Bathroom Safety for Seniors: Grab Bars, Showers and Toilets
Bathrooms combine hard surfaces, water and tight spaces, which makes them one of the most common places for falls at home. A few changes help a lot.
Grab bars
- ☐ By the toilet and in the tub or shower, plus at the entry to the tub
- ☐ Installed into wall studs or with anchors rated for grab bars, by someone who knows how
- ☐ Towel bars are not grab bars. They can pull out of the wall.
- ☐ Suction-cup bars are not a substitute for permanent bars
In the shower or tub
- ☐ Non-slip mat or adhesive strips
- ☐ Shower chair or tub transfer bench if standing is tiring
- ☐ Handheld shower head so you can wash sitting down
- ☐ Toiletries on a shelf at a reachable height
- ☐ Consider a walk-in shower or a low threshold if stepping over the tub is hard
Toilet
- ☐ Raised toilet seat or toilet safety frame if sitting and standing is hard
- ☐ Toilet paper reachable without twisting
Floor
- ☐ No loose bath rugs, or rugs with non-slip backing
- ☐ Wipe up water right away
Light and visibility
- ☐ A night light in the bathroom and the hallway
- ☐ Bright, glare-free light over the sink
- ☐ A contrasting color for grab bars and the tub edge can help with low vision
Scald prevention
- ☐ Set the water heater to 120°F (49°C) or lower
- ☐ Consider anti-scald valves
In an emergency
- ☐ A door that can be unlocked from the outside
- ☐ A waterproof medical alert button, or a phone within reach
Who can help
An occupational therapist can recommend exactly what's needed; ask the doctor for a referral. For costs, see how to pay for home modifications and whether Medicare pays for grab bars.
General information, not medical advice or a professional assessment.
The Aging-in-Place Home Safety Checklist includes a bathroom page and a modification plan with costs.
Aging-in-Place Home Safety Checklist — $12
17-page room-by-room home safety and fall-prevention workbook with a fall-risk check, modification plan, ways to pay and a fridge emergency sheet. Instant download: PDF + DOCX + XLSX.
Get the Aging-in-Place Home Safety ChecklistAll 10 kits — $59More guides
- Aging in Place Checklist: Room-by-Room Home Safety for Seniors
- Fall Prevention Checklist for Seniors: Home and Health
- How To Talk to Aging Parents About Home Safety
- Medications That Can Increase Fall Risk in Older Adults
- Does Medicare Pay for Grab Bars and Home Modifications?
- Home Modification Grants and Help for Seniors
- Medical Alert Systems: What To Look For (and Alternatives)
- Stair Safety for Seniors: A Practical Checklist
- Smoke Alarms and Fire Safety for Older Adults