More accidents happen in the bathroom than in any other room of the house. This statistic is especially disturbing for people who are handicapped or have mobility issues. The good news is that there are many products available to help you avoid devastating injuries in your bathroom. From bathtub grab rails, to raised toilet seats, it’s not hard to find just the right bathroom safety products to give you or a loved one much-needed peace of mind.

Injuries, advanced age, and afflictions like arthitis, can make basic day-to-day activities, like bathing or using the toilet, painful or even dangerous. Thankfully, there is help available, but it can be confusing to decide exactly what you need to make your life easier. This guide will give you the information you need to make the right choices.

There are three main categories of bathroom safety equipment:
Bath chairs and benches
Toilet seats
Basic safety supplies
BATH CHAIRS AND BENCHES

There are several different styles of bath chairs and benches available, ranging from a simple bath stool to a shower transfer bench. To choose the one that’s right for you or your loved one, you will need to answer a few basic questions. Do you want something that will just allow you to stay seated while showering? Do you prefer baths, but need to sit at a higher level than your bathtub floor? If so, a bath stool or bath seat will suit your needs perfectly. This inexpensive option will allow you to take your bath or shower in comfort, without the strain of standing the entire time, or struggling to lower and raise yourself from the bathtub floor. If you want extra support, you can even get a bath seat with a back rest. This will provide even more comfort and stability.

If you have trouble stepping over the bathtub wall, you should consider a transfer bench. Transfer benches are designed so that one end of the bench extends beyond your bathtub, while the other end sits in the tub itself. You can sit on the bench and simply slide yourself over into the tub. Then, you can sit in comfort while bathing or showering, and not have to worry about falling. Most transfer benches can be used whether your shower head is on the right or the left, and most have back rests for added stability.

When chosing a bath seat or tranfer bench, make sure you select one with an adequate weight limit for your needs. Most standard seats and benches have a 250 pound weight capacity, but 400-pound and 550-pound seats and benches are readily available.

TOILET SEATS

If you have difficulty sitting down or standing up from the toilet, a raised toilet seat can make your life so much easier! Most raised toilet seats add at least 4″ to the height of your standard toilet, and that can make a world of difference to your comfort. This product is available in several different variations, and it’s important to chose the one that’s right for you.

The “Cadillac” of raised toilet seats has support arms and a locking clamp. These toilet seats provide all the safety and stability you could want. The support arms give you an excellant “extra hand”, and the locking clamp ensures that the seat will not shift when you sit down or stand up. You can also buy a raised toilet seat with a locking clamp, but no support arms. This is especially helpful for people who need to transfer from a wheelchair to the toilet seat, because you will not have to worry about the arms getting in the way. If you just need the extra height, but you don’t have to worry about the extra support of the arm rests or the lock, you can also buy a very inexpensive seat elevator. This is perfect for people with arthritic knees or people recovering from knee surgery, as it adds the extra inches, and is very inexpensive.

BASIC SAFETY SUPPLIES

In addition to the items above, you may want to consider some basic safety supplies to help make your life easier. For example, a handheld shower is perfect to use with any bath seat or transfer bench. It will ensure that you can stay seated the entire time, and will be able to wash even hard to reach areas without standing up. Also, a bathtub rail makes getting into and out of the tub even safer. This rail attaches to the side of the tub, giving you something to hold on to. You’ll never have to worry about falling on a slippery surface again. When it comes to slippery surfaces, non-slip pads are always a good investment. They are available in many sizes, shapes and designs, so you should have no problems finding the one that’s right for you. Finally, grab bars for your bathroom walls will give you added safety in your bathroom. You can attach these bars to as many walls in your bathroom as needed, so you always have something to grab if you need some extra support.

Tags: Bathroom