Eliminate the Need to Step Up and Over
The odds that you’re going to fall are greatest when you’re stepping over the side of the tub or up over the lip of the shower basin. One way to eliminate this risk is by eliminating the step. This is why walk-in showers with gently sloping floors have become popular. This issue is also why walk-in tubs exist.
Provide Support
Anyone can slip and fall in a bathtub, but the odds of it are greater when you have a bad balance or limited mobility. One solution is installing grab bars in and around the shower so that the person can use these to support themselves. You can also install a bath seat so that they can sit down to bathe while sitting in the shower. Note that this needs to be stable and slide-resistant, or it is a hazard in its own right.
Another option is hiring help to assist the person during bathing. Healthcare agencies like Cherished Hands Home Health can help your loved one go to take a bath or shower as well as help them go to the bathroom. That is in addition to home healthcare agencies sending people to assist with meal prep, light housekeeping, and supervision of someone with health problems.
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Remove Potential Hazards
A good way to keep your senior safe is to remove potential hazards. Put the soap on a rope hanging from a secure location so they never have to lean over to recover it. Remove shampoo bottles and razors on the floor. They may be put on secured shelves in the shower or put next to the sink instead. Ensure that the bath mats are slip-proof. Remove boxes, power cords, and anything else someone has to step around, especially in the bathroom.
Talk to Your Doctor
Talk to your doctor when you’re developing symptoms like dizziness, bad balance, blurred vision, joint pain, and numbness in the feet. Certain health conditions can increase your risk of falling. And getting proper treatment for them can reduce the risk of falling. Contact your doctor as soon as you’ve had a near-accident to prevent a debilitating fall. For example, talk to the doctor about what happened when you almost fell or passed out but were caught by someone. Details can help them determine the best fall-prevent strategies would be for you. This could range from modifications to your home to bringing in someone from a home care agency to assist with personal care.