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Four Ways To Make Bathing Safer For Your Elderly Parents

25 October 2017

Alide Oortwijn

As people get older, it can sometimes be difficult for them to bathe because they no longer have the flexibility or balance that they once did. If your parents have reached a point in their lives where showering has become difficult for them, there are things you can do to help them. The following guide provides a few quick tips to use to ensure that your parent can be as safe as possible when they are cleaning themselves.

Purchase a Shower Seat

When your parent showers, you want to be sure that they do not slip and fall. Having a seat that they can put in the shower to sit on while they bathe is a great way to ensure that they do not fall and are able to properly clean themselves.

Purchase Easy-to-Use Products

Being able to clean their back and their feet is important. If your parents no longer have the flexibility that they did when they were younger, it can be difficult for them to reach their feet or scrub their back. Purchasing easy-to-use bath and body care products, like a loofah that is attached to a long handle, allows them to reach areas that are now hard to reach on their own.

Install a Shampoo and Conditioner Dispenser

Consider installing a shampoo and conditioner dispenser on the wall of your parent's shower so that they do not have to worry about handling the bottles. If the bottles fall onto the floor of the tub, they can create a slippery, dangerous mess. Having the dispenser on the walls ensures that there is not a mess in the tub for them to slip on.

Install a Handle on the Wall

When your parent tries to get in and out of the tub, having a handle to hold on to will give them more stability so that they do not fall accidentally. They can grip the handle and hold on to it as they lift their foot over the edge of the tub and be able to hold themselves up if they start to lose their balance.

Talk to your parents about any issues they notice when it comes to bathing. There may be other chances that you can make to their bathroom to make it easier for them. Be sure to walk them through how to use things, such as the shower seat or the shampoo and conditioner dispenser so that they know what to do when they get into the shower.

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