7 Ways to Make the Bathroom Elderly Friendly

We've learned a lot about bathroom and shower safety for senior citizens living with my grandfather for the past 6 years.

Did you know 1 in 3 seniors over age 65 fall every year, with 80% of these falls being in the bathroom?

My grandfather turned 94 years old earlier this year, so bathroom safety is of the utmost importance, especially since he is pretty self-reliant.

Large Doorways and Bathroom Width

As we age, balance becomes an issue. To be on the safe side, my grandfather has a walker he uses around the house when he's feeling bad or just because.

This thing isn't overly huge, but it has some bulk to it, which means it's hard to get into tight spaces. Fitting this sucker into a typical four-piece bathroom with a shower tub combo would be a challenge.

Luckily, he has a double door entry into his wide bathroom. He has plenty of space to maneuver the walker around without gashing holes in the wall.

Easy Shower Access

At the previous house we lived at with my grandfather, his bathroom had a typical shower-tub combo. As time went on, he became concerned about lifting his legs over the sides of the tub without falling.

A height of 13 inches or so might seem like nothing when you are 30, but 90 is a different story. It became a dangerous balancing act for him, so easy shower access was a must when we moved.

We opted for a walk-in shower. Now that's something he can handle!

Non-Slip Floors

As we all know, showers and bathtubs can be dangerous. Water combined with slick surfaces is just asking for accidents to happen.

If you have a fiberglass shower or tub, non-slip shower treads are a great thing to install. They help prevent slips and are super easy to install.

If you have a stone tile shower like we do, these stick-on treads will not work. We learned this the hard way. Thankfully, he didn't fall, but he could have, which is scary.

It turns out sticker treads are only meant for smooth surfaces, so these babies practically came up as easily as they went on. The same goes for shower mats and anything with suction cups. A complete no go for stone tile showers!

I suggest using an anti-slip floor treatment for stone tile showers. This treatment permanently improves traction just by pouring it on and rinsing off. You can repeat it if you need more traction. It works well and doesn't change the appearance of the tile!

Shower Grab Bars

No matter how non-slip your shower and tub floors are, accidents still happen. What if your loved one becomes light-headed or dizzy? Having something they can securely grab is essential.

We installed four grab bars, one for each wall of his shower. These are drilled directly into the tile and can fully support his weight (and more so). Much safer than the suction cup variety that we can't even use.

When it comes to the best shower grab bars for your situation the material of your shower should be the first thing you look at.

Shower Bench

Let's face it, as we age; our energy levels go down. I know mine has.

Throw in a hot, relaxing shower that is exhausting at the same time, and some sitting may be required. Or perhaps, they are just feeling weak.

Either way, a shower bench or a built-in seat is great to have. This way, they can get clean AND sit. The best of both worlds!

Combination Shower Head System

One of the times my grandfather was in the hospital, we noticed how their showers had two heads. One head was fixed, but the other was removable and on an adjustable slide bar so that when you are sitting, you can get sprayed up close and personal.

It was nice and very convenient for when you have to sit in the shower. Guess what? We installed one of these babies at home too. It's been a game-changer.

Toilet Safety Rail

Another trick we learned from the hospital was toilet safety. Getting up from a seated position can take work when you are older.

Having something that you can grab to pull yourself up comes in handy. I didn't want to install grab bars in the walls, so I found a handy standalone safety rail. It does the trick and even comes with a magazine rack.