Shower Safety ..(Elderly)

SteveA · 07-02-2013, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Phantom Gourmand

"What If I fall in the shower". I say, what if you don't?
You can "what if" yourself to total paranoia. Unless you are having difficulty getting in and out of the tub...now that's a different story. Have you considered one of those medical alert type of devices that you wear around your neck? I believe they have some that are waterproof and can be worn in the shower. It would be close by for any WHAT IF situation.

Having been in the Durable Medical Equiptment business for more than 35 years, I can tell you the concern is real. Just a few numbers

How big is the problem?
•One out of three adults age 65 and older falls each year,(1) but less than half talk to their healthcare providers about it.
•Among older adults (those 65 or older), falls are the leading cause of injury and death. They are also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma.(2)
•In 2010, 2.3 million nonfatal fall injuries among older adults were treated in emergency departments and more than 662,000 of these patients were hospitalized.(2)
•In 2010, the direct medical costs of falls, adjusted for inflation, was $30.0 billion.(4)

More info here:

http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreation...dultfalls.html

I will tell you, the best way to make your bathroom safe is to have any one of a number of very good local comanies come to your home and do an evaluation. (Many insurance plans will cover "some" of the cost, (if you have pre-existing medical conditions).

Keene Medical In Concord is very good.

That cost number is real $30 Billion!

VitaBene · 07-02-2013, 11:43 AM

Consider a panic button in the shower area that is tied to your intrusion detection (alarm) system. Make sure it is programmed as a 24 hour zone (always armed even when system is not).

fatlazyless · 07-02-2013, 12:46 PM

...u know not all grab bars look like they belong in a rehab-care facility....some look a lot more like towel bars.

Winnilifer · 07-02-2013, 03:08 PM

I assumed at the beginning of thread you may have grab bars....

I also agree with FLL --I put them in my apartment (My dad a youthful 84 stays in) at my Lake house. He liked them so much he asked for them to be installed at his home as well. He certainly feels safer with them.

I believe these are a must have, inside as well as exiting on wall. Hey I'll get a shot at using them if I'm lucky

07-02-2013, 11:43 AM	#2
VitaBene Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 3,575 Thanks: 1,609 Thanked 1,632 Times in 839 Posts	Panic/ duress Consider a panic button in the shower area that is tied to your intrusion detection (alarm) system. Make sure it is programmed as a 24 hour zone (always armed even when system is not).

07-02-2013, 12:46 PM	#3
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,738 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,007 Times in 735 Posts	...u know not all grab bars look like they belong in a rehab-care facility....some look a lot more like towel bars. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

07-02-2013, 03:08 PM	#4
Winnilifer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tyngsborough, Ma & Laconia, NH Posts: 53 Thanks: 14 Thanked 19 Times in 17 Posts	Grab Bars I assumed at the beginning of thread you may have grab bars.... I also agree with FLL --I put them in my apartment (My dad a youthful 84 stays in) at my Lake house. He liked them so much he asked for them to be installed at his home as well. He certainly feels safer with them. I believe these are a must have, inside as well as exiting on wall. Hey I'll get a shot at using them if I'm lucky

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