How to Safety-Proof Your Bathroom: Safety Bars

While the hidden dangers associated with your tub and shower are great, preventing tub-related accidents is mostly easy to do and can be done in an afternoon. This is the first in a series of posts about how you can safety-proof your bathroom.

But you don’t have to do it alone. We can help make sure your aging loved one never has to worry when he or she steps into the tub again, which means you never have to worry. Our walk-in tubs are designed to make sure the elderly, and men and women with mobility handicaps, can safely enter and exit the bathtub. Call us at 800-373-4322 any time or fill out this form and we can get back to you when it’s convenient for you.

Safety bars

Regardless of the age of the person using the tub, you should install a safety (grab) bar. When you choose your grab bar, keep in mind:

• How much wall space there is around the tub
• What material your wall is made of (probably tile)
• Where the plumbing fixtures are behind the wall
• The mobility of the person using the tub

You should pick an institutional-grade (stainless steel probably) grab bar, which may be pricy. You should install grab bars according to directions provided by the manufacturer, and never using a towel rod as a grab bar. Towel rods will not support someone who is losing their balance.

If you’re outfitting your tub for an elderly adult, you will need to install two grab bars probably: A grab bar to use when the person is getting in and out of the tub, and a grab bar to use when the person is sitting down and getting up when already inside the tub (we’ll discuss seats in the tub in a separate post).

For use getting in and out of the tub, consider a vertical bar, which you can attach to the side of the wall at the foot of the tub (where the water faucets and drain are). This type of bar will help the person safely get in and out of the tub. You should pick a bar that is at least 32 inches (and probably not much longer than that). You should install the grab bar at the outer edge of the tub. We do not recommend diagonal grab bars, because some using a diagonal grab bar when getting in and out of the tub may not be able to firmly grasp the bar, which, when coupled with uneasy footing, could lead to a fall.

For inside the tub, install a horizontal support bar, which is best to use when sitting down or getting up from a seated position. Place this bar on the back edge of the tub, which is also where you would place a seat. If you are not placing a seat in this area, then install the horizontal support bar in a place that is near enough to be used when sitting down or getting up from a seated position.

With about 5.1 million people injured in the home each year due to slipping and falling, you can help prevent such an accident from happening in your bathroom by putting in place effective safety measures.

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Five Things to Consider When Tile Shopping

Thinking about re-tiling or just tiling your bathroom? You have to think about the style of your home, how you want your bathroom to look, and whether or not the tiles you pick are going to be functional or simply decorative. Nothing wrong with tiling for the sake of tiling, but function over fashion will one day help you boost the sale price of your home, and can make sure that you get the most use out of your bathroom. You don’t have to sacrifice fashion for function; just make sure to consider all of your options before beginning any tile project.

Is Tiling Right for You?

Tiles will help keep moisture out of walls and subfloors, and, by choosing the right tiles, you can help prevent slip-and-fall accidents in your bathroom.  Also, don’t forget the visual element of tiles.

You can use tile on your floor and/or on the wall, but if you’re going to do both, consider whether you want to use the same color tiles in both spaces or if you’d rather use complementary colors. There is no right or wrong answer; just think about your own style and get to work bringing it to life.

When tile shopping, keep in mind the following:

Maintenance

Perhaps most importantly is how much upkeep you will need to ensure your tiles look as good one year later as they do on the day you finish. The material you choose (natural stone, mosaic, porcelain) should match who will most likely use the bathroom. Since porcelain tiles are the easiest to keep clean, you may want to go with these if children will use the bathroom. Natural stone tile may take the most upkeep, since they need to be sealed.

Ease of Use

Natural stone, mosaic, and porcelain tiles are the best tiles to use to prevent a slip-and-fall accident. These tiles are not that slippery when wet. Of course, you can always apply a sealer to the surface of any tile to help it be slip resistant, but going with a type of tile that is naturally slip resistant may be the best option in your home.

Personal Style

As mentioned above, you have a style. Everyone does. And your personal style is probably evident in how you decorate your home. You can extend this style into the bathroom as well. In fact, you should extend your personal style into the bathroom. And when deciding how best to tile your bathroom, or even how you want to decorate your bathroom, consider how it will work depending on who is going to most often use the space. For more on how to design bathrooms depending on size, see other blog posts.

