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Regeneration, relaxation and unwinding are all part of the unique bathing experience of a luxury steam shower . Discerning European consumers have already discovered the many advantages of a luxury steam shower – happily, their enthusiasm for this fashionable and functional product means that it is now easier than ever before for those living in the U.S. and Canada to install steam showers in their own homes. Steam showers may well be trendy – but their countless benefits mean that they will transcend trends to become an integral part of your daily routine. The latest technologies have made bathroom fixtures from high-end manufacturers more available for those who wish to invest in a higher quality of living. Steam therapy is proven to contribute positively to diverse aspects of good physical health , and the wonderful added bonuses of colour therapy, music therapy and aromatherapy cannot fail to enhance your overall sense of well-being. Imagine the sensation of a steam shower w...

More than one in three persons over age 65 fall each year, often at home. If falls do happen, luckily, most do not result in any injury with the exception of a minor bruise or scraped knee. But falling in the bathroom is an entirely different matter. According to a 2011 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 200,000 Americans are treated in emergency departments for bathroom- related injuries annually . Due to a multitude of reasons, bathrooms are very hazardous. Bathrooms have unforgiving and slippery surfaces , and few dependable things to grasp onto, which greatly increases the chances for harm. Fall- related injuries range from minor cuts, scrapes and bruises to more severe injuries, such as broken bones (especially hip fractures), head contusions, and even spinal cord injury . Are you or a loved one susceptible? Up to 80% of falls in the home are in the bathroom. Anyone can stumble and fall in the bathroom but having poor muscle strength and ba...

CSI Bathware 26 " x 21" Phenolic Slatted L- Shaped Shower Bath Seat , Left Handed - SEA-WB2621-LH-PH Most of us want to remain at home for as long as possible as we age. However, as we mature, slipping and falling while bathing and showering can be a common occurrence. Installing a shower seat and grab bars provides security and allows elderly and physically disabled people to remain independent in the privacy of their bathroom. Even if not disabled, you’ll find that using a folding shower seat is much safer – and easier – when shaving your legs. The water- resistant phenolic shower seat is sanitary, durable and easy to clean. It folds up against the wall when not in use. The folding shower seat raises and lowers effortlessly with less than five pounds of pressure and complies with all ADA bathroom requirements . Snug hinges make sure the folding shower seat stays in place both in the raised and lowered positions. When correctly installed, this shower seat supports mor...

CSI Bathware 26 " x 21" Phenolic Slatted L- Shaped Shower Bath Seat , Right Handed - SEA-WB2621-RH-PH Most of us want to remain at home for as long as possible as we age. However, as we mature, slipping and falling while bathing and showering can be a common occurrence. Installing a shower seat and grab bars provides security and allows elderly and physically disabled people to remain independent in the privacy of their bathroom. Even if not disabled, you’ll find that using a folding shower seat is much safer – and easier – when shaving your legs. The water- resistant phenolic shower seat is sanitary, durable and easy to clean. It folds up against the wall when not in use. The folding shower seat raises and lowers effortlessly with less than five pounds of pressure and complies with all ADA bathroom requirements . Snug hinges make sure the folding shower seat stays in place both in the raised and lowered positions. When correctly installed, this shower seat supports mo...

The following excerpt is taken from Chapter 7 of Life on Wheels: For the Active Wheelchair User , by Gary Karp, copyright 1999, published by O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. To order, or get more information about Gary's book, call (800) 998-9938. Permission is granted to print and distribute this excerpt for noncommercial use as long as the above source is included. The information in this article is meant to educate and should not be used as an alternative for professional medical care . The bathroom is often the space that is the greatest challenge to make accessible. In a 1993 U.S. Census Bureau report , 4.5 million people with disabilities reported having difficulty bathing, and 2.1 million had trouble using the toilet. Millions of people are inconvenienced--even endangered--by inaccessible bathrooms. Any impediment to easy access to the bathroom can lead someone to delay their bowel or bladder program. A bathroom that is easy to use protects your health ( see Figure 1 (cli...

Seniors who want to age in place should consider remodeling their bathrooms so that they better accommodate their needs. Below are some ideas to keep in mind when planning a remodeling project. 1.   Include a Bathroom on the Main Floor If possible, place a bathroom on the same floor as the main living area . A bathroom located where the senior spends most of their time means they can avoid using the stairs. It’s a tall order for many homes, but can make a world of difference for older adults with declining mobility. 2. Provide Adequate Floor Space The bathroom should be large enough to accommodate someone using a cane, a walker or even a wheelchair to get around. Someone who uses a wheelchair will require the most space—at least around 60 inches of open floor space to turn around. Doorways should be at least 32 inches wide so that a wheelchair can get through. Some chairs may require 36-inch-wide openings. 3.   Make Tubs and Showers Accessible For some seniors, standard bathtubs are d...

