For most adults, the bathroom serves as a tranquil retreat—a place where they can find solitude and uninterrupted moments for reflection. It's a space where one can control the ambience, lighting, temperature, and sounds. However, it's essential to prioritize safety, especially in rooms like the bathroom and kitchen, known for potential hazards.
For individuals with mobility needs, dexterity issues, vision loss, or general weakness due to accidents, illness, or old age, enhancing the bathroom with special aids or equipment can restore the feeling of sanctuary.

Ensuring Bathroom Safety as age advances, stability may become an issue, and accidental collisions with hard surfaces like washbasins or shower screens can lead to injuries. To maintain independence for as long as possible, it's crucial to adapt the bathroom to suit individual needs. Here are some key points to consider:

1. Lighting: Aging eyes may experience various conditions like presbyopia or blurred vision. Properly adapted lighting focused on essential areas such as light switches, toilet, and towel location, can make it easier to identify one's needs.

2. Privacy: Installing a double-sided lock ensures individual privacy while providing the reassurance that help is available in emergencies.
3. Flooring: Non-slip flooring, with rough rather than shiny tiles, is recommended for enhanced safety. Stone tiles, which absorb moisture, offer an extra layer of protection. Additionally, placing non-slip mats outside the bath and shower areas can prevent slips.

4. Mobility Aids: Strategically placing grab rails within easy reach allows individuals with weakened mobility to have continuous support. Alternatively, a walking frame can be used if there's sufficient space in the bathroom.

5. Door Widths: Widening door frames or using a shower seat with wheels can provide access for wheelchair users.

6. Water Temperatures: Installing water gauges can help individuals with certain illnesses or medications to avoid water that is too hot or cold, ensuring their continued independence.

Choosing Between Bath or Shower The decision to choose between a bath or shower should be based on strength and stability. If both are adequate, a shower is generally safer. However, for those with questionable strength, a bath might be a better choice. Customized solutions are vital to ensure overall safety and independence.
Enhancing Bath Safety:

• Installing grab rails outside and inside the bath helps with entry and exit.
• A bath board can assist in getting into the bath from a seated position.
• Non-slip bath mats both inside and outside the bath are essential to prevent accidents.
• Bath lifts provide additional support for getting in and out of the water, with various features available for comfort and safety.
• Enhancing Shower Safety:
• Fitting grab rails inside and outside the shower space aids entry and exit.
• Using a shower mat inside the shower prevents slipping on soapy surfaces.
• Shower chairs provide support during bathing, either as standalone seats or foldable options attached to the shower wall.
• Wet rooms offer easy access for wheelchair users and those using shower seats with wheels.
• Toileting Solutions: Toilet-related challenges due to balance problems or weakened frames can be addressed by:
• Opting for a higher toilet basin for easier standing.
• Placing grab rails around the toilet for stability.
• Some shower seat designs can fit around the toilet and facilitate toileting.

In summary, adapting the bathroom to specific health needs can transform it into a tranquil retreat accessible to everyone. When selecting bath lifts, shower seats, or any other aids, considering the user's weight and measurements is crucial to ensure safety and prevent accidents. Having a seat and towel readily available outside the bath or shower area further reduces the risk of falls.

If you are looking for mobility solutions in Eastbourne, please feel free to contact us for expert advice at 01323 638078 or drop us an email. Our team is here to assist you in creating a safer and more accessible bathroom that suits your unique needs and promotes independence and peace of mind.