16th September 2009
In 2002, my life took an unexpected turn. One day, my Mother fell in the tub and broke her hip. I was not prepared for the downward spiral my Mother’s health went through following that fall. The hip injury set in motion what I now know to be a very co...
31st August 2009
Recommendations for New Bathing Equipment:
•incorporate permanent, non-skid tub floor surfaces into the design of bathtub
•extend same non-skid floor outside the tub
•install widespread distribution of grab bars in the form of handrails
â€...
22nd August 2009
2. Making Safe Transfers
Getting in and out of the tub is the most critical aspect of bathing independently. It is also the most difficult aspect of providing care. Poor balance and fear of falling greatly affects people's ability to make safe transfer...
20th August 2009
Conclusion
Safe and accessible bathing is not solely a concern of the elderly, disabled and those caring for them. It is of utmost importance to all people irrespective of their age, sex and cultural background. Eliminating accidental deaths and injuri...
19th August 2009
Unsafe Bathing Conditions
Present Safety Measures
Both individuals and care-providers do take precautionary measures to ensure safe bathing conditions. For example, most bathers and care-providers place slip-resistant bath mats inside and outside th...
19th August 2009
Unsafe Practice
Both individuals and care-providers frequently practiced unsafe methods while bathing or assisting with the task. This was due to not understanding the associated risk level. Standing while bathing in the absence of adequate grab-bars w...
17th August 2009
Mechanical and Physical Difficulties
Bathing difficulties vary significantly. Opening faucets and adjusting water temperature are troublesome for many. Those who lack sensation in the hands frequently misjudged the water temperature and got scalded. Lo...
13th August 2009
Why Don’t Seniors Correct the Problems?
Even though a concern for safety is on the rise, large majorities of the elderly who live in older homes continue to bathe in unsafe conditions. In spite of all their difficulties, they make no modifications to...
12th August 2009
Poorly located controls
I had honestly never thought about this issue until I did the research. Now, it seems so obvious to me. As we age, our range of motion, flexibility and grip strength lessen. Faucets, drains and valves are very difficult to o...
10th August 2009
Most people prefer to soak in a tub when they bathe. But lack of safe lowering and lifting devices means that many older people, people with joint or muscles issues and heavier people can no longer soak. They lack the strength, flexibility and support to ...
08th August 2009
Lack of Proper Storage and Presence of Clutter
Given that bathroom design has remained virtually unchanged since the introduction of indoor plumbing, designs to safely accommodate supplies, towels and other bathroom related items is grossly inadequate....
31st July 2009
Current Design Has Remained Unchanged For Many Years
Review of available bathtubs and showers suggests that safety was never the major issue in their design! Historically, the development of bathing equipment has been more of chance than conscious desi...
29th July 2009
The bathroom is the primary location where many falls take place.
Confined space together with hard slippery surfaces creates great risk for all people, irrespective of their age or physical condition. The greatest danger in the bathroom is slipping a...
24th July 2009
The Magnitude of the Problem
Accidental Deaths
I, and other advocates of bathroom safety, are astounded by the high incidence of bathing-related deaths. ABT Associates Inc.'s report to the Consumer Product Safety Commission indicated that as many as...
20th July 2009
Bathing is vital to our wellbeing. The fundamental purpose of bathing is to maintain health and physical well being of the body. While most young, able-bodied people do not think twice about taking a bath, bathing is more difficult, more time consuming an...
