The bathroom is the primary location where many falls take place. Confined space together with hard slippery surfaces creates great risk for all people, irrespective of their age or physical condition. The greatest danger in the bathroom is slipping and falling when entering and exiting the bathtub or shower. The hardness of the bathtub surface and sharp, protruding fixtures are the chief agents of injury in slips and falls. The lack of support surfaces for grasping in older bathtubs is the primary reason why people slip and fall. This is particularly true for older homes, a place where many of America’s elderly reside.InconvenienceThe results of a study published by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research indicates that in 1984 more people were dependent in bathing than they were in dressing, transferring into and out of bed/chair, meal preparation or performing light house work (NIDRR, 1992). Bathing related difficulties escalate sharply with age. They vary greatly between the young-old (65-74), the old-old (75-84) and the very-old old (85+). About 40,000 young old people reported difficulty with bathing. There were twice as many old-olds and over five times as many very-old olds who had problems with bathing. Not all people experienced the same type of difficulties; some had more problems getting in and out of the bathtub, while others had difficulty adjusting the flow and temperature of water.Bathing is a difficult task for a large number of the America’s elderly. Another study by the NIDRR indicated that in 1987, “a total of 3.6 million persons (12 percent in the community of over 65) had difficulty with at least one Activity of Daily Living or mobility and the mobility difficulties affecting the greatest number of elderly was bathing (2.5 million or 8.9 percent)” (NIDRR,1992, p66). Not all individuals with bathing difficulties required help; about 252,000 people bathed unassisted; 1.4 million individuals required human assistance; 308,000 were dependent on the use of bathing aids and equipment; and 280,000 needed both.Why Is This Happening?Safety problems among the aged are generally due to the loss of physical capabilities and poor design of bathing equipment. In order to compensate for loss of capabilities, the elderly tend to over-exert themselves. This seriously affects their security and personal well-being. For example, the elderly have difficulty bending over and kneeling down. They are unable to access parts of their body when standing, and some even when sitting. Many attempt to challenge their capabilities to access difficult to reach areas and injure themselves. The elderly are constrained by limited reach and poor grip strength. They feel exerted by the poor design and location of water controls. They have problems reaching fixtures and grasping them. Many receive injuries from applying excessive force. Poor balance affects stabilization. This escalates their chances of slippage and falling when entering and exiting the bathtub or shower. So, there are many factors that can injure, independently, or contribute to or lead to fall related injuries.
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