Bathroom Safety
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Preventing Falls Makes Everyone Happier
As we get older and our legs, arms, and hands begin to weaken, the bathroom can be the most dangerous room in the house. Bathrooms combine moisture and linoleum floors, and rarely give you a soft surface to land on if you fall. Getting on and off the toilet or getting in and out of the tub can put an elderly person at serious risk.
To get on and off the toilet, doctors recommend an elevated toilet seat with armrests. While there are models that can be clamped in place and do not require any hardware, they are typically not very sturdy, especially if the person using it is overweight. Combining the seat and arms with a hydraulic lifting system for extra assistance, an ergonomic airlift bedside commode is easy to install and can be used as both a raised toilet seat and a stand alone commode. A bracket is attached to the toilet using two bolts once the existing seat is removed. It slides and locks into place on the bracket and, by simply lifting a lever in the back of the seat, it can be removed for cleaning or to be attached to the stand alone commode frame. Hydraulic struts mounted in the seat provide an additional boost to help your new house guest gently lower down onto your toilet, and get off the toilet, and can be adjusted depending on their weight. An airlift bedside commode features a large, comfortable seating surface and ergonomically designed armrests, and includes a "guest seat" standard toilet seat. The guest seat can be mounted in place of the airLlft using the same bracket and is ideal for when you have company over.
To get in and out of the shower or bathtub, grab bars are essential for safety. When most people think of bathroom grab bars, the first things that come to mind are a handyman, a big power drill, and permanent holes in your marble or tile. Thanks to portable suction grab bars and an ergonomic grab bar with an armrest, you can provide your loved ones with a medically safe, sturdy, and completely portable way to steady themselves when getting in and out of the tub. The suction grab bars secure themselves to completely smooth surfaces using twin suction cups with over 160 pounds of force. Simply clean the surface, apply the suction cups firmly, and flip the levers on the back of each cup. While these are not recommended for pull ups, gymnastics, or hanging a basketball hoop, they will provide a safe, reliable grip to prevent falls. Some brands are not safe, so be careful what you choose! Portable suction grab bars are available in four sizes and typically range in price from $65 to $140, which is significantly less than the cost of a handyman with a big drill. Brands priced less than $65 tend to lose their suction and are hazardous to use..