Making a Thiruvananthapuram Home Safe: Bathroom, Bedroom and Stairs

The audit: walk it wet, walk it dark

Do your first safety walk on a rainy evening. Start at the lane, go up the steps, through the front door, across the living area, to the bedroom and the bathroom, wearing the footwear your parent uses. Note where floors slide, where steps are uneven, where light is poor, where there is nothing to hold and where a person has to step over something. Then do the walk again with the lights as they are at night. Make a list in order of risk. For a general check, see monthly home safety check and falls risk assessment at home.

From the lane to the door

Sloping plots mean that the way into the house is often a path with steps or a gradient.

• Handrails along the path and steps, firmly fixed, on at least one side and preferably both; see handrails and stair lifts.
• Anti-slip surfaces on steps and the path, especially where moss grows in the rains; see anti-slip tape and coatings.
• Lighting: a motion-sensor light along the path and at the door.
• Resting place: a seat or ledge by the door and, if the climb is long, partway up.
• A portable ramp at a threshold for a walker or wheelchair, or a fixed ramp where the path allows; see portable ramps for thresholds.
• A dry zone: a rack for shoes and umbrellas and a towel to dry aids and feet.
• A key safe or spare key with a neighbour; see key safe guide.

Floors and living areas

Stone, polished tile and terrazzo are cool in the heat but slippery when wet or dusty.

• Non-slip treatment rather than rugs; where a mat is needed, fix it at the edges; see flooring, rugs and trip hazards.
• Keep floors dry: wipe drips from umbrellas and wet clothes at once.
• Footwear: closed shoes with grip or socks with grip, not smooth slippers; see choosing shoes for older feet.
• Level changes inside the house: mark them with contrast tape and light them, because an unexpected step is a classic fall.
• Furniture: stable chairs with arms and a seat height that allows standing; see choosing a chair for an older person.
• Clear paths: at least wide enough for a walker, free of cables and clutter.

The bathroom

Threshold and floor. A raised threshold means stepping over a wet lip. Mark it with contrasting anti-slip tape, put a grab bar beside it and consider a small bevelled ramp. Use a non-slip mat with drainage holes and treat smooth tiles with anti-slip tape or coating; see non-slip bath mats guide and bathroom flooring for older people. Keep a wiper and use it after every bath.

Grab bars. Fix them into the wall with proper plugs; suction bars are not safe in steam and wet; see grab bar buying guide, where to fit grab bars and suction grab bars are not safe.

Seating and showering. A shower chair or bench with rubber feet allows seated bathing; a handheld shower directs water; see shower chair buying guide and handheld shower guide. For a bucket-and-mug bath, a stable low stool and a non-slip floor matter even more.

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.

Help and light. A way to call, a door that opens from outside and bright light; see bathroom emergency alerts. Keep electrical items and geysers safe; see safe use of heaters and geysers.

Damp. Ventilate after bathing, wipe walls and keep towels sun-dried; see pest, damp and mould at home. Also see bathroom safety checklist for seniors.

The bedroom

• Bed height and edge: feet flat, knees at right angles, a firm edge to push from; see bed height and getting out of bed.
• Light and path: a bedside lamp and motion-sensor lights to the toilet; see motion night lights for seniors and bedroom setup for night safety.
• Ventilation and damp: a fan placed safely, screens or nets against mosquitoes and bedding dried in sun; use a breathable mattress protector; see mattress protector guide and temperature and ventilation at home.
• A clear floor and slippers with grip placed where feet land.
• Within reach: water, phone or pendant, spectacles, torch and pill box.
• For someone confined to bed: a hospital bed, a pressure-relieving mattress and regular turning; 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.
• Toilet nearby: a commode at night if the bathroom is far; see night-time toilet trips and falls.

Internal stairs and upper floors

• Handrails on both sides, continuous and firm.
• Step edges in a contrasting colour, with non-slip tape; light switches at top and bottom; see stairs, steps and thresholds.
• Clear steps: no storage and no loose mats.
• Daily life downstairs: where possible, a bedroom, toilet and sitting area on the ground floor for someone who struggles with stairs; see ground floor vs upper floor living and care equipment for a first-floor flat.
• Lifts in flats: check that they work through power cuts and fit a wheelchair or stretcher; see lifts and apartment living for seniors.
• Verandas and balconies: wet in the monsoon; non-slip surface, sturdy railings and a chair; do not leave a confused person unattended.

Lighting, contrast and power cuts

Rainy evenings are dark and storms can cut the power. Use bright, even lighting and contrast on edges; see lighting and contrast at home. Keep a charged emergency light or torch at the bed and in the hall, and a power bank for the phone and pendant; see power cuts and older adults.

Living alone while children work elsewhere

Many older residents live with a spouse or alone. Beyond the house changes, arrange a way to call from the bathroom and bed, a spare key with a neighbour, a daily check-in and visible emergency numbers; see home safety for seniors living alone, panic pendant buying guide and emergency contact card and medical summary. No device ensures rescue, so agree who responds.

Adjusting for particular needs

• Walkers and rollators: wide doors, ramps over thresholds; see rollator buying guide.
• Wheelchair users: room 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; see dementia home setup.

Priorities

First: night lighting, remove loose rugs, fixed grab bars and non-slip surfaces in the bathroom, handrails at the entrance and on steps. Then: seating, bed height and equipment. See bathroom budget makeover for seniors. Review every few months and after any fall or illness.

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.