Since this blog first began I have talked about a lot of topics. Some focused on health issues, while other focused on money issues. For the next few weeks I want to talk about safety issues in your home. Safety in your home is very important no matter how old you are. Your home is where you spend a lot of your time and therefore you want to make sure it is a safe place to be.
The first room that you want to look at for safety issues is your bathroom. Most of the accidents that occur in homes occur in the bathroom. This is because there are several hazards located in a single small space. The first hazard is of course water. Water poses drowning hazards and slipping hazards. To minimize these hazards you will want to make sure the bottom of your shower or bathtub have enough traction to keep you from slipping while stepping into or out of the bathing and showering areas. You also want to provide yourself with a non-skid rug or bath mat to help prevent accidental slips and falls.
Falling hazards can also be moderated by installing railings in the tub and near the toilet. These railings will provide you with something to grab onto when navigating into and out of the tub, while sitting on or getting off the toilet, and also while you are cleaning the bathroom. Not all homes will need railings in the bathroom, however, even able bodied adults may find that they are practical to have around.
Taking steps to improve your safety while in your bathroom is a great way to prevent falls that can lead to a need for long term care. You can also sometimes get insurance discounts by having these safety items installed in your home. The premise behind these discounts is that you will have fewer long term care insurance claims if you are taking steps to prevent accidents.