Helpful bathroom safety products

Bathrooms are one of the highest risk areas in the home. Nearly half of all falls in Australia occur at home, with bathrooms being the second most frequent area for falls to occur (after outdoor areas).

Common problems that make falling more likely include:

• Poor lighting
• Slippery surfaces
• Cramped space
• Using bathroom fixtures and fittings for support

Some simple inexpensive changes can make your bathroom safer.

Reduce the risk of slipping in your bathroom

• Remove any tripping hazards such as floor mats that shift around.
• Use a non-slip shower mat to reduce the slipperiness of the bath or shower floor. These are stocked by many retailers.
• Install anti-slip tape on the floor of the shower recess or bath.
• Paint the bathroom floor with anti-slip paint to reduce the slipperiness.
• Make sure any spills or puddles are mopped up quickly. 

Grab rails

Grab rails can reduce the risk of falls and injury in the bathroom by giving you something secure to support yourself with. If you feel unsteady in the bathroom, a grab rail may be an option to consider.

Notes about grab rails:

• We strongly advise you to seek advice from an occupational therapist if you feel you may benefit from a grab rail.
• Grab rails should be installed by a qualified tradesperson. In wet areas such as showers, the waterproof seal may need to be repaired when grab rails are installed.
• A tradesperson can check your wall's suitability. Some walls may not be suitable for a grab rail to be installed without additional support.
• Having professional advice and a qualified tradesperson to install a grab rail ensures you get the best possible support in the bathroom. 
• Through an occupational therapist, funding may be available to support necessary home modifications. Speak with My Aged Care to arrange an appointment.

Improve the lighting in your bathroom

• Use an automatic night light for improved vision within the bathroom. These can be powered by battery, so you can simply place the light where it's needed. 
• Plug-in LED motion lights can also be reliable night lights as long as your house has power. If you're concerned about power use, consider these ones from Bunnings.
• It's also important to consider your journey to the bathroom during the night. Use a night light in your bedroom as well as the hallway and entry to your bathroom. 

Improve your bathroom heating and ventilation

• Use a timer switch or appliance timer to turn heated towel rails on and off automatically.
• A wall-mounted swivel-heated towel rail can be installed as a plug-in or hardwired fixture.
• There are many heated towel rail options available including freestanding heated towel rails. These need to be positioned safely to reduce the risk of accidental burns or using the towel rail as a grab rail.
• Consider a bathroom heat light if you get cold before or after showering. An IXL Tastic 3-in-1 bathroom heat fan light provides lighting, heating, and an exhaust fan in a single fitting. Note: it must be installed by a qualified electrician.

Assistive technology to make showering safer

• A 2 in 1 shower head and hand shower means you can stand under an overhead shower or use the handheld shower head while sitting on a shower stool or chair.
• Tap turners make it easier to turn taps. Another option is to replace taps with quarter-turn ceramic disk lever taps. A quarter turn of the handle gives a full flow of water. This is ideal if you have a weak grip or arthritis.
• Consider installing lever taps if you're renovating your bathroom. Lever taps are ideal if you have difficulty twisting a tap on and off. Instead of twisting a tap, you can just push it up or down. 
• Make sure your water temperature is at a safe level to prevent scalding. A hot water thermostat controller lets you control the output of your hot water system for temperature control and safety. This can also be helpful if you find it difficult to use taps. It also makes it easier if you need to mix hot and cold water. 

Bathroom aids for safety and independence

• Long-handled aids such as a back brush or sponge or a long-handled toe washer help you wash difficult-to-reach body parts such as your back or feet. These are also helpful if you have difficulty bending. 
• If you have difficulty reaching your back or even your legs, you can use a long-handled applicator such as a backslap lotion applicator. This can make it easier to apply body wash, lotions, or sunscreen to your back.
• A big risk for falls in the shower is bending down to pick up soap. A Soap-on-a-rope can help you use your favourite soap without worrying. A soap-on-a-rope be looped around your wrist or hung on a hook for easy access. You can also tie a cake of soap inside an old stocking, or tights, and then hang it from the shower tap. 
• Use an adult hooded poncho robe or a towelling bath robe to help with getting dry after your shower. These are light weight and absorb water faster. These are also easier to use one handed than a regular towel. 
• A hair towel wrap or lightweight towel can make it easier to manage wet hair. These are absorbent and dry your hair faster than a regular towel. They are also lighter and easier to manage on your hair than a regular towel. 

LiveUp’s assistive products database

LiveUp’s assistive products database offers cost-effective solutions. You can also read about some popular low-cost gadgets here. LiveUp is powered by a not-for-profit, so we don't make any money from these suggestions.

We offer you some simple solutions to help. However, we strongly advise you to get advice from an experienced occupational therapist and/or home modifications expert. This ensures that your needs are met with the most appropriate products and safest placement of fixtures.

If you need more information, get in touch with one of our helpful team on 1800 951 971.

An occupational therapist can help you

You may benefit from seeing an occupational therapist for some professional advice. An occupational therapist can help:

1. Adapt or redesign your bathroom to best meet your needs
2. Give you tips to make personal care easier
3. Find products to help you do the things you want to do, now and into the future

Find an OT in your local area with the search tool on the Occupational Therapy Australia website.

References

Stevens, J. A., Mahoney, J. E., & Ehrenreich, H. (2014, March). Circumstances and outcomes of falls among high risk community-dwelling older adults. BMC Injury Epidemiology, 1(5). https://doi.org/10.1186/2197-1714-1-5

Levine, I. C., Montgomery, R. E., & Novak, A. C. (2021, December). Grab bar use influences fall hazard during bathtub exit. Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 65(8). https://doi.org/10.1177/00187208211059860

How to use this information

LiveUp provides free information to help you make informed decisions about your health. This information is for general and educational purposes only, is not intended to provide a comprehensive guide, and does not replace medical advice. Everyone is different, so some of these tips may work better for you than others. You should use your own judgment and seek medical advice when applying this information to yourself, to determine if it is suitable in your circumstances. Your use of, or reliance on, this information is solely at your own risk. Independent Living Assessment Incorporated is not responsible or liable for any injury, loss, or damage caused as a result of your use of, or reliance on, this information.

Read more Safety articles

Did you enjoy this article? You may also like reading similar healthy ageing articles.

See all Safety articles