Why your bathroom might not be as safe as you think

Reader's Daigest Bathing Care can help you adapt your bathroom to your needs

According to the Office of National Statistics, approximately one in three people over the age of 65 experienced a fall last year necessitating some form of medical attention. And the older we become the greater the risk becomes. Indeed, if you are in the over 75 age bracket, nearly one in two will experience a fall.

You might expect that these falls would mostly occur in unfamiliar surroundings or outside during the winter months. In fact, the vast majority happen at home. And were you aware that the bathroom is the most common and the most dangerous place to have a fall?

This is why planning now to make your bathroom a safer place is a sensible thing to do.

Not only that, as we age we often start to lose body strength which can cause difficulties when taking a bath or shower. Getting into a bath may be easy but getting out can prove difficult and dangerous. It is also important to continue to look after your personal hygiene as this is essential to maintain your health and well-being.

So, changing your bathroom to make it a safer environment as you become older makes perfect sense. Whether you choose to shower or bathe is a matter of personal preference. The important thing is that your bathroom should be as safe as possible, and the best way to ensure this is to make your bathroom easier for you to use. By making some changes to your bathroom, you can rediscover the pleasure of bathing.

This could include keeping the floor space free of clutter to avoid trip hazards and cleaning up puddles of water which you could slip on. Investing in an inexpensive bathroom mat with a secure nonslip rubber backing. And always ensuring your bathroom is well lit—a nightlight for finding your way safely during late-night visits is also a good idea.

Today, there are so many products available designed to give you the confidence to bathe safely and securely again.

Changing an old impractical bathroom for something that suits your needs exactly should not be a daunting task. If you talk to the right bathroom specialists, you will find a level of expertise for complete peace of mind. Look for a company who will take care of everything for you from design right through to installation, with fully trained advisors who are expert in assisting people with mobility issues.

Low-level access to your bath or shower, slip-resistant surfaces in the shower and on the floor, correctly positioned and fitted grab rails, comfortable folding seats, thermostatic controls for a safe and even water temperature and easy clean wall panels to make cleaning your bathroom effortless. All of these can make a world of difference and help you to maintain your confidence when using your bathroom.

Making bathing easier doesn’t mean making it more boring. Reader’s Digest work with Bathing Solutions, who were one of the first companies to specialise in the supply and installation of bathrooms specifically designed for the mature customer and who pride themselves on being able to make a real difference to the lives and well-being of our customers.

All of the walk-in showers and baths we recommend have special features designed with safety, security and simplicity at the forefront to bring you complete peace of mind and relaxation in the bathroom, providing the most stylish, contemporary and luxurious solution to bathing difficulty.

To find out more information and discover which bathing solution is right for you, fill in the form below to request a call back from one of our bathroom advisors and receive our free brochure. You can also call us on 0808 273 3655 to ask a question or request a FREE no-obligation appointment.