Preventing Falls

Bathrooms can be a major source of falls and accidents and extra attention is needed here.

A professional carpenter can install bath rails and also a rail near the toilet to help you stand or sit with more ease and confidence.

In addition, there are many commercially available accessories for the bathroom that can be added for your safety. These include bath mats color-contrasted with your tub so you can see them more clearly; a bath stool or chair to free you from having to sit all the way down in the bottom of the tub.

You may also benefit from a shower head that has a long tube-like extension so you can direct the water to different parts of your body, and keep the flow out of your eyes.

Sponges on long handles may also help you wash areas of your body that may be difficult to reach.

Also toilet seats can be raised up around 4" with a commercially available plastic fixture that fits under most regular toilet seats. You may need a family member or neighbor to help you install it securely.

Both tubs and showers, in general, can benefit from non-slip strips or decals placed in the bottom to avoid your sliding when wet.

Bathroom Lighting & Contrast

When shaving or applying makeup, you may find a lighted magnifier mirror fixed to the wall of your bathroom and within easy reach of the sink will help you.

Reducing Glare

The bathroom with its shiny sink, tub, tiles and mirrors can be an area of high glare. Glare can further impact your vision, and can result in general discomfort and accidents. So try to reduce the amount of glare in your home, for example, by using non-glare floor wax; covering the side of the bathtub with a contrasting colored bath mat or towel; using blinds in the bathroom windows, and using rugs (safely secured) on high gloss floors. A towel or mat can also be beneficial on shiny counters.

Consider using contrast throughout your bathroom. For example, if it is mostly white or light in color, use dark towels to help you locate them, and colored rugs or bath mats on white tiled floors. The toilet seat could also be a different color than the toilet itself or the walls of the bathroom.

Most bathtubs and showers are one color both inside and out. Some showers with tile floors may provide visual contrast for getting in and out, but such a shower would also benefit from the addition of non-skid strips or a mat as the tiles can be slippery when wet. In addition, you should consider a mat of a contrasting color to your tub/shower to aid you visually in entering or exiting. Faucet handles can also be color coded. In addition, bright tape can be used on these handles to make them stand out. A contrasting colored shower curtain may also be helpful and a contrasting towel over the edge of the tub will cut glare, help you find the edge of the tub, and ease access.