Baths are amazing. They’re often used as a chance to relax and unwind, while also helping to keep us clean. However, they can be difficult to use. Not only is there a high step to get into the bath, but there’s also the risk of slipping and falling.
Indeed, bathrooms can be dangerous places, especially if the senior already has mobility challenges.
In some cases, the solution is to skip baths entirely. However, many people can still use and enjoy baths, especially with the right bath accessories for seniors. Such products don’t just make baths safer to use; they also make the experience more enjoyable.
Useful Bath Accessories for Seniors (and caregivers!)
Bathtub Tray
Bathtub trays are overlooked as tools for seniors. They work well for two reasons.
First, they’re somewhere to put things where seniors can reach them easily. This could include soap, lotion, and a sponge. The tray reduces how far the senior needs to reach, which could lower the risk of slips and injuries.
The trays also make bathing feel more luxurious.
This is important too. If seniors enjoy having a bath, they’re more likely to do so regularly.
Long Handled Scrubbers
Scrubbing brushes with long handles make it much easier for seniors to keep themselves clean. There are plenty of styles too, such as straight handles versus curved ones, and fixed heads versus adjustable ones.
When shopping for such brushes, make sure the handle is long enough for the senior’s needs. This is particularly important if you’re ordering online, as some ‘long’ brushes are less than 15 inches in length, including the brush portion.
This back brush from UHIAGREE on Amazon is better than most, as it is 20.5 inches in length and is curved and flexible. Those features make it much easier for seniors to reach their backs, feet, and other areas.
Grab Bars
These are tools rather than accessories, but they’re incredibly important.
When installed well, a grab bar provides leverage, helping the senior to get up and down from the bath. This is powerful, as the bathtub itself tends to be slippery and hard to grip onto.
The most common style is simply a regular bar that can be installed vertically, horizontally, or at an angle. Many are made from stainless steel and can be screwed into the wall. Some products (like this one from Amazon Basics) are just a plain bar, while others (like this one) have an additional textured surface to make them even easier to grip.
If screwing a bar into the wall isn’t an option, there are plastic suction bars as well.
While these can work well, caution is needed, as the bars can lose their grip, which is incredibly dangerous. They should be checked regularly before use.
Another option is a grab bar that’s specifically designed to be installed on the edge of a bath. While this style is much less common, it is specifically designed for the bath, which can make it more useful than a regular grab bar.
Vaunn Medical sells one such product on Amazon. Their description includes plenty of details about which types of baths you can use the bar on and which ones you can’t.
Please always read instructions carefully with products like these. They’re designed and tested for very specific uses and situations. Going outside these parameters can cause problems and may even be dangerous.
Step To Tub
This product is specifically designed to help seniors get into a bathtub. It does so by providing an extra step, plus grab bars for the senior to hold onto.
The grab bars can be used to get out of the tub as well.
However, despite being adjustable, this tool will only work in some bathrooms. It’s best if the tub isn’t too large, is an alcove style, and there’s plenty of free space in the room.
If the style isn’t right for your bathroom, you could look for a basic shower step, perhaps used in conjunction with grab bars on the wall or on the edge of the bath.
Bath Tub Lifts
Bath lifts are designed to mechanically raise and lower users in the bath. Doing so means that they sit down and get up from a normal chair height, rather than from sitting down in the bottom of the bath.
Such products are powerful for seniors who normally find it difficult to stand after sitting. Most also have a stable back, providing seniors with back support during their bath.
This bath lift from Drive Medical is excellent for caregivers as it is well-reviewed and is relatively inexpensive. It has a capacity of 300 pounds, which is similar to many other bath chairs.
Bath Cushions
Specially designed bath cushions make the bath much more comfortable to lie in. Many are designed simply to support a person’s neck and shoulders, making it easy to lie back and relax.
Others are larger, perhaps even supporting the full body. These larger ones reduce the discomfort of resting on the bottom of the bath. There are even products that have a lumbar support cushion.
However, long bath cushions can be tricky. If you’re purchasing one for a senior, it’s best to try the product out yourself a couple of times first and make sure that it works as you expect.
Non Slip Bath Mats
The right bath mat is crucial for preventing falls, as it’s so easy to slip when the floor is damp.
Ideally, you’ll want two mats – one outside the bath and one inside it. The outside one will often use some type of absorbable material, as the senior will be dripping when they come out of the bath.
These mats don’t require much explanation, as most of us use them regularly anyway. Just make sure that any mat you buy is actually non slip, as some are more effective than others.
If your bath mat doesn’t stay in place, you could experiment with Velcro strips to keep the mat where you want it.
Mats that go inside the bath need more discussion.
These aren’t used as often, but they’re even more important. After all, the base of the bathtub is slippery. Seniors can easily fall when they’re getting into and out of the bath, or slip around while in it.
There are plenty of such mats to choose, like this one. You may need to place a towel or something over top of it when the senior is having a bath if they find the cups uncomfortable.
There’s one critical thing, though – these mats need to be washed well and often. It’s easy for mold to develop, which is the last thing you want.
A Towel Warmer
Rather than using an electric towel rail, why not get a towel warmer instead? These get the towels much warmer and are even large enough to fit full bath sheet style towels.
Warming towels like this is really helpful, as seniors get cold quickly. Giving them a thick warm towel straight after their bath is an excellent way to keep their body temperature up.
Clothes can be added into the container as well, allowing the senior to get dry and then step straight into warm clothes. What could be better?
Bath Stickers
If you don’t want a full mat, bath stickers are an easy alternative. These can be easily applied to the base of almost any bath or shower, adding texture.
The simplest ones are white or gray, often in straight or wavy lines (like these).
However, you can easily find different colors and shapes, including marine life, pebbles, and flowers.
Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
Music is a fantastic way to make bath time much more relaxing.
Waterproof Bluetooth speakers are an easy way to do this, as you can set the music up through your phone and then let it play.
If the senior needs something they can operate themselves, a waterproof radio like this could be perfect. There are multiple versions, including some that have Bluetooth features.
Overflow Drain Cover
Here’s something simple and surprisingly powerful. It’s a cover that goes over the overflow drain of your bath, allowing you to make the bath water deeper.
This is incredibly useful, as the overflow drain is often much lower than it needs to be.
The cover does have hole at the top, so it will still drain water out if there’s an actual overflow.
Final Thoughts
We’ve highlighted a variety of different bath accessories for seniors, as well as some powerful tools.
These items can all make the bathroom safer and easier to use. This effect should help seniors to bathe more often and stay independent.
The best items will depend on the situation. Some seniors will need little more than non-slip mats, a long handled brush, and perhaps a grab bar. Others may need more specialized tools, like bath tub lifts.
It’s often best to simply try out different ideas. Start with small changes, then see what works and what doesn’t.
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