Bathroom Safety and Arthritis Ithaca NY

Every year thousands of falls and accidents occur in bathrooms. Having arthritis, fatigue, stiff joints or weak muscles makes your risk even higher. Exercises can improve your strength, flexibility and range of motion, but there are also easy fixes you can make to improve bathroom safety when you're living with arthritis.

Taking a Bath

• Use a shower instead of bathtub as much as possible. A shower is easier to enter and the flat surface is less likely to cause falls.

• When taking a bath to relieve your arthritis symptoms, don't use bath oils; they make the surface of your bathtub much more slippery.

• Avoid using bar soaps if you have arthritis in your hands and fingers. Instead, use liquid soaps in bottles with pumps or in dispensers. Use your palm or the base of your hand to pump out the soap instead of your fingers.

• Place non-slip mats on the bathroom floor, and non-slip bath mats in the tub or shower.

• In the bathtub or shower, use a corner or shower caddy to keep soaps, shampoos, conditioners and other supplies easily accessible. This reduces your risk of slipping or falling.

• Assistive devices are essential to keeping you safe in the bathroom. For instance, a bath chair or seat to sit on helps you avoid slipping or falling if you feel tired or weak when bathing.

• Another assistive device, a transfer bench or sliding transfer bench, makes getting in and out of the shower easier.

Lighting and Fixtures..

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