Barrier Free Architecturals
November 22, 2011

10 Ways to Prevent Falls in the Home

Home Safety Council Logo. Image Credit: Home Safety Council.

In 2004, the Home Safety Council published The State of Home Safety in America. The study discussed the causes of unintentional injuries and deaths in homes across the US. It states that falls are the leading cause of unintentional deaths in the home, especially among older adults.

An average of 5.1 million injuries and around 6,000 deaths each year are caused by preventable falls. Falls are essentially preventable, and although we’ve written about the causes of preventable falls before, it’s essential to make a more comprehensive list of tips on falls prevention.

  1. Having handrails on both sides of the stairs all the way from the top to bottom is important for adults to have something to grab on to as they go up and down the stairs.
  2. Bright lighting is important, especially at the staircase and at corners of the house.
  3. Tripping on rugs is a common cause of falls that can be fixed by removing the rug altogether or taping them to the floor.
  4. Grab bars and non-slip strips in the tub are a few essentials in the bathroom. Aside from the stairway, the bathroom should especially be carefully equipped with safety equipment. After all, falls usually occur both in the staircase and the bathroom.
  5. A non skid mat (and all the other places, if you can help it) should always be placed in the bathroom. Without a mat, the probability of slipping in the bathroom is exponentially increased.
  6. Chipped steps and broken brick pathways in the porch and garden should be fixed as soon as possible. They should also be kept clear of items that can be obtrusive.
  7. Bright lights should be installed in the porch and walkway, especially since the outdoors often have poor lighting.
  8. Handrails on the stairs leading to the porch should be sturdy and stable.
  9. Spills should be wiped up immediately, as they can go unnoticed and cause slips.
  10. Conducting a check on the safety of the home from time to time will give both security and maximum falls prevention.
Filed under Home safety tips for the elderly
Tags: , , , , , ,
December 8, 2010

Bath and Shower Mobility Issues Concerning Older Adults

A study entitled “Bath Falls Common Among Older Adults” by the University of Michigan Health System was published a few years back, but is definitely still a matter of concern for older people.

The report states that shower and bathtub safety is of utmost importance since one-third of people age 60 and over have difficulty accessing their bathtub or shower, even with basic bathtub safety equipment installed.

Susan L. Murphy, ScD, OTR, an occupational therapist and U-M research assistant professor who had worked on the study had stated that there are many “independently bathing older adults who have trouble or are unsafe getting into and out of the tub or shower stall. For older adults, losing the ability to bathe is associated with having falls, fracturing bones, and even being admitted to a nursing home. It is important that we take steps to help to prevent bathing disability before it occurs.”

So recommendations of the study include:

1.      Do not use a sliding glass shower door for stability and balance since these glass doors are not design to support a person’s weight. Shower doors can be replaced by shower curtains.

2.      Use proper shower and bathtub equipment. These include handicap shower accessories and grab bars. Under no circumstances should unsafe shower equipment, such as plastic lawn chairs or other equipment not intended for this purpose. Built-in showers such ADA showers and barrier free showers with features are perfect examples of this.

3.      Educating older adults about shower and bathtub safety. The study showed that older adults did not recognize the difference between grab bars or towel bars or have unsafe methods for getting in and out of the shower or tub, such as using a step-stool.

The full study can be found at the Journal of American Geriatrics Society.

Since often older adults have trouble climbing in and out, navigating or hitting the side of their bathtubs or showers, it makes sense to make life easier with specialized shower systems.

Filed under Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , ,
September 2, 2010

Planning Your Dream Home? Think Accessibility.

Whether you’re fortunate enough to