Ask the Experts

Don’t design your bathroom without talking to at least one or two experts in the field. They can tell you the mistakes to avoid and the best way to get what you want without paying through the nose. The experts at Independent Home can also suggest ways to make sure that you’re not setting up an easy for someone to slip and fall in your bathroom.

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Three Questions to Consider When Decorating Your Bathroom

No matter the size of your bathroom, you can customize it, whether by adding fixtures and tiling (see related blog posts about the best tile to use) or by working with a contractor or other industry expert to make sure you are getting the most and best use out of your bathroom.

Who is Using the Bathroom?

Depending on who is going to use the bathroom, you may want to customize the bathroom so it works best for children and young adults, or, if elderly adults will be using the bathroom, remember that elderly adults are more likely to slip and fall in the bathroom than in any other room in the home. And with slip-and-fall accidents being the second-leading death in America and the first cause of death in the home, you should keep in mind ways to safety-proof your bathroom when undertaking any bathroom remodeling project.

For children, remember that children grow up. It’s true. Maybe you don’t think they’ll ever grow up, but they do, and with them, so should their bathroom. Avoid age-specific images or stickers and choose, instead, colors that will age well with your child or children. Also, children make a mess. Toothpaste and water and soap are made for messes, so don’t design the bathroom thinking it’s going to always be clean. You may want to go with porcelain tile, as this type of tile is the easiest to clean. Just wipe down and you’ll be good to go.

What is the Size of the Bathroom?

Have a small bathroom? Go big. The bigger the tile, the fewer grout lines there will be, as large tiles will take up more room in your bathroom than small tiles. The fewer grout lines, the bigger the space looks. Another way to give the illusion of a big bathroom? Whatever color you pick for your tiled should match or be echoed on the color you use on the wall. This type of color matching will open up the space, or at least make it seem that your bathroom is bigger than it really is.

The larger the bathroom, the more likely you are to focus on one area. Don’t go overboard. Really. You don’t have to do something to every square inch of your bathroom in order to get the look you want. Find different areas to highlight, be it an old fashioned vanity or the light fixtures. A little color can go a long way when the space you have in which to work is large.

What Style are You Going For?

If you have a more modern design aesthetic, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find out that it is now easier than ever to make a big statement in your bathroom without blowing your budget. You can find tiles that look like an assortment of materials – fabric, glass, metal, even leather. Like bright, bold colors? You can find tiles in every color imaginable (and some places will customize tiles for you to be the color you want). From bright pink to ink black, if you want it, you can find it. Also, the fixtures you use in your bathroom should complement not just the overall design in your bathroom but also your entire house. Fixtures can help tie your overall house and its design together.

In a formal bathroom, you not only have to consider daily use but also the fact that this is the bathroom that visitors and guests will typically use. You need to make it functional, but also design it in a way that someone using it for the first time won’t need to ask you for a map to where you keep things. Choose simple colors. And depending on your overall style preference, pair simple fixtures and extras in the bathrooms to make it a room everyone can enjoy.

Check out our products page where we feature our best selling walk in bathtub and showers.

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The Health Benefits of an In-Home Spa

Studies show, and experts agree, that using water as a means to heal (called hydrotherapy) can help you get and stay healthy and address some chronic (ongoing) conditions. Hydrotherapy can include a soak in a hot tub, cold water treatment, use of an ice pack or packs, a sauna, swimming or sitting in mineral or hot springs, water exercises and massage, and using wet towels on aching muscles and joints.

