One Slip in the Bathtub Is All it Takes, Which Is Why Assisted Living Is a Conversation to Have Now

January 26, 2022 by ·

Pay attention to the things that happen in your life, even the things you barely notice. For example, most of us, when we are strong and healthy, never pay attention to just how close we come to serious accidents.

You might be driving to work, running late, pressing down on the accelerator a little more than you usually do, perhaps weaving in traffic in a manner that is atypical for you. What you don’t notice, though, is perhaps the other vehicle that nearly clipped you, maybe ran a red light and could have hit you, but you decided to stop at the last minute.

Is that not a reasonable example? How about taking a shower? How many times can you remember slipping while stepping into or out of the tub or shower surround or while you were lathering up? It happens to all of us. It’s not something we often think about, but in that moment when our foot slips, when we struggle to gain our balance, our heart rate is racing and the adrenaline courses through our veins.

It is in those moments that we realize we just got lucky. What happens, though, for an aging senior who slips while in the tub?

What about grab bars?

Assisted Living Daphne, AL: Bathtub Safety

Yes, there are certain home modifications that can be made to improve safety for an aging senior, especially in the bathroom, but is that enough? That is one of the most important questions people need to ask themselves these days: is that enough?

Is it enough that your elderly father or mother has something to grab onto while stepping into or out of the tub? Will they have enough strength to maintain their balance, even if they do slip?

Sure, you can also encourage them to use a shower seat, which can take the pressure off their legs while they bathe. Again, is that enough?

Wouldn’t they be safer with somebody there to support them?

If they are like the average senior in their mid-to-late 70s or 80s, even though they may seem generally strong, they have lost a lot of muscle mass through the years, even if they exercise regularly. It is part of the natural process of aging.

Imagine they had somebody around, somebody available anytime of the morning, afternoon, evening, or during the overnight who could help them in a time of need. That doesn’t mean they would need somebody during all those moments, but what if they recognized their infirmity, the fact they didn’t have the strength for whatever reason in that moment?

Assisted living provides that option. January is Bath Safety Month and for those seniors who are of advancing years and who may have had a close call recently, either in the kitchen, bathroom, getting out to the store, getting out of bed, and so forth, discussing assisted living now can help keep them safe into the future. It is not a topic to ignore because in one moment, everything can change.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Assisted Living near Daphne, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

Filed Under: Senior Safety · Tagged: ,
About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
Google Verified Author