Bathroom Safety Features You’ll Find in an Assisted Living Community
When considering assisted living settings for your senior loved one, your mind must be racing with countless questions. Amid these overwhelming concerns, bathroom safety is one important aspect that is often overlooked.
As your parent or senior loved one ages, they may struggle to manage simple bathroom routines. Their limited mobility, cognitive decline, and other uncertain health conditions make them prone to accidents like slipping and falling in the bathroom.
That’s where assisted living communities come in with their safety-equipped bathrooms. In this post, we’ll explore all the bathroom safety features that you can notice in an assisted living community.
7 Essential Features That Bathrooms Must Have in an Assisted Living Community
1. Transfer Benches
Seniors who have trouble standing for a shower or can’t use a shower bench can take advantage of this transfer bench to the greatest extent. This accessory provides stability and minimizes the need for excessive movement, limiting the risk of slips and falls.
Your senior loved one can safely get in and out of the bathtub or shower, as you can attach the transfer bench to the side of the bathtub.
2. Raised Toilet Seats
Your senior loved one doesn’t need to strain when sitting and standing while using the bathroom. These communities often feature raised toilet seats in bathrooms that increase safety, reduce pressure on the knees and hips, and make everyday routines less prone to accidents.
3. Non-skid surfaces
In assisted living communities, bathroom floors are thoughtfully designed to increase the friction between a surface and an object, preventing seniors from slipping and falling. They use non-skid mats and have slip-resistant flooring to avoid slipping and sliding.
4. Emergency Call Systems
Seniors in their golden years face difficulties in doing simple daily tasks, leaving their family members constantly worried about their well-being. However, assisted living communities feature emergency call systems that allow seniors to call caregivers or emergency services if they experience a sudden health issue or injury in the bathroom. These systems can be installed as pull cords, wall buttons, or wearable devices, offering fast response in urgent situations and relaxation to the families and caregivers of the seniors.
According to a study published by NIH, older adults are more likely to experience serious injury through falls in the bathroom. It’s always best to have safety features like emergency call systems in the bathroom, so if in an unfortunate case your senior loved one experiences a fall, they can instantly call for help.
5. Built-in grab bars
Due to limited mobility or any chronic health issues, your senior loved one may need a bit of assistance to maintain their balance when navigating bathrooms in an assisted living community. Fortunately, many assisted living communities feature built-in grab bars in apartment bathrooms, ensuring your loved one can maintain their safety and privacy while using the bathroom. Whether they are near the toilet, tub, or shower, grab bars maintain balance. They offer utmost support to residents when sitting, standing, or moving around the bathroom.
6. Handheld showerheads
Residents in assisted living communities can direct the water flow exactly as they want without having to stand for an extended period. These handheld showerheads come with different modes, making bathing easier and safer by providing control. Moreover, it’s great for older adults who use a shower chair.
7. Adequate Lighting
If your senior loved one has a vision problem, they are more prone to falling, especially when using the bathroom at night. Senior living communities install adequate lighting in the bathroom, ensuring clearer vision for everyone. Adequate lighting can significantly minimize the risk of falls.
Want to Make Your Loved One’s Daily Tasks Easier and Safer? Explore Bailey Pointe Assisted Living at Roxbury Park Today
All in all, when choosing an assisted living community for your senior loved one, pay attention to the safety features integrated within the community, especially in the bathroom. The modern and well-designed features make a notable difference in preventing your senior loved one from slips, slides, and falls. It will help them manage bathroom routines with ease and stability.
At Bailey Pointe Assisted Living, our team offers a safe, secure, and dignified lifestyle for residents who need assistance with daily living activities. We ensure to prioritize bathroom safety to avoid falls and injuries.
The bathrooms in our community are well-lit, thoughtfully built, and equipped with senior-friendly features that promote comfort and self-reliance. Want to learn more about our offerings? Schedule a tour at Bailey Pointe Assisted Living at Roxbury Park and see how our thoughtfully-designed features promote safety, security, and autonomy.
