The Importance of New Shower Installations
Your shower helps you clean within minutes, provides a massage for your tired muscles, and helps you save water. Have you considered installing a new one for your home to upgrade your bathing experience?
A new shower installation serves more purposes than simply elevating the aesthetics of your bathroom. Did you know that the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report recorded more than 234,094 bathroom-related injuries? Out of this hefty number, more than 80% were caused by falling in showers.
So, do outdated showers lead to bathroom injuries? And what measures can you take while installing a new shower to avoid such situations? Read further for details.
Who is at Risk of Bathroom Injuries?
Anyone can slip in the shower and get hurt, but most of the affected individuals are adults above 65 years old. Around 30% of these adults suffered fractures, while 38 percent were hospitalized due to their injuries.
Other people who are likely to fall in unsafe bathroom environments include:
- Patients suffering from dementia
- Elders with heart disease
- People with hypertension
Such conditions cause muscle weakness, hindering their ability to stand for long intervals, especially in a slippery and wet environment. Similarly, people facing chronic conditions also face poor vision and dizziness.
Which Hazards In The Bathroom Can Cause Accidents?
Seniors or differently-abled people are more prone to falling in the bathroom. Most of these injuries are incurred while sitting down, getting up from the toilet, or in the bathtub or shower. Even if the injuries do not cause fractures, they can affect their mobility and cause pain.
Consider the following conditions that make your bathroom unsafe for such individuals:
- Slippery floors due to water and condensation.
- The solid curb or step leading to the shower.
- Lack of grab bars or caddies.
- No shower seat.
How Can a New Shower Installation Make Your Bathroom Safer?
When planning a bathroom remodel or a new shower installation, it is a good idea to keep bathroom safety measures in mind. This will increase the accessibility of your bathroom for the elderly and disabled in your home. Even if there are no people with special needs living with you, an accessible bathroom and shower system can increase the ROI of your home.
Here are some ways to make your shower area safe during a bathroom renovation.
Install Handles and Grab Bars
Installing simple handles and grab bars in your shower can go a long way. Place these bars where a person needs to sit, stand, or move in wet conditions. Grab bars can also help people with blurred vision navigate across the bathroom without any accidents.
It’s a great idea to include your elderly or disabled family members in the renovation process to get some insight regarding the placement of grab bars.
Get A Handheld Showerhead
A handheld showerhead decreases the need for mobility inside the shower, reducing the risk of slipping. This feature can also help the elderly bathe while sitting down. Similarly, caregivers can easily bathe patients and children using handheld showers.
Install Ergonomic Fixtures
Faucets and fixtures are usually included in the shower system but can be customized according to your needs. Rather than the typical twistable knobs, you can go for fixtures with an ergonomic design that makes for easy operation.
Apart from levers and single-touch taps, you can also use high-end sensory taps in your shower. These have infrared operating systems which can be activated with a single hand movement.
Use Weighted Shower Curtains
If you’re not using glass doors for your shower, using a weighted shower curtain is a great way to reduce injuries in the bathroom. These curtains are constructed of thick waterproof materials that keep water from splashing outside the shower.
Similarly, they have magnetic fasteners along the bottom edge to keep them secure. This reduces the risk of tripping for mobility-challenged individuals.
Get a Shower Chair or Bench
Most bathroom injuries are incurred while moving inside the shower. By installing a shower chair or bench, you can ensure that the elderly do not have to stand in the shower for extended intervals.
Pick the Right Flooring
When revamping your shower, another way to make it accessible for the elderly and disabled is to choose the right flooring. Ceramic tiles can pose a serious slipping hazard; therefore, you can replace this material with cork flooring. Cork tiles have a sponge-like structure that provides friction for better grip while walking through the bathroom.
Conclusion
Outdated showers may have dangerous repercussions. If you wish to increase the accessibility of your home, you should consider a professional shower installation. A skilled contractor will work on enhancing the look of your shower while increasing its functionality at the same time.