Important Tips to Stay Safe in the Bathroom

At Liberty Oxygen and Medical Equipment, we understand it is important to many aging individuals and their family caregivers to live independently in their own home, and reducing the risk of falls or accidents will keep your loved one safe – especially in the bathroom. The bathroom is often thought of as the most dangerous room in the home for seniors. It’s easy to slip and fall leading to injuries or even hospitalization. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one in three adults over the age of 65 falls each year and less than half will alert a caregiver of the fall. That is concerning! Many believe that falling is part of the aging process, but this is simply not true. The instance of falling may increase with age, but many falls can be prevented with simple adjustments or lifestyle modifications. Investing in basic home safety modifications for your aging loved one will bring a high return in peace of mind. Common recommendations for the bathroom and throughout the home include:

• Installing assistive equipment in the bathroom
• Installing grab bars in the tub or shower area
• Using a shower chair or a toilet riser
• Add textured safety treads inside the tub and to surfaces that can get slippery or wet
• Remove throw rugs in each room of the home
• Reduce the amount of clutter throughout the house
• Installing handrails on the stairs

Implementing simple safety precautions like the ideas above and more can greatly reduce the chance of your loved one falling or tripping and help to stay safe in the bathroom. Another safety consideration is to enroll a loved one in an emergency response service. Many of these devices can be worn in the shower and are designed specifically for people with Alzheimer’s or other form of dementia or if a medical emergency should occur. Living independently as one ages can be successful, especially when the individual is equipped with the right tools and home safety modifications or updates. The home should encourage independence and social interaction, and at the same time be safe. To learn more about MedicAlert or other emergency response services available, contact the Alzheimer’s Association, Minnesota chapter. At Liberty Oxygen and Medical Equipment, we understand the safety concerns of many family caregivers. Stop in any of our eight retail locations to discuss bathroom safety options and look over our selection of assistive equipment and supplies to help your senior loved one live independently and stay safe in the bathroom. While you're visiting during the month of March we are offering 15% off the purchase of all bath aids. Liberty Oxygen and Medical Equipment is the premier home medical equipment provider serving Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding Twin Cities suburbs with quality equipment and outstanding customer service. We enable you to stay safe and live independently in your home by offering a comprehensive array of home medical equipment and oxygen supplies, including CPAP masks and supplies. The friendly staff at each of our locations is educated and experienced with the current insurance procedures and can work with your insurance company to ensure your CPAP needs are covered. Your health and well-being is too important to trust to just anyone. Let the caring professionals at Liberty Oxygen and Medical Equipment assist you with the home medical equipment and other healthcare and oxygen supplies you need. Stop in any of our eight Minneapolis and St. Paul metro locations or contact us today with questions, concerns or comments.