For most people, hydrotherapy has few or no side effects, especially if you remember not to expose yourself to too much heat or cold for lengthy periods of time. You should also make sure you stay hydrated. However, some people should talk to their doctors before starting any form of hydrotherapy treatment. These people include:

• Anyone with a condition that could be worsened with exposure to extreme temperatures (hot or cold), including anyone with heart disease, lung disease, circulation disorder, Reynaud’s phenomenon, or chilblains

• Anyone whose injuries could be further aggravated by exposure to water jets
• Anyone with nerve damage who may not be able to tell if they are using water at an extreme temperature
• Pregnant women
• Anyone with an implanted medical device, such as a pacemaker

Better Overall Health with Water

So why water? You’ve probably heard that we should drink around 8 glasses of water aday, and that we are primarily comprised of water, but using water externally can increase your blood circulation, including circulation of white blood cells, which are an integral part of your immune system. Water therapy can also increase your endorphins, which, when combined with increased circulation, can strengthen your immune system, heal injured tissue, decrease inflammation, and boost your overall energy and well-being.

Alleviate Body Pain or Arthritis

Along with helping your overall health, hydrotherapy has been used to treat people who have injured one or more parts of the body, who have had a stroke, and who have had or currently have a respiratory infection. This form of therapy can also help people who have arthritis and other similar conditions. You can also reduce your stress levels, sleep better, and have fewer headaches if you regularly use a form of hydrotherapy.

Perhaps surprisingly, soaking in a hot tub has been found to improve blood sugar levels in people who have diabetes, decrease blood pressure, and help people with multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, tendonitis, scoliosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and bursitis. Doctors are also beginning to suggest hot tub therapy for people who have been diagnosed as having depression and for people who have pain.

In a whirlpool spa, you’re going to get the benefits of heat, buoyancy, and massage, which, when combined, can give you a unique relaxing and soothing experience. Walk-in tub immersion in hot water is a sure way to increase your circulation. How? Well, spa jets will massage you with a combination of water and air, which will help improve circulation, relieve muscle tension and stiffness, release trigger points, increase motion range, release pressure on the nerves, and promotes overall relaxation.

And because in water you are practically weightless (buoyancy can help you feel as if you are 90 percent lighter), and pain or pressure you feel in your joints or muscles will feel better.

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Possible Tax Deductions for Pools, Spas, and Other Home Improvements

Some major home improvements, which may classify as medical expenses or for a medical use, may be tax deductible. Such improvements include pools, spas, elevators, lifts, ramps, and other devices that can assist people living with a medical condition.

Helpful Home Improvements

According to the IRS, costs related to the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of a medical condition or a disease count as medical expenses. And under this wide-range of categories, you can also deduct the cost of equipment, supplies, and any diagnostic devices you need. However, not just any purchase will do. These deductions extend to improvements made to help you or your spouse or other dependent living with you. And if these improvements increase the value of your home, that’s OK. Some of these costs can be deducted as well. How that works is you can deduct the cost of the equipment minus the increase in your property value brought on by the improvement. If there is no increase in property value, then you can deduct the entire cost associated with that improvement.

You can deduct costs associated with alleviating and/or preventing illness, be it physical or mental, and the home improvement must be primarily used for this reason. Sorry. Adding a walk-in spa and claiming it will help you relax or ease your stress at the end of a particularly difficult day isn’t going to get you much more than a possible audit.

Medical Deductions

So how about that swimming pool, hot tub, or spa (swim or walk-in)? If water exercise is prescribed to you as part of an ongoing treatment plan, or as part of ongoing physical therapy, good news, you may be able to partly deduct the cost of the equipment on your tax return. Just be careful. The IRS is likely to question how much the pool or spa is being used for a medical-related condition, and how much the pool or spa is being used for recreation purposes. Show that the equipment is best suited to alleviate pain associated with your condition, and the IRS is likely to allow the deduction.

Other improvements that you may be able to deduct as medical expenses include the following:

• Entrance/exit ramps
• Widened doorways or entrances/exists
• Widened or otherwise altered hallways and doorways
• Railings, support bars, or other modifications to bathrooms (and since you’re more likely to slip and fall in a bathroom than in any other room in your home, you may want to start with these alterations, if you’re suffering from a medical condition that could cause you to lose your balance or if the bathroom is being used by an elderly adult)
• Lowered or otherwise modified cabinets and other equipment in the kitchen
• Modified electrical outlets, fixtures, fire alarms, smoke detectors, or other warning systems
• Lifts, but be careful, elevators are normally seen as adding value to your home
• Modified stairway
• Handrails or grab bars anywhere

Medical care costs should be limited to reasonable costs needed to accommodate a disabled condition or someone suffering from an ongoing condition. You can also include any costs associated with operating the improvement, such as air filters you need for a pool, spa, or heater. Hidden costs are also deductible, so water, electricity, cleaning, repairs, maintenance, and chemicals count.

