Making an Indore Home Safe: Bathroom, Bedroom and Stairs

The night walk

Start with the most important route: from bed to toilet, in the dark. In hot months, people also walk to the kitchen for water. Walk each path with the lights as they usually are. Note every step, rug, cable, sharp corner and unlit space. Fix that route first: a motion-sensor night light, a clear floor, a firm bedside to push up from and a commode if the walk is long; see bedroom setup for night safety, motion night lights for seniors and night-time toilet trips and falls. For a broader check, see monthly home safety check and falls risk assessment at home.

The bathroom

Floor. A non-slip mat with drainage holes in the wet area, a second dry mat outside and anti-slip tape or coating on smooth tiles; see non-slip bath mats guide, anti-slip tape and coatings and bathroom flooring for older people. A wiper after each use keeps water off the floor.

Grab bars. Fixed into the wall with proper plugs, beside the toilet, in the shower and at the entry; not suction bars; see grab bar buying guide, where to fit grab bars and suction grab bars are not safe. If you rent, see installing grab bars in rented homes.

Seating and showering. A shower chair or bench with rubber feet and a handheld shower let a person bathe seated; see shower chair buying guide, handheld shower guide and bathing safely with a shower chair. In hot weather, tepid water is more comfortable and safer; in winter, warm the bathroom first.

The toilet. A raised seat or frame helps with standing; for a squat toilet, see indian style toilet to western conversion, raised toilet seat guide and toilet frame guide.

Water heaters and electricity. Keep geysers in good order with a competent electrician; do not use electrical items near water; see safe use of heaters and geysers.

Calling for help. A door that can be opened from outside, bright light and a way to call; see bathroom emergency alerts.

See bathroom safety checklist for seniors and bathroom safety products for seniors.

The bedroom

• Heat at night: a fan or cooling placed so that it does not blow directly on a frail sleeper all night, cotton bedding, water within reach and a plan for power cuts; see temperature and ventilation at home. A bedroom that is too hot raises the risk of dehydration, confusion and falls on night trips.
• Bed height and edge: feet flat, knees at right angles; see bed height and getting out of bed.
• Light: a lamp within reach and night lights along the route; see lighting and contrast at home.
• Winter: layers and a light quilt; heaters kept away from bedding and ventilated; no charcoal or open flames in a closed room.
• A clear floor, slippers with grip and nothing to trip over.
• Within reach: water, phone or pendant, spectacles, a torch and the pill box.
• For someone mostly in bed: a hospital bed, a pressure-relieving mattress and repositioning; see hospital bed at home guide, air mattress for pressure sores and preventing bedsores at home.
• Bed rails only on advice; see bed rails guide.
• Small rooms: see small room bed layouts.

Stairs, entrances and wet days

• Handrails on both sides, continuous and firm; see handrails and stair lifts.
• Step edges marked with contrasting, non-slip tape, light switches at the top and bottom; see stairs, steps and thresholds.
• Clear steps, with nothing stored on them.
• Entrance in the monsoon: a non-slip surface, a rough doormat fixed at the edges, a seat for removing shoes and a towel for drying aids; see flooring, rugs and trip hazards.
• A portable ramp where a rollator or wheelchair crosses a step; see portable ramps for thresholds.
• Terraces and rooftops, if the home has one: check railings, surfaces, light and access before anyone uses it for evening air, and do not leave a confused or unsteady person alone there.
• Daily life downstairs where possible, with a bedroom and bathroom close; see ground floor vs upper floor living.
• Apartments: check that the lift works during power cuts and fits a wheelchair or stretcher; see lifts and apartment living for seniors and care equipment for a first-floor flat.

Living areas and kitchen

• Fix or remove rugs; tidy cables; keep paths wide; see flooring, rugs and trip hazards.
• Choose firm chairs with arms and a suitable height; see choosing a chair for an older person.
• Keep daily items between waist and shoulder height; use a reacher rather than a stool; see reacher grabber guide and kitchen safety for older adults.
• Consider an auto-off kettle for a forgetful person.
• Food-loving households may cook late; keep the kitchen well lit and the floor dry, and be careful with hot oil.

Hours alone

Families often work during the day, leaving an older person alone for several hours. Prepare for that gap.

• A way to call from the bed, bathroom and living area: a pendant, a phone on speed dial or both; see panic pendant buying guide and home safety for seniors living alone.
• A check-in: a fixed daily call or message, and a neighbour who knows.
• A key safe or spare key with a neighbour; see key safe guide.
• A medicine routine that does not need supervision, with an organiser; see pill organiser guide.
• Fluids and snacks left within reach in summer.
• Visible numbers: doctor, family and 112; see emergency contact card and medical summary.
• Agree who responds to alerts; no device ensures rescue.

Adjusting for particular needs

• Walkers and rollators: wide doors, ramps over thresholds; see rollator buying guide.
• Wheelchair users: space to turn and an accessible bathroom; see bathroom layout for wheelchair users.
• Poor vision: contrast and light; see low vision home safety.
• After stroke or surgery: follow therapist advice; see bathroom safety after stroke and after hip surgery bathroom setup.
• Dementia: simple, labelled spaces and safe doors; see dementia home setup.

Priorities

First: night lighting, remove loose rugs, fixed grab bars and non-slip surfaces in the bathroom, handrails and a way to call. Then: seating, bed changes and equipment. See bathroom budget makeover for seniors. Review every few months and after any fall or illness.

A ten-minute monthly round

Once a month, walk the home with your parent and look at the basics: do the night lights come on, are mats flat and dry, do grab bars feel solid when pulled, is the handrail firm, are there new cables or boxes on the floor, is the pendant charged, are medicines and water within reach and does the bedroom stay comfortable at night? Ask your parent what has felt awkward this month; people often avoid a step or a corner for weeks without mentioning it. Fix small things at once and put bigger jobs on a list with a date. Repeat the round before summer, before the monsoon and before winter, since each season changes what the home asks of an older person.

When to ask a professional

An occupational therapist can assess the home; see occupational therapy home assessment. A qualified electrician or plumber should do fixed work. A physiotherapist can assess balance. The doctor should review dizziness, vision and medicines. For senior citizens' information and support, Elderline 14567 is a helpline; check current availability. After a fall with head injury or suspected fracture, call 112.