Almost everyone has experienced that flash of panic.
That stomach-churning moment when you realise, as your feet slip out from underneath you, that you have completely lost all control over your body—You're going down, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.
With slippery, slimy surfaces caked in soap, sludge, and puddles of water lurking around every corner, the bathroom is unsurprisingly one of the most dangerous rooms in your home, causing several dangerous slips and falls every day.
While these shower slips may not be too serious when we’re younger, often leaving behind little more than some slight bruising and soreness, as we age, the likelihood of injury and fatality from these incidents significantly increases.
If you want to protect yourself, your loved ones, and particularly, your senior family members from suffering the consequences of a nasty fall, read on to learn some tips on how you can transform your slip-and-slide shower into your own steamy sanctuary.
Tips for Transforming Your Slip-and-Slide Shower into Your Own Steamy Sanctuary
1. Keep it High and Dry—Wring Out the Water from Your Bathroom
It’s inevitable. You can’t wash up without water—Things are going to get wet no matter how desperately you try to contain all of the splishes and splashes.
However, you can transform your bathroom into a significantly safer space simply by taking the time to thoroughly soak up the remnants of your post-shower puddles.
After showering, it is important to always remember to use a towel to dry up all traces of water from both the bathroom and shower floor. Leaving water splattered across the floor in the bathroom is a disastrous recipe for the poor, unsuspecting person using the bathroom afterward to slip and severely injure themselves.
Besides the obvious culprit of water, another sneakier culprit of shower slips is soap. Soap residue can make the shower floor more slippery, so make sure to rinse the floor entirely after showering to remove any soap or shampoo, conditioner, or lotion residue. Don’t forget to dry up the water after rinsing away the soap!
Yet another reason to regularly clean your shower and bathroom is that there are even more sneaky culprits to look out for. Mould, mildew, and grime can all make the shower floor slippery as well. By regularly wiping down the shower area, you are also preventing the buildup of these slippery substances that can lead to falls.
Sometimes it can be difficult to get others to comply to clean up their mess, especially when there is a lack of supplies in the bathroom for them to effectively and efficiently do so.
However, a tactical way of encouraging others to keep the bathroom dry is to have a generous stack of dry towels and rags stocked in your bathroom at all times so that anyone who makes a mess in the bathroom can quickly and conveniently clean it up.
Placing a sign on the wall as a reminder can also be a powerful method to encourage others to care for their own safety, as well as the safety of others.
2. Bathe with Balance— Stabilise Slippery Areas with Non-Slip Mats
Beyond trying your best to keep the bathroom as dry as possible, another successful way to cut back on slips and falls is to stabilise the sleek areas of your bathroom with the use of non-slip mats.
Non-slip mats, also known as anti-slip mats, are specially designed mats or rugs that provide enhanced traction and grip, with the purpose of preventing falls and accidents on slippery surfaces. Typically made from materials with high friction properties, some common materials used in non-slip mats include rubber, silicone, PVC, and textured fabrics.
They are commonly used in various settings and can be found in bathrooms, kitchens, entryways, and workspaces, or anywhere there is a risk of slipping due to water, spills, or other wet substances.
To reap the benefits of this subtle, safety feature, simply place a rubber or silicone non-slip mat on the shower floor or an adhesive decal that is specifically designed to provide traction in any slippery spot.
This will support you and your loved ones with a stable surface to stand on while showering, rather than slide on.
3. Towel Time Traction—Apply Anti-Slip Coating to Your Shower Floor
Another option for making the floors less slippery and more stable to stand on is applying an anti-slip coating to your shower floor.
Anti-slip coating for your shower is a product designed to increase traction and reduce the risk of slipping on wet surfaces. It is typically applied to the floor of the shower to create a textured, non-slip surface that provides a better grip for your feet.
The application of anti-slip coating is especially beneficial for showers made of smooth or slippery materials like porcelain, ceramic tiles, or certain types of stone, which can become sleek when wet. The coating helps to create friction, preventing your feet from sliding on the surface and reducing the likelihood of accidents and falls while showering.