Dear Savvy Senior, What tips do you recommend for making a bathroom safer and more functional for seniors. My 79-year-old mother slipped and fell getting out of the shower last month, and I'd like to modify her bathroom a bit with some safety features that can help protect her. --Searching Daughter Dear Searching, Because more accidents and injuries happen in the bathroom than any other room in the house, this is a very important room to modify for aging in place. Depending on your mom's needs, here are some tips for each part of the bathroom that can make it safer and easier to use. Flooring: To avoid slipping, a simple fix is to get non- skid bath rugs for the floors. Or if you want to put in a new floor get slip-resistant tiles, rubber or vinyl flooring, or install wall-to-wall carpeting. Lighting: Good lighting is also very important, so install the highest wattage bulbs allowed for your mom's bathroom fixtures and get a plug-in nightlight that automatically turn...

For Janet Leigh’s character in “Psycho,” the biggest bathroom threat was knife- wielding Norman Bates . For everyone else, it’s the more commonplace things, like slippery tiles and too-hot water. According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 250,000 people are injured in the bathroom each year, largely due to slips and falls. Most bathroom mishaps are preventable. Here are six simple things that can make your bathroom safer. Grab bars Grab bars aren’t just for nursing homes and hospital rooms. Anyone can slip climbing in or out of a tub, and towel bars and other fixtures are not designed to withstand the weight of person. Grab bars no longer look like something you’d find in a medical supply store . You can find sleek ones that blend in with the rest of the fixtures in your bathroom. Besides in the shower, consider installing a grab bar next to the toilet. It can be helpful for someone who has trouble standing up. Grab bars should be secured to wall studs and positioned ver...

senior friendly bathrooms " /> Image Credit : zanita.info Commonplace, daily routines are so easy we don’t even need to think about them. But as our bodies age, that simple step into the shower, or the few minutes it takes to stand at the sink and brush our teeth, become routines that take extended effort. Complications arise for the elderly as balance and mobility become more and more difficult. Suddenly, the bathroom can be a dangerous place where a shower threshold can cause a painful fall or a difficult faucet can lead to scalding. The bathroom can even become an unwelcome space if walkers or wheelchairs have no room to enter. That’s why safe designs for the senior friendly bathrooms are so important. Zero-threshold showers and walk-in bathtubs provide security , safety, and even style when done right. TIP: Use our Real- Time Bathroom Remodeling Calculator and Find Out in Minutes How Much Your Remodel Will Cost.  Zero-Threshold Showers You may step over the 6-inch thresh...

Washing Lever taps on the sink and bath are easier to use. Liquid soap in a push-button/ push down dispenser is easier than using a bar of soap. Getting in and out of a bath can be difficult. It isn't a good idea for someone to lift you in and out, as they could easily hurt their back or injure you. The following may help: a non-slip bath mat a grab rail a bath board and seat a powered bath seat lift . Another option is a special walk-in bath, but installing one of these will be expensive. Showering A grab rail and fold-down wall seat, shower stool or plastic garden chair in the shower will help you to shower comfortably and safely if you have a shower cubicle. If your shower is over the bath you may find it safer to sit on a bath board (a slatted board placed across the top of the bath). Large, level-access showers are often cheaper to install than a walk-in bath. Drying yourself can be difficult if your joints are stiff and painful. Try these tips: Put on a thick towellin...

Bathrooms can be very dangerous, both to the disabled and the elderly. The smooth surfaces , awkward movements, and generally solitary usage of the bathroom makes it one of the most common areas for accidental falls and injuries to occur, both for the elderly and the disabled. However, given the prevalence of falls and injuries in bathrooms, there are many useful products on the market that can help prevent falls, and allow greater autonomy. Let’s take a look at 5 of the best ways to outfit bathrooms to help your loved ones avoid falls and other dangerous situations, and give you greater peace of mind. Grab Bars Grab bars are perhaps the single most important addition you can make to a bathroom to help your loved ones avoid falls and injuries. These simple devices are generally made out of a durable plastic or a high- quality stainless steel , and can be applied to walls in the shower, bath, or next to toilets to allow for increased grip and stability during awkward movements, such a...