Keeping a person with Alzheimer’s disease safe is a major concern for caregivers. There are changes you can make to their environment that can help. Check out these tips on what you can do in the bathroom to reduce the risk of injury:
- Do not leave a severely impaired person with Alzheimer’s alone in the bathroom.
- Remove the lock from the bathroom door to prevent the person with Alzheimer’s from getting locked inside.
- Place nonskid adhesive strips, decals, or mats in the tub and shower. If the bathroom is does not have carpet, consider placing theses strips next to the tub, toilet, and sink.
- Use a raised toilet seat with handrails or install grab bars beside the toilet.
- Install grab bars in the tub/shower. A grab bar in contrasting color to the wall is easier to see.
- Use a foam rubber faucet cover (often used for small children) in the tub to prevent serious injury should the person with Alzheimer’s fall.
- Use a plastic shower stool and a hand-held shower head to make bathing easier.
- In the shower, tub, and sink, use a single faucet that mixes hot and cold water to avoid burns.
- Store medications (prescription and nonprescription) in a locked cabinet. Check medication dates and dispose of outdated medications.
- Remove cleaning products from under the sink or lock them away.
- Use a night-light.
Get more tips like this in a room-by-room checklist to help keep a person with Alzheimer’s safe at home.
Use this room-by-room checklist to help keep a person with #Alzheimers safe at home: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/home-safety-checklist-alzheimers-disease