The above information is provided for informational purposes only and should not be used as official tax information. Please review IRS Publication 502 or check with a certified public accountant. Publication 502 also has a list of medical expenses that you may or may not be able to deduct.

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Hydrotherapy Benefits for People with Diabetes

More than 16 million people have either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is where the body does not produce enough insulin, so you have to inject yourself with insulin. Type 2 diabetes is when you may be able to control your blood glucose levels by following a special diet and exercise program. Some people with Type 2 diabetes also need to inject themselves with insulin.

Hydrotherapy (water therapy) has been found to help people with Type 2 diabetes, according to a New England Journal of Medicine article. Spa therapy (or hot tub therapy), according to the study, can be beneficial for people with Type 2 diabetes because it has been found to reduce blood sugar levels, improve overall sleep patterns, and give people with diabetes an increased sense of well-being.

Unfortunately, because many people with Type 2 diabetes are unable to follow the rigorous type of exercise program most doctors recommend, soaking in a hot tub is now seen as an alternate therapy. The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed how a 30-minute soak a day for three consecutive weeks reduced overall blood sugar levels in people participating in the study by 13 percent.

Another benefit to soaking in a hot tub or enjoying time in a walk-in spa is that many people with diabetes, who often report high levels of stress, feel better and less stressed after participating in a form of hydrotherapy treatment. People with diabetes also reported relaxed muscles, increased circulation, and reduced blood pressure.

The water you soak in appears to also be an effective pain reliever because it gives your body buoyancy that does not or would not otherwise occur. Soaking in water can help support all areas of your body, contribute to reduced muscle and join pain, invigorate your muscles, and stimulate the release of chemicals and hormones in your body, which can help you feel better.

Other things people with Type 2 diabetes can do to lessen symptoms of their diabetes include:

• Avoiding starchy foods
• Avoiding eating foods with high amounts of oil (or, using less oil in food you cook)
• Enjoying a low-fat diet
• Avoiding junk foods
• Avoiding sweets
• Avoiding alcohol and coffee
• Avoiding stress or other less-relaxing activities

People with Type 1 diabetes may also benefit from hydrotherapy, as these people also report joint stiffness and a limited range of motion. Both of these side effects of the diabetes may be alleviated by hydrotherapy, but the diabetes itself may not be affected.

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How a Walk-In Tub Could Help You Sleep Better

A soothing soak in an at-home spa or walk-in tub may ease muscle and joint pain (and it will), but that same soak has the added benefit of helping you get a good night’s sleep. More than 132 million people suffer from some type of sleeping disorder, according to the National Sleep Foundation, and these disorders range from mild and chronic insomnia, snoring, and periods of time when breathing stops. And some form of insomnia affects nearly half of us at least one night a week. And insomnia, according to one study, is the second-leading reason why people go to their doctor (pain being the first reason).

So what causes insomnia and why can a soak help you sleep better? Stress, mostly, according to sleep researchers, and our hectic, always-connected lifestyles. Unplug yourself from technology, and you should notice some improvements in your sleep patterns, but it’s stress that’s most responsible for why we don’t sleep well at night. And without good, solid sleep (at least six hours a night, for most of us), you will soon experience grogginess, lapses in memory, depression, and erratic mood swings. The fight you had earlier this week with someone? Could be because you aren’t getting enough sleep at night.

Spend at least 15 minutes in your walk-in tub about 90 minutes before you want to go to sleep, and you may find falling asleep easier. Your internal body temperature will decrease, which will help you enter a sleep state more easily.

