Whether you or a loved one have mobility problems due to a health issue or age, the bathroom can be a place where accident risk is high. Modern bathrooms aren’t always built with safety features in mind, so they can be scary to use, especially on your own. Fortunately, there are ways to fix that problem and create a peace of mind for everyone at home. Here are a few methods for improving bathroom safety and accessibility.
Improving Bathroom Safety With a Walk-in Bath
Traditional bathtubs can be the number one place in your house for falls and injury risk, considering they don’t contain the safety additions that a walk-in bath does. Walk-in bathtubs provide solutions specifically for those who need the extra safety and accessibility. Most include safety features, such as a side entry door with a low threshold, grab bars, a seat, and a removable shower head.
Eliminate Obstacles
A simple, cheap solution to improve the safety and accessibility of your bathroom is to eliminate obstacles. Those with any type of mobility issues may have a hard time accessing the toilet, bathtub, shower, or even the bathroom itself. But thankfully, there are easy ways to remove these stresses. One solution is to simply declutter. Perhaps your bathroom is filled with storage containers, baskets with towels, or buckets of bath toys for your kids or grandkids. An easy way to solve this problem is to find other areas of your home to put these things, if at all possible. If it is not possible, shelves on the walls and even moving those space-takers against the walls are good solutions. Additionally, removing most, if not all, rugs from your bathroom is a good way to help improve accessibility, especially if someone in your home is in a wheelchair.
Consider Adding Accessories
In this context, “accessories” does not refer to a flower vase for the counter or a painting above the toilet, rather it refers to safety features. Safety additions for your bathroom don’t have to be expensive products; relatively low-cost solutions for improving bathroom safety may be as close as your local home improvement store. For example, if someone in your home has mobility issues and struggles with bathing, the best solution is to have a walk-in bath installed. However, if the need is not dire enough for such a high level of commitment, something as simple as a non-slip bath mat to go on the bathtub or shower floor can help. Adding grab bars around the toilet and bathtub or shower, putting a step stool in the shower to occasionally sit on when needed, and lowering light switches to be within reach for those in wheelchairs are other ways to improve safety and accessibility in your home.
Updating your home with Kohler products designed specifically for improved accessibility is the best option for improving bathroom safety. To learn more about updating your bathroom with a Kohler product from Home Forever Baths, contact one of our friendly service representatives today by giving us a call, or get more information by filling out our brief online form to request a free, no-obligation estimate.
