If you have an elderly relative who is less steady on their feet than they once were then it’s only natural to feel concerned about their safety, especially when they are on their own at home. It’s quite common for an elderly relative to want to maintain their independence and stay in familiar surroundings for as long as possible, rather than moving into a retirement home for example. This is totally understandable but can cause worry for relatives and loved ones, especially if they are living alone.
One of the biggest concerns tends to be that your relative could have a slip or fall while on their own. But there are things you can do to make their home safer for them; putting your mind at rest and helping them to maintain their independence and dignity.
The bathroom can be of considerable concern to relatives of elderly people – the hazards involved in a room with an often wet floor are obvious. One of the first things you can do to help is alter the height and size of the sink. You can get this done professionally or you can consider DIY sink fitting, both of which will allow you to ensure your sink is at a convenient access height and as safe as possible for your relative.
If you choose to DIY fit the sink, there are two main designs to choose from: inset and lay-on. Lay-on sinks sit on a base unit the same size as the sink rim, but more often nowadays you will see inset sinks, which sit in a cut-out space on the worktop. There are a range of sizes available so you can choose the ideal sink for your relative.
On top of this, you could ask your relative to consider mobility baths. Baths like these are available in a whole range of sizes, shapes, prices and designs from http://www.mobility-plus.co.uk, and they allow the bather to step in and out of the bath with ease.