You’re worried about safety issues in your parents’ home as they are getting older. For instance, you have noticed they are having difficulty going up and down the stairs. You are also concerned that they may slip when getting out of the bath tub and fall. What preventive measures can you have installed to help put your mind at ease?
In the bathroom
Because you are concerned about the traditional tub in your parent’s bathroom, consider a walk in tub. A full length walk in bathtub with doors has an easy access bath in and out. Your parents can take a safe bath or a sitting shower. These particular tubs are made to help prevent individuals from slipping and falling. They are installed with handrails and also have seats with texture pads to help prevent sliding when your parents are sitting. A barrier free shower does not have curbs at the bottom. This makes it easier to get in and out for people who have a mobility issue. The shower stall is the same level as the bathroom floor so a wheelchair user can roll right into the stall. Slip resistant floors, as well as grab bars, are used for extra safety features.
To prevent falls in the bathroom, anti-slip treatments can be used on the floor, shower and bathtub. By applying the anti-slip material to the tub and tile treatment, it provides a firmer grip, supplying friction. It will let your parents feel more secure when moving through the bathroom. Anti-slip vinyl strips can also be applied to any trouble spot surfaces such as tiles or around the toilet.
On the stairs
If your parents are having difficulty going up and down the stairs, a stair lift may be the answer. Your parent just sits on the seat, presses a button and the lift ascends the stairway. One parent goes up the steps in the lift and then sends it back down. This is also great for sending baskets of laundry or bags up the steps. The parent can load whatever needs to go upstairs and just press the lift button. The lift takes it up the steps. Two people can even work as a team, one loads at the bottom and the other person removes the load at the top.
Another option, if one parent is wheelchair bound, is the inclined wheelchair lift. This lift allows the wheelchair to roll onto a platform. The lift goes up the stairs and then your parent can ride off it and go wherever he or she needs to go. This lift gives your parent the freedom to use the upstairs again. One other option is the vertical platform lift which is used to bypass stairs completely. This lift is used to access porches and decks for enjoyment of the outdoors.
To keep your parents safe in their own house is an important issue. With all in home safety solutions for seniors, your parents can be safe and happy while living an independent life in their own home.
