January is recognized as National Bath Safety Month. Trauma Departments around the world want to remind everyone, especially those with young children and loved ones who are elderly or have disabilities, that it only takes a few seconds for someone to become injured from a slip or fall from a bathroom related accident.
The National Center for Health Statistics in 1987 reported that about 10 percent of all people over the age of 65 have difficulty bathing. Bath safety for people who are elderly or have disabilities is further complicated by issues such as medication side-effects, reduced physical ability, and diminished vision.
Safety Tips Year-round:
For people who are elderly or have disabilities,
- install grab bars on walls around the toilet. At Todd’s, we call them LOVE HANDLES. Because they provide you a love handle to grab onto for your safety and comfort.
- install two grab bars for the tub or shower: at the entry of the tub and one inside the tub
- install a portable, hand-held shower head with a long hose cord
- convert your fiberglass bathtub to be a step-in shower – this will reduce the height of the tub step for easier access.
Todd’s has refinished and repaired bathtubs, showers and sinks for over 115,000 homeowners, residential builders, plumbers, hotels, senior venues and hospitals throughout Maricopa County since 1978. We guarantee our work and warranties are provided for completed jobs.
In addition to being awarded the Super Service Award in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 by Angie’s List, we maintain a Better Business Bureau A+ rating and are in excellent standing with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC).
For more info, call Todd’s at 480 835 7070 or visit www.ToddsBathtubs.com