Q. My elderly mother has had a recent fall. She fell in the middle of the night, trying to find her way to the bathroom. While she’s doing fine now, it’s evident that we need to make some changes to her bathroom to prevent future falls. Since she’s at a short-term rehabilitation facility, my husband and I would like to get her bathroom ready before she discharges home. Do you have any suggestions or tips on how we can modify her bathroom on a budget? The bathroom we are modifying is her master bath and has a walk-in shower.
A. I am sorry to hear about your mother’s fall. Unfortunately falls are common in seniors, and she’s not alone in experiencing a fall in the middle of the night on her way to the bathroom. Seniors can experience light-headedness as they go from a prone position to sitting up quickly. They can also experience slight confusion or disorientation in the middle of the night as their body wakes them up, but their mind is slower to respond.
Modifying her bathroom while she’s at rehab is a great idea. I would first talk with her physical therapist and occupational therapist to get their input. They know your mom’s strengths and weaknesses firsthand and can help you discern what she actually needs.
Here are a few suggestions to help you adapt her bathroom that won’t break the bank.
Since she is receiving therapy at a short-term rehabilitation facility, I am assuming she is there under her Medicare or Medicare replacement benefits. If this is the case, then she likely qualifies for some durable medical equipment, covered by Medicare. Ask her therapy team, doctor, or social services coordinator at the facility what equipment is covered and what they recommend.
Ask about Medicare coverage for a three-in-one commode chair. This is extremely useful in the bathroom and can double as a shower chair if you don’t already have one. Three-in-one commode chairs sit over the toilet and give seniors handles to grab to help them on and off the toilet. It can also be used at her bedside in the middle of the night, so she doesn’t need to walk so far to the bathroom.
You mentioned she has a walk-in shower, that’s great! Does she have a shower chair? Does she have grab bars in and out of the shower at an appropriate height for her reach? Consider purchasing a hand-held shower that can replace a standard shower head if she doesn’t have one already. There are a wide range of hand-held showers, so you should be able to find one at a reasonable price.
Next, purchase automatic night lights that turn on in dim light. This will help orient your mom when she needs to wake up in the middle of the night. If she’s a light sleeper and lights keep her up, consider motion-activated night lights that will turn on when she approaches. Install night lights in her bedroom and bathroom, so her pathway is illuminated.
Finally, prevent future falls by removing clutter and bath rugs. Bathmats, although cozy for the feet, are a fall hazard for seniors. Make sure her pathway to the bathroom is clutter-free.
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