A house with elderly people requires adaptation, there is no way. And one of the most worrying environments is, without a doubt, the bathroom. Damp, small, and slippery, the bathroom is one of the places that most cause domestic accidents with the elderly.
In some cases, the fall turns into just an excoriation, but in others it can be fatal, even causing fractures and trauma. To avoid this risk, the best thing to do is a bathroom adapted for the elderly. But do you know what an adapted bathroom needs to have? How much? These and other questions we answer below, come see.
What is the importance of a bathroom adapted for the elderly?
Over the years, the human body begins to suffer natural “wear and tear” that, in most cases, deprives the elderly of the ability to carry out their activities independently. This is the case, for example, with muscle loss that affects the sense of balance.
Added to these typical inconveniences of age, some diseases usually affect this age group, such as high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes, among others. These health conditions require those who are close to adopting some measures that offer the elderly, not only security but also autonomy, comfort, well-being, and self-esteem. The main precautions are related to accessibility, especially in environments where the risk of accidents is greater, such as bathrooms.
A bathroom adapted correctly for the elderly eliminates the risk of falls and, consequently, fractures and other sequelae that can quickly deteriorate the person’s physical condition.
What does a bathroom adapted for the elderly need to have?
Support and support bars
Grab and support bars are one of the most important items a senior’s bathroom needs to have. They are essential to prevent falls and help the elderly to get up and sit down, whether on the toilet or in the bath chair. However, the bars need to follow technical standards to ensure safety.
The recommendation is that they support 150 kg of weight, have between 30 and 45 cm in diameter, and be installed with a gap of 4 cm from the wall. The bars must still be installed at 1.10m and 1.30m from the floor. The main installation place for the bars is in the shower area and around the toilet. In large bathrooms, it is recommended that bars be installed along the walls to facilitate movement.
Simplified actuation faucets
Like doorknobs, faucets also need to be easily turned on. Therefore, prefer those with a half-turn opening instead of the full turn taps.
Non-slip floor
Luckily, there are now numerous types of non-slip flooring, including ceramic, epoxy, and rubber. In contrast, avoid floors with a polished and satin finish, as they are smooth and slippery.
Bath chair
Every bathroom adapted for the elderly needs a bath chair. Even those who do not use a wheelchair can benefit from this type of support. First, because the chair offers more comfort and, second, because the chair prevents the elderly person from standing up and, consequently, end up suffering a fall.
However, avoid common chairs for the bath. The ideal is to have chairs suitable for this purpose and with non-slip feet and material that is easy to clean and sanitize.
Contrasting colors
It is highly recommended that the senior’s bathroom have contrasting colors between the floor and the wall. This facilitates the location of the elderly, especially if they have vision problems.
For example, use a blue floor and white wall covering.
