The vast majority of retirement communities in Dallas, TX put a lot of effort into making their apartments as safe as possible. Senior assisted living communities provide care for retirees with age-related physical problems. These include lower limb weakness or paralysis due to various reasons, from diabetes to fractures. Using the bathroom can be dangerous if you are one of such individuals. The presence of a slippery floor, water, and soap makes it easy for you to fall. Most falls in this age group occur in the bathroom. To prevent this, you must ensure that your bathroom is designed to protect you from any such injury. Some of the ways in which retirement communities can protect you from bathroom falls include:
Installation Of Grab Bars
These are cost-effective methods of making it easy to get extra support when in the bathroom. Grab bars are easy to install in any bathroom. They should be designed to support more than the weight of an adult since many people will hold them to prevent a fall. They are also designed with non-slip surfaces and are stable enough to prevent a fall compared to countertops. For maximum effectiveness, grab bars need to be installed at the correct height so that they are not too high or too low for those using the bathroom and who will most need them. The bars should also be durable, easy to clean, and rust-free. They should not have pointed edges to prevent injury when holding them.
Using Tub Grab Bars
Bathrooms that have a bathtub can cause high risk to senior individuals. Getting into and out of a bath tab could result in a fall and severe injury, including head trauma and bone fractures. To prevent this, one can install tub grab bars. These are similar to the regular bathroom grab bars, only that they are designed to help one get into and out of a bathtub easily. Even people using wheelchairs can make use of them. This provides more independence when using the bathroom.
Transfer Benches
Individuals with reduced mobility can also benefit from transfer benches when using bathtubs. These are designed to make it easy to get into and out of a bathtub with ease. If you depend on a caregiver, it can also make it easier for them to get you into and out of a bathtub without struggling much. They are easy to install and can fit practically any bathtub. Their surfaces are also designed to provide more friction to reduce slipping and falling.
Bath Lifts
As the name suggests, you can use these devices to get into and out of a bathtub. They are usually very comfortable and enable you to ease yourself into a position to use a bathtub without additional help. The waterproof controls make it easier to use, more long-lasting, and less prone to damage.
These and more assistance devices make it possible to use bathrooms with minimal risk when you move into an assisted senior living community. If your apartment does not have one, you can always ask the team members to help install one that suits your needs.
