Bathroom Slips And Falls Are the Top Causes Of Injuries For The Elderly

We all use the bathroom every day. It’s the place where we all freshen up and get ready for our days each morning. The commonplace and often mundane acts of brushing our teeth, washing our faces, and combing our hair all take place in the bathroom. Of course, showering is another bathroom activity that we all take for granted as a regular everyday task. With the regularity of our bathroom visits, most of us assume that there is never a reason for concern in the small room.

And yet, statistics show that the bathroom can be the most dangerous room within the home. As Nicholas Bakalar reports for the New York Times, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that each year, approximately 235,000 people over the age of 15 visit emergency rooms because of injuries they suffered in the bathroom. About 14 percent of these individuals are hospitalized.

There Are Many Different Factors That Lead to Falls in the Bathroom

Among them are age-related issues like muscle weakness in the legs. This is why many seniors make use of such walking aids as canes, walkers, and wheelchairs. Naturally, a wheelchair user will have to get out of his/her wheelchair to properly use the bathroom. Most homes don’t have bathrooms that are designed in ways to allow wheelchairs to enter. As a result, many seniors are susceptible to losing their balance while using the facilities.

“Lower body weakness, limited mobility or difficulty with walking and balance, and vitamin D deficiencies all make seniors more susceptible to slipping and falling,” says SeniorCaring.com, “Another aspect of aging that may increase the likelihood of falling is medication. Sedatives and antidepressants can create problems with balance, causing a senior to fall.”

Injuries Increase with Age

Of all of those injuries, approximately; two-thirds occur during bathing or showering. And, as you may have guessed, the older we get, the more likely we are to incur such injuries. “Injuries increase with age, peaking after 85, the researchers found,” informs Bakalar, who goes on to note that problems with getting on and off the toilet seem to be a common cause of injury among the elderly.

Covering the same CDC report in the Los Angeles Times, Marissa Cevallos highlights the fact that the vast majority of injuries in the bathroom (81 percent, to be exact) occur because of slips and falls. Pointing to the slippery nature of bathroom surfaces, she notes that it’s no surprise that the bathroom can be a dangerous place. Interestingly, Cevallos also highlights that the CDC’s findings included the fact that women were more likely to be hurt than men.

For Seniors, Any Slip and Fall Is a Major Concern

As reported by the National Safety Council, every 20 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall, and many more are injured. This information comes courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which also reveals that 3 million older adults are treated in emergency departments each year for fall injuries, and more than 800,000 patients are hospitalized each year because of injuries due to a fall. Most often, it’s because of a head injury or hip fracture.

Needless to say, protecting the older adult in your home from slipping and falling in the bathroom is of paramount importance. As the National Safety Council informs us, “because the aging process can affect vision, strength, and balance, adults 65 and older are at elevated risk for falls.” So what can you do to safeguard your bathroom?

Safety Precautions Can Reduce Senior Falls

NewsUSA confirmed similar results found by a National Institute on Aging (NIA) study. Also citing slippery surfaces as a culprit, researchers determined that more than a third of seniors over the age of 65 slip and fall each year — 80 percent of those falls occur in the bathroom. “Knowing how to get in and out of tubs and showers properly and equipping homes with necessary safety precautions can reduce senior falls, keep them out of the emergency room and possibly extend their lives,” they remark on their website.

NewsUSA also cites research from the CDC that reveals that “1.6 million older adults seek emergency care each year for fall-related injuries, fractures or head trauma. In addition to potentially losing their independence, seniors 65 years old and up have a 25 percent chance of dying within six months to a year if they fall and break a hip.” The website lists a number of preventative measures to take, including installing grab bars, non-slip rubber mats, and bright lights in bathrooms.

Putting A Stop To Slips And Falls In The Bathroom

Most bathroom floors are pretty slippery, even when they’re not wet. This makes the bathroom a place where slips and falls often occur.

There are, of course, some steps that can be taken to put a stop to slips and falls in the bathroom.

Bathroom Safety Starts with Clearing the Floor

“Remove all clutter such as plants, hampers, and trash baskets that might make it difficult for seniors to navigate this sometimes small and restricted area,” advises Griswold Home Care, “This includes rugs since even those with non-slip backing can present an obstacle for seniors. If you have linoleum flooring, consider replacing it with wall-to-wall carpeting or textured tile.”

Place Non-slip Mats on the Floor

To address the slippery surface problem, it’s wise to add non-slip mats to your bathroom floor. This will provide users with some much-needed traction for their feet to grip onto. Throw rugs are the opposite of non-slip mats. They should, in fact, be removed from any and all floors in the home. Throw rugs are known to bunch up and become tripping hazards.

“Numerous falls are brought about by slippery surfaces,” affirms Kerovit.com, “In order to prevent slips, it is prompted that you introduce non-slip surfaces on the floor of your bathroom. Non-slip decals ought to likewise be applied to bathroom tiles, which can be similarly dangerous as the tub when wet. Remove rugs or mats on which one can stumble upon and slip.”

Brightly Illuminate the Bathroom

The importance of good lighting should not be underestimated. It’s practically impossible to trip over something you can clearly see. Be mindful that, for many elderly adults, vision impairment is an issue. Ensure that your bathroom is brightly illuminated so that everyone can clearly see what is in front of them on the floor. As Brian O. Sutter of Florida’s All Injuries Law Firm notes, this is especially important at night.

“Make sure that your bathroom lighting is adequately bright enough for your daily needs,” he writes, “Additionally, you may want to use a nightlight or install an illuminated switch in order to make the bathroom easier to find in the middle of the night. Some even use glow-in-the-dark stickers or markings to create an easy-to-see path from the bedroom to the bathroom.”

To read more, check out the original article published on Shower Bay.