Falls are one of the leading reasons for hospitalization among seniors in the United States. Falls result in fractured hips, ribs and bruising, all of which are painful and some require surgery, physical and-or occupational therapy. Falls can happen quite easily while bathing.
The University of Michigan Health System studied seniors getting in and out of the shower or tub by videotaping them. The participants were fully clothed and studied the pitfalls and hurdles of actually getting into and out of the shower or tub. The study participants lived in a facility and did not have any sign of cognitive impairment. There were 98 participants in the study.
"We found that there are a lot of independently bathing older adults who have trouble or are unsafe getting into and out of the tub or shower stall," said Susan L. Murphy, ScD, OTR, an occupational therapist and University of Michigan research assistant professor. The researchers looked at safety items in and around the shower and tub. They also observed how seniors used grab bars, towel bars, shower seats and other support devices. About one third of the participants had difficulty getting into or out of the shower or tub and found participants "plopped" into a shower/bath seat or hit their legs on the side of the shower threshold or tub.
Using something like a glass shower door "is extremely unsafe because shower doors were not designed to support a person's weight," Murphy said. When someone begins to fall and uses the door for balance, the danger is amplified when the glass breaks. The use of a shower curtain is safer because it provides more room to enter or exit, but is too flimsy to grab to try to avert a fall. Removing a glass door assembly from your tub is not expensive, nor is installing a shower curtain to replace it. Hotel style shower curtain rods are bowed in the middle and provide much more room inside the shower.
Other inexpensive bath and shower safety options include using a hand-held shower head and bath mat or nonskid stickers. A hand-held shower head increases safety because you do not have to spin around to rinse. Bath mats and daisy stickers help provide traction on an otherwise slippery surface.
The study found seniors used towel bars for grab-bars with the assumption that both kinds of bars are anchored to the wall. Towel bars are not designed to be weight bearing and are not anchored to the wall the same as a grab bar. Further, a grab bar is composed of much stronger material than a towel bar. Do not rely on a towel bar or a glass shower door for balance or fall prevention.
If you do not have grab bars, have some installed to support your weight and help with balance. Mike Brown from Northern Rehab Equipment explained there so many options for bathroom, shower or tub safety that they are too numerous to describe. Whether you have a walk-in shower or a tub, rest assured that there are options to meet your needs for balance and safety.
Shower seats can also be a helpful aid in your shower or tub. Portable seats are a nifty option to use in a walk-in shower. Permanent seats that fold up or down can be mounted to the shower wall.
If you are hesitant to take a shower or bath because you fear for your safety, talk to your physician. Ask the doctor to order an occupational therapist to teach you the proper way to bathe to increase your safety. You can also have a family member or friend watch you enter and exit the shower or bath, just like the researchers did, to point out additional ways to increase safety.
Senior Living is written by Dr. Arlen Burger, Mary Burger and Dave Besana, of A Brand New Day Assisted Living, license 455001567. Email firstname.lastname@example.org. Call 223-1538
Need Help? Call us at 1-877-710-6185.
Monday-Friday: 6am-6pm / Saturday: 7am-10am / Sunday: 7am-11am