Fall Prevention for Seniors: 10 Tips for Bathroom Safety By Dr. Vicki Rackner

Your aging parents tell you they want to stay in the home they love. You want to honor their wishes, yet you worry about their safety. The risks of falls are real and the consequences can be deadly.

Proactive fall prevention keeps your parents safe-and helps you sleep better at night.

Here are some tips for bathroom safety. Some of the steps can be weekend projects; others are best left in the hands of professionals.

Install grab bars near the toilet, bathtub, and shower. This is the quickest and most effective way to prevent falls. If you have any questions about your home improvement skills, hire a professional. Be sure to test the strength of all installed grab bars before allowing them to be used.

Install a toilet safety frame, commode, or raised toilet seat. These products give you something secure to hold on to when getting on or off the toilet seat. Make sure that you have properly installed grab bars. Make transfer in and out of the tub safer with a shower chair or transfer bench.

Equip bathtubs and showers with non-skid mats, abrasive strips, or surfaces that are not slippery. Apply textured strips or appliques on the floors of tubs and showers. Use non-skid mats in the tub and shower, and on the bathroom floor.

Prevent burns and the falls by setting the hot water heater to "Low" or 120 degrees. If you are unfamiliar with the controls of the water heater, ask a qualified person to adjust it for you. If the hot water system is controlled by the landlord, place a request for a safe setting.

Assure adequate lighting. Install a light switch near the door, replace the existing switch with a "glow switch" and install a nightlight.

Check small electronic appliances. Install a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) in your bathroom outlet to protect against electric shock. Eliminate clutter that are often tripping hazards. Think "medication." Medications, often stored in the bathroom, can lead to dizziness.

Choose the right contractor. You've heard enough horror stories to know the value of quality, integrity and value.

How much will this cost? It depends. Expect to spend $200 to $500 for bathroom safety accessories. Modified vanities, extended fixtures and walk-in tubs increase costs into the thousands.

Many remodeling experts suggest that an extensive bathroom overhaul will average somewhere in the $7,000 to $10,000 range.

Yes, this is chunk of change. However, compared to the personal and economic costs of a fall, bathroom safety makeover is a smart investment.

The Caregiver Club is an online community for caregivers who want to respond effectively to a loved one, build teamwork and manage stress as they do it. Dr. Vicki Rackner, the founder, is a former surgeon, former patient and former caregiver. She left the operating room and now devotes all of her time to speaking, writing and coaching. Her most recent book is Caregiving without Regrets: 3 Steps to avoid burnout and manage disappointment, guilt and anger.