If you’re like millions of other American seniors, you’re determined to remain in your home during your golden years, enjoying all the independence and familiarity that comes with it. As we wrote in our recent free eBook, for people of any age, many rooms of your home can contain risks to your health and safety. For seniors who want to enjoy their homes for many years to come, we recommend taking a few simple precautions to avoid these risks. One of the most treacherous rooms in your home is the bathroom. The combination of water and hard, slick surfaces presents the opportunity for particularly painful slips and falls. Here are a few tips for reducing the risk of injury in your bathroom:

• Place non-skid mats or strips inside and around your bathtub. Non-slip mats near the toilet and sinks are also a good idea. These will help you keep your footing even in wet conditions.
• Use shower chairs and bath benches if you need them.
• Install a single-lever, anti-scald mixing faucet on your bathtub. A qualified plumber can help you with this. It’s both easy to use and will prevent you from burning yourself.
• Remove throw rugs or bathmats. These can slip on hard bathroom floors if you’re not careful.
• Make sure the bathroom door opens outward. This will make it easier for caregivers to enter should you fall down behind the door.
• Install door locks that can be opened from both sides. Again, so you won’t get stuck inside the bathroom should an emergency occur.
• Install a night light.
• If you need it, install an accessible shower or bathtub. A full range of accessible showers and bathtubs is available from specialty retailers like Med mart
• Store medications somewhere that is easily accessible and safe.
• Use a long-handled brush to assist with bathing. No more contorting yourself to access those hard-to-reach areas.
• Install a hand-held showerhead with a flexible hose in the shower. See above.
• Make sure the bathtub or shower doors are made of safety glass or plastic. The last thing you want in your bathroom is shattered glass.
• Install grab bars on the walls by the bathtub and toilet.
• Make sure towel bars and the soap dish in the shower stall are firmly installed.
• Be sure that all bathroom outlets have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) that protect against electric shock. A qualified electrician should be able to help you with this.

Safety Tips for the Rest of Your House

If you follow the guidelines in this article, you will transform your bathroom into a safe, comfortable space. What about the rest of your house? For tips on injury-proofing your kitchen, your bedroom, your living room, and the rest of your home.