The heat inherent in a soak will also help your body create and release endorphins (which, simply, can help you feel better). Endorphins will not only help you feel better but can also help you sleep. The buoyancy of soaking in a tub will also help you reduce and relieve the normal stresses of a day. Your body will relax, because it will feel weightless, and you do not work as hard in water as you would out of water. Not that you are always working, but the work of living – breathing, moving, being – is easier when you are weightless.

Hydrotherapy (which is the term used to describe soaking in water), has been found to also stimulate your immune system, increase your metabolism, and help you recharge. Soak a while and see how more energized you feel.

There are other benefits to having a walk-in tub in your home. With more than 11 million senior citizens slipping and falling each year – usually in the bathroom, and usually while trying to get into a standard bathtub – a walk-in tub can help you or someone you love avoid the complications and injuries associated with such a fall.

Whether you are trying to help someone you love live more independently, or if you’re looking for a natural way to help you sleep, a walk-in tub or home spa can help. It’s no longer a luxury; affordable options are available. There is no reason for sleepless nights. Find the at-home option that works for you, and see how easily those sheep come and go in the middle of the night. No more counting. Soak then sleep. Nothing could be easier.

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How to Avoid Slip-Related Injuries

Slip-and-fall accidents account for more than 25,000 injuries every day according to the U.S. National Safety Council. Second to automobile-related deaths, slip-and-fall accidents cost more than $100 billion dollars to treat, and are the leading cause of death in the workplace and the cause of more than 20 percent of disabling injuries. If you’re in a hotel, restaurant, or public building, you’re more likely to slip and fall than do anything else. And in your home, nearly half of all accidents are slip-and-fall related. Slip-and-fall accidents are also the leading cause of death in the home for elderly adults.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States each year, 33 percent of adults 65 and older receive treatment for a fall. If that statistic isn’t enough to get you to act, every 35 minutes or so, someone in the United States dies as a result of slipping and falling, which is also how some 90 percent of hip injuries occur in an elderly adult.

For those who slip and fall and live, between 20 percent and 30 percent still receive moderate to severe injuries (and not just hip fractures), and these injuries could severely hinder their ability to live independently. Also, not only can a fall cut short someone’s lifespan, but a fear of falling may make some activities impossible to do, or make someone unwilling to try new things.

One way to help prevent slip-and-fall accidents is to apply an anti-slip product to your floor, after properly preparing the surface, and then maintaining the floor appropriately. When determining the right product to use, keep in mind how much traffic the area gets (for instance, the living room is heavily trafficked in most homes, whereas a home office may not be), and of course, keep in mind that what works in a dry area probably won’t work in an area like your bathroom, which is where most slip-and-fall accidents take place.

You could always invest in non-slip bathtub mats and coating, which may last for up to three years if taken care of, or, you can invest in a bathroom remodel, which will last much longer than making simple cosmetic changes and ultimately increase the resale of your home, if that is something you may one day need to do. You should also consider who is using the bathroom. Will adults primarily use the bathroom? Children? Elderly adults? The older and younger the bathroom user, the more likely a slip-and-fall accident may occur.

But you don’t have to go it alone. Experts, like Independent Home, are available to help you make the decision that will work best in your home. With more than 10 years of experience focused exclusively on walk-in bathtubs (one of the easiest ways to ensure a slip-and-fall accident does not occur), Independent Home staff has a deep knowledge base, and the company itself has a variety of products from which you can choose your next bathroom. (See other blog posts about the best materials to use.)

For more information, or for a consultation, call 800-373-4322.

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How to Create a Safe Bathroom

The bathroom is one of the places in the home where the most accidents happen. In fact, the bathroom is where the most people slip and fall, which can lead to serious injuries and conditions. But the bathroom is a place where other hidden dangers lurk, things that typically we take for granted. Here is a good list to keep in mind when thinking about safety-proofing your bathroom, for a child or an aging adult, or even for yourself. Along with each area of your bathroom, we include some easy steps to take to remedy a problem before it happens.

Bathtubs and Showers

Getting in and out of a traditional bath tub can be a problem, especially if the person getting in and out of the tub has problems with their balance or with their legs. Even a small lip at the bottom of a shower (which is necessary to keep water from spilling out onto the floor) can be a tripping hazard. Not only can a wet floor lead to someone slipping and falling, but soap and water inside the tub or shower could be a problem.

