The entertainment industry was hit by shock with the passing of a talented Yoruba actor and producer, Murphy Afolabi, who was said to have died after bathroom falls.
According to the United States Centre for Diseases Control, up to 80 per cent of falls in the home occur in the bathroom.
These fall-related injuries can range from minor scrapes and bruises to broken bones, head injuries and spinal cord, and more than 200,000 senior citizens, according to the CDC, are treated in emergency rooms each year.
Experts have identified that the bathroom can be a dangerous place for senior citizens and people advanced in ages (mid-ages – between 54 and 65).
This is because bathroom floors are slick.
The surfaces are wet; the space is small and everything is hard.
If you fall in a bathroom, there is a good chance that in addition to the impact of hitting the floor, you will hit some part of your body – head, knee, shoulder – on a cabinet or fixture.
Stats
Recent studies have shown that for people aged 65 and older, falls account for approximately 60 per cent of all injury-related emergency department visits and over 50 per cent of injury-related deaths annually, and up to 80 per cent of falls in the home occur in the bathroom.
Belvedere Homecare, an online health resource, states that most fall in the bathroom occur while seniors are transferred or are being transferred in and out of the tub or shower, or while using the toilet.
Seniors who are experiencing balance or mobility issues also fall when they are using sink tops, shower bars, hampers, or other unstable objects to support themselves when in the bathroom.
Slick tile floors and small bathroom rugs can be a tripping hazard and cause a fall even if a senior is going into the bathroom to wash their hands or brush their teeth.
A safety professional, Mr Terry Promise, noted that adding safety features in the bathroom is a relatively easy and inexpensive way to help prevent loved ones from falling in the bathroom.
Install Grab Bars
Every bathroom should have grab bars close to the showers beside the bathtub and in the toilet.
Installing grab bars will limit and even remove bathroom fall incidences since people will have something to hold on to before they hit the ground and get injured.
Growing older, keeping balance can be difficult, especially on wet and slippery surfaces and lifting yourself.
Installing rails or handlebars throughout the bathroom, including by the toilet and around the tub and shower, can create a sturdy surface.
Whatever the size and shape of your bathroom, rails and bars vary in shape, placed accordingly.
Try to avoid finding substitutes for these rails, such as shelves or soap dishes, as they might not be able to hold your weight and can cause further accidents and injury.
Place Non-Slip Mats Around Bathtubs
Falls often occur when senior citizens are getting in and out of the tub or shower or standing up after using the toilet.
However, placing a non-slip mat or decals on the floor of the shower or bathtub and a non-slip rug on the floor outside the tub or shower could help prevent falls.
“Non-slip mats – rather than fluffy rugs – are also the way to go in front of the toilet and the sink,” he added.
Older persons, in addition to placing a non-slip mat, should be advised to use a shower chair so they could sit while showering to prevent slips and falls.
“Make sure the chair has a non-slip seat and rubber tips on the feet so it won’t slide in the shower or tub.”
Take Your Time
Rushing around is the key to causing accidents, as you’re not thinking about any potential hazards your bathroom has.
Take your time when using the toilet, having a shower or a bath, and applying our advice on bathroom safety.
Paul, one of our correspondents, fell victim to this circumstance. On a Monday morning, he was racing to work when he fell in the bathroom.
“I actually had to rush to the toilet to have my bath because I was late to work,” he said.
“I tried to hurry out to get dressed for work after taking a bath, but I slipped and struck my knee on the tile floor.”
However, being slower in your movements allows you to enjoy the pleasure of bathing and relaxing, reducing your chance of falling or slipping over.
Read more: 3 Foods You Should Always Microwave In A Microwave-Safe Container
Utilising bathroom aids such as shower chairs, handrails, non-stick mats, raised toilet seats, and adjustable shower heads are a few ways to help prevent accidents in the bathroom.
These methods create a safety barrier to enable the bathroom to become a more accessible and inclusive space for the elderly or the disabled.
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