{"id":740,"date":"2016-04-14T12:10:25","date_gmt":"2016-04-14T16:10:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.freedomshowers.com\/?p=740"},"modified":"2024-01-09T11:29:23","modified_gmt":"2024-01-09T16:29:23","slug":"bathroom-safety-does-your-bathroom-love-you-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freedomshowers.com\/blog\/bathroom-safety-does-your-bathroom-love-you-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Bathroom Safety: Does Your Bathroom Love You Back?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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‘How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you’re on.’ For many of us, the bathroom is our personal spa. It’s a good thing we love our time spent there, as it’s estimated the average person spends\u00a01.5 years of their life\u00a0<\/span>in the lavatory.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

We go to our bathroom to relax. A hot shower washes away our daily worries while a drawn bath allows us to unwind. Unfortunately, the love we have for our bathroom isn’t always reciprocated. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a><\/span>, every year about 36 million falls are <\/span>reported among older adults each year, many of which are due to injuries in the bathroom.<\/p>\n

Injuries in or near the shower and bathtub account for more than two-thirds of emergency room visits<\/span>, while injuries around the toilet are very high in individuals who are 65+<\/span>, says the Center for Disease Control.<\/p>\n

The statistics are frightening, especially for seniors with mobility issues. Fortunately, there are ways to make sure your bathroom remains a personal retreat and not a trip to the emergency. Whether you are mobility-restricted or caring for someone with mobility disabilities, the following 7 tips<\/strong><\/span> provide you with simple and effective ways to reclaim your bathroom sanctuary by improving bathroom safety.<\/p>\n

7 Ways to Improve Accessibility for Bathroom Safety<\/span><\/h3>\n
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    1. Comfortable Height Toilets<\/span><\/strong>: Most standard toilets are only 15\u201d high\u201a sometimes shorter. For comparison, most standard household chairs are around 18\u201d or higher.\u00a0 Seniors often struggle when transferring on or off the toilet seat\u201a comfort height toilets make the transition easier.<\/li>\n
    2. Roll-Under Sinks<\/span><\/strong>: Standard vanity sinks are difficult for wheelchair users\u201a as the vanity doesn\u2019t allow the user to get close enough to use the sink properly. Roll under sinks have a shallow bowl and no cabinets underneath, leaving enough room to roll right up to the sink comfortably.<\/li>\n
    3. Walk-in Bathtub<\/span><\/strong>: Taking a bath is one of the first things we have to give up when the fear of falling (or getting back up) becomes a concern. It doesn\u2019t have to be that way. Replace a shower or existing bathtub with a walk-in bathtub<\/a><\/u><\/span>\u00a0that allows you to sit up straight while you soak.<\/li>\n
    4. Barrier Free Showers<\/span><\/strong>: \u00a0Getting in and out of conventional bathtubs and showers can be a struggle and dangerous, especially for seniors and those with limited mobility. There are a couple of opportunities for replacing this space<\/em>:\n