Usually made of a durable and water-resistant material that adheres to the shower floor, anti-slipping coats can come in various forms, including paint-on coatings, spray-on coatings, or adhesive mats with anti-slip properties.
However, if you choose to go with this option, it's crucial to follow the manufacturer's instructions when applying the coating for proper adhesion and optimal effectiveness. This includes the necessity of regular cleaning and maintenance of the anti-slip surface to preserve its traction and longevity.
4. Swap Slippery Soap Bars for Grab Bars
Naturally, the shower is a slippery scene, so there’s always a chance that even the most cautious of bathers can lose their balance, slip, and fall.
However, one way to save you and your loved ones from the dangers of a nasty fall is to install grab bars throughout your bathroom.
Grab bars offer a secure handhold that helps individuals maintain their balance while entering or exiting the shower or bathtub, as well as when using the toilet. They provide stability and support, reducing the risk of critical accidents, particularly for seniors or people with mobility issues who are more likely to suffer from a severe bathroom injury.
Not only do they act as safety guards, but they also enhance the accessibility of the bathroom for individuals with disabilities, making it easier for them to perform daily hygiene tasks and exert their independence in their daily lives.
For example, grab bars positioned near the toilet or in the shower can help seniors or disabled individuals safely transfer from a wheelchair or mobility aid to the toilet or bathing area with less difficulty.
As a bonus, grab bars are also relatively easy to install, manufactured in various sizes and styles that blend seamlessly into your bathroom décor.
5. Sit Back for a Splash—Get a Shower Chair or Bench
Who said that you have to stand when showering?
And let’s be honest—Who doesn’t savour the blissful relaxation of sitting and soaking in a steamy shower, swallowed by the warm, comforting embrace of streaming water spilling over your skin?
Shower chairs, also known as shower seats or bathing chairs, are specialised chairs designed to offer a stable, comfortable, and secure seating option when bathing.
These chairs are typically equipped with non-slip rubber feet or suction cups, providing a stable base that prevents the chair from sliding or tipping over.
They are commonly used in bathrooms to enhance accessibility and improve safety for people who have difficulty standing for extended periods or have mobility challenges.
Coming in a variety of styles and designs, shower chairs ultimately reduce the chances of falling for seniors and disabled people, who are at a higher risk of slips and falls in the shower due to wet and slippery surfaces.
Because there are so many options available, when choosing a shower chair, it's essential to take into account the user's specific needs, the chair's weight capacity, and the shower's layout to ensure a comfortable, suitable, and safe solution for you or your loved one.
6. Walk and Roll into Your Rinse—Remodel Your Bathroom into a Walk-in Shower or Bathtub
Has showering become a stressful chore, rather than a relaxing rinse, due to the tiresome task of entering and exiting the shower or bathtub?
If bathing has become a grueling burden that you dread every day, remodeling your bathroom to include a walk-in shower or walk-in bathtub might be the best choice for you.
Walk-in showers, a type of shower that is designed with a low or no threshold, allow easy entry and exit without having to step over a tricky bathtub ledge or a high curb.
Instead of a traditional shower stall with a raised edge, a walk-in shower typically seamlessly transitions from the bathroom floor to the shower area, making it much more accessible.
Walk-in showers and baths are useful and beneficial for various reasons, but particularly so for individuals with mobility challenges, seniors, and people with disabilities.
They are offered in various design options, including tile choices, showerheads, and safety features like grab bars. This means that homeowners can customise their showers to satisfy their preferences and needs.
By eliminating the need to step over a high bathtub wall, walk-in showers and bathtubs reduce the risk of treacherous slips, trips, and falls while trying to transition in or out of the shower.
Don’t let your mobility limitations hold you back from showering yourself with the love, luxury, pampering, relaxation, and “me time” that you deserve each time you step into the steam and under the streaming water.