Plumbing Safety Tips for Elderly People

Plumbing Safety Tips for Elderly PeopleAs people grow older, daily activities that were once easy become increasingly more challenging. As plumbers, we are here to help modify plumbing products and supplies in the home in order to alleviate some of the issues associated with age. Here are a few recommended products and solutions that will keep elderly people safer in their homes:

Special bathtubs

The bathtub can be a dangerous place for anyone, not just the elderly. The surface is hard and gets wet and slippery. Everyone should be using grip mats to stay safe, but this often isn’t enough for older people. Getting in and out of the tub becomes challenging which is why a special bathtub, such as a walk in tub, is recommended. A plumber can help with the installation. If installing a walk in tub isn’t an option, alternatives include a shower transfer bench that has one side out of the tub and one inside the tub and a tub grip that provides stability in order to step in and out of the tub more safely.

Handheld shower heads

When using a transfer bench or a shower chair, it’s advisable to also use a handheld shower head, which makes it easier for the water flow to reach all parts of the body. The handheld shower head should ideally have a switch that restricts water flow when necessary.

Toilet seat raiser

Lowering oneself to sit on a toilet and standing up from a toilet often becomes troublesome for people as they grow older. A toilet seat raiser boosts the toilet seat from the bottom and only needs to be installed once. Some plumbing modifications may be necessary and a local plumber can help with this. Other options are padded, raised toilet seats and bedside commodes if a trip to the bathroom in itself is too troublesome.

Adaptive kitchen and bathroom layouts

In some cases, it may be worthwhile to invest in new kitchen and bathroom layouts, especially for someone in a wheelchair. It’s possible to redesign the kitchen and bathroom to be more accessible so that everything is lower and within reach. For example, installing lower sinks and faucets that are long and easy to reach. A plumber can assist in the redesign process to ensure that all plumbing systems will work efficiently.

These are just a few of the products plumbers can recommend to customers and help them install if necessary. What other products do you recommend to your elderly customers?

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