How to Best Protect Against Bathroom Falls

For both elderly and disabled people, the bathroom can often be a place where the most severe trips, slips and falls occur.

Moving around the shower, bath or across the slippery floor brings with it a whole host of risks to someone with limited mobility or balance.

At Felgains, we have a wide range of products that can help to lessen the chances of slips and protect you and your loved ones against bathroom falls.

To help you find out which products are right for your family, we’ve put together a simple guide that will walk you through the uses and benefits of some bathroom aids that can support independent living and safety in the bathroom .

1. Walk-in baths – These can greatly help service users to enjoy the pleasure of relaxing in a hot bath, without the overhanging worry of potentially slipping or falling whilst getting in and out. Walk-in baths are completely secure and easy to use, making them ideal for those who may currently struggle to manoeuvre their way in and out of the bathtub. However, there is the slight drawback that you will have to be positioned in the bath before turning on the taps, and whilst draining it – which can create a few chilly minutes!
2. Bath boards – Bath boards are incredibly simple and easy to use, and can be a fantastic aid for mobility, as long as the user has good upper body strength. They are simply a non-slip board, fitted across the bath to the edges with adjustable brackets. This gives you something to grip and slide onto when entering and exiting the bath, and can be stored neatly away when not in use.
3. Bath lifters – There are a few different styles of bath lifters, all of which are designed to help a person enter and exit the bathwater carefully and securely, negating the risk of trips and injuries that can occur if the person has limited mobility. Bath lifters can be solid, or cushioned. Cushioned bath lifters are inflatable, and can be gently deflated to lower the person into the water. Leaving them semi-inflated means that the person will experience extra comfort and support in the water. Solid bath lifters often come with reclining backs that are contoured, to position yourself in the water better and provide greater comfort.
4. Shower seats & chairs – Shower seats and chairs are an additional safety measure that can greatly reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls in the shower itself. Providing service users with the support needed to feel comfortable while showering, the seats will help both the elderly and disabled to easily reach soaps, shampoos and other products, without overexerting and potentially slipping. If you’re wondering which option is best for you, then we would recommend a stool for a person who can maintain their own posture, and a chair for someone who can’t. A stool allows for greater manoeuvrability and ability to wash, whilst a chair offers greater support.
5. Toilet seats & frames – These can be easily fitted around your existing bathroom toilet and are ideal for supporting those with limited mobility in moving on and off the toilet-seat. This is again, another brilliant way to help your loved one retain their independence while ensuring they’re well-protected against common slip hazards.
6. Grab rails – Grab rails can be fitted anywhere in the bathroom where they’re likely to be needed for physical support. A great accompaniment to bath hoists and lifts, these small but versatile bathroom aids are fantastic for helping elderly or disabled service users to keep their balance whilst getting around the bathroom.

All of the above products should give you some indication of how slips, trips and falls in the bathroom can be largely prevented with effective safety measures.

If you would like any more information about any of our bathroom aids, or to speak to one of our team members, feel free to get in touch today.