Bathroom Design: Safety Ideas for Kids and the Elderly

A large portion of home accidents happen in bathrooms, and the risk of accidents is higher when you have young children and elderly family members in the household. In today’s post, local bathroom and kitchen remodeling company DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen of Southeast Florida discusses bathroom safety and shares design tips that can help make your bathrooms safer.

Bathroom Risks

Bathroom risks differ between the two age groups. With children, the risks are present once they start toddling around the house. At that age, they’ve still yet to learn between what’s safe and what’s not. When they slip on a wet surface, their first instinct is not to steady themselves, but rather flail out to regain balance and instead fall forward, which can result in anything from a bruise to falling into a tub full of water.

Humans lose flexibility in their limbs as they age, so your elderly family members may face issues with mobility. Climbing stairs and walking from one end of the house to another won’t be as easy for them as it used to, and it can take longer for them to recover from injuries. In the bathroom, the risks can include falling and hurting themselves, exhaustion from standing too long, and difficulty navigating the bathroom.

Improving Bathroom Safety

Considering the risks described above, there are many products that can help improve bathroom safety. Stepping stools with non-slip surfaces can help them reach the sink safely. Certain types of stepping stools can double as a seat for the elderly as they bathe. Bath mats with rubber surfaces can help prevent slipping while bathing. 

Bathroom remodeling is a great opportunity to improve upon bathroom safety permanently, or at least until your next bathroom remodel. When planning your remodel, consider the following features:

• Slip-resistant flooring can help prevent slipping. Ask your remodeler about a material’s “R” value, which ranges from R9 to R13. The closer it is to R13, the better the slip resistance.
• Grab bars can lend support to both kids and adults when bathing.
• Faucets equipped with LED warning lights can warn you if the water is too hot, which can help avoid scalding.
• Walk-in tubs are “sitting” bathtubs with side doors. They’re primarily designed for people with mobility issues as it eliminates the need to step over the lip of a standard bathtub.

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen of Southeast Florida is your leading provider of bathroom and kitchen remodeling services, including cabinet resurfacing. Give us a call at (772) 200-2625 or (561) 935-3915. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in Jupiter, FL, and the surrounding communities.