Making the Bathroom Safer, Step by Step
Mobility & Comfort · How-to · 6 min read
Making the Bathroom Safer, Step by Step
More falls happen in the bathroom than in any other room of the house, and almost none of them are dramatic. Wet tile, a low seat, nothing solid to hold. Most of it is fixable in an afternoon.
Grab bars: where they actually go
Two positions do most of the work. One vertical bar just inside the shower or bath entrance, roughly at chest height, for the step in and out. One horizontal or angled bar on the long wall, around 33 to 36 inches off the floor, for standing and turning.
Beside the toilet, a bar on the wall at 33 to 36 inches, or a floor-anchored frame if there is no solid wall within reach.
Fix into studs or use proper hollow-wall anchors rated for the load. A bar that pulls out of the plaster is worse than no bar, because it is trusted. Suction-cup handles are for balance only, never for weight.
What is not a handle
Towel rails, soap dishes, the basin edge, the shower screen. All of them get grabbed in a stumble and none of them are fixed for it. If something is being used as a handle, put a real bar there.
The floor
- A rubber-backed mat inside the bath or shower, and one outside that does not curl at the edges
- Bin any loose rug that slides; if it stays, tape it down on all four sides
- Keep a squeegee or a towel where puddles form
Sitting down
A shower stool or transfer bench turns a long stand into a short one, and a handheld shower head means the water comes to the person rather than the other way round. A raised toilet seat of two to four inches takes a surprising amount of load off the knees.
Light and reach
A night light on the route from bed to bathroom removes the two worst moments of the day. Move shampoo, soap and towels to between shoulder and hip height so nothing needs a stretch or a bend on a wet floor. A long-handled sponge does the rest.
The order to do it in
- Non-slip mats and loose rugs, today
- Night light on the route
- Grab bar at the shower or bath entrance
- Bar beside the toilet, or a frame
- Shower stool and handheld head
- Raised toilet seat if standing up is the hard part
If mounting into tile or an unfamiliar wall, get a handyman to do it. An occupational therapist can advise on placement for a specific person, and in many areas that assessment is free.
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