings for bath faucets that feature an anti-scald valve. They function by shutting off the water flow if the temperature is too hot.
Look into Hiring Home Care Providers
Another important safety device may be home care providers. They can assist your senior with getting into and out of the shower or bath. They can also help your elderly family member to safely bathe if she needs added assistance. Your elderly family member might feel embarrassed by this at first, but home care providers are skilled in helping with uncomfortable situations without causing more awkwardness for your senior.
Taking even a few of these steps can help to ensure that your elderly family member is much safer in the bathroom than she was before. Even if you determine that she’s already got her safety bases covered, it never hurts to double check once a year.
If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in Huntley, MT, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare Billings today at 406-839-2390.