• Install a walk-in tub, which will be easier for someone to use, and decrease the possibility of someone slipping and falling.

• Install non-skid mats on the floor, or, better yet, install a stool or grab bars inside the tub or shower.

• Install a bench or stool in the shower or tub, which will also help diminish the chance of someone slipping and falling.

• Install a handheld shower head.

• Using liquid soap instead of bar soap can also reduce the chance of someone slipping and falling, because they will not have to bend over to pick up a bar of soap that falls to the bottom of the tub or shower.

Electric and Appliances

Once you’ve addressed the bath tub and shower in the bathroom, turn your focus to other areas. Another safety hazard is the electrical system used in the bathroom. Plugging in appliances like hair dryers and curling irons near a source of water can lead to possible electrocution and shock. Make sure that ground fault circuit interrupters are installed in every outlet in the bathroom.

Other Safety Options

If mobility is an issue, install a commode that accommodates someone with a limited range of motion. You can also install grab bars and/or handles on the walls near the toilet. If you do, make sure the grab bars and/or handles are installed in wall studs, to make sure they are as sturdy as possible. There are also toilet lifts you can buy, elevated toilet seats, and products that are removable so the person can use them on any toilet they may need to use.

Another area to look into is the temperature of the water in the home. Anti-scalding shower heads and faucets (for sinks, tubs, and showers) will help ease the concern of someone getting burned. These devices are simple to install. You can also set the temperature of the water to make sure it will not burn someone.

Protecting your loved ones in the home is simple to do, if you think about all the ways in which someone can get hurt. Something as simple as a walk-in tub may be your best option, as it may address several areas of concern at once. Find the option(s) that work best for you and your loved ones.

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How to Help Your Loved One Maintain an Independent Lifestyle

Many of us will end up caring for an elderly parent, and many of these aging adults don’t want to leave their home and move in with their child or an assisted living facility until there is no other option. To help your aging parent live independently, you can put in place several safety precautions, which will not only make sure you know your parent is as safe as possible in a home, but also help your parent enjoy life as independently as possible for as long as possible.

You can help your aging parent live independently by focusing on several areas of daily living. Look to other blog posts for how you can help your aging parent in ways other than exercise, which is the focus of this blog post.

One easy way to help your parent live independently is to help them stay physically fit, or as physically fit as he or she can. The best way to do this is if they move every day, which will help them enjoy life more. Physical activity, even light physical activity, can boost overall energy levels. Climbing stairs (if possible) and household chores can help, as can something as simple as washing hair or tying shoes. These simple tasks don’t seem that laborious, but imagine not being able to do them. These are two ways that someone can feel independent. Bathing and dressing. And a simple way to help someone enjoy the ability to bathe is to create an environment in the bathroom that facilitates this.

This environment could include simple fixes, like slip-free mats, but you may want to invest in a walk-in tub, which will not only age with your parent, but could come with add-ons like spa and whirlpool features.

As for physical activity, experts recommend 30 minutes a day, but you don’t have to spend 30 minutes at one time exercising. You can break this time down into smaller periods of time, like 10 or 15 minutes. How much exercise you get a day is what matters.

Walking is an easy way to exercise. Walking around the house will add up. Start slow, and when and if you can, walk a little faster. Walk wherever you can. Something as simple as getting off a bus one stop earlier, or parking your car further away from an entrance, is a way to increase how much you walk each day. Lakes, parks, and shopping malls (when the weather makes walking outside difficult or impossible) are good places to walk. Best of all, it’s free.

Making exercise part of your morning routine is another way of improving independent living. Stretch after getting up. Start with your arms, move on to your shoulders, and then end with your legs. What kind of exercises? Anything really, but think about standing on one foot for a small period of time (seconds, not minutes), which will help improve overall balance and coordination. Perform this on each leg.

You and/or your aging parent should consult with a doctor before beginning any exercise program. Tell the doctor that ultimately you want this program to help improve the aging adult’s overall balance, which will help decrease the possibility of a fall. The doctor can give you suggestions to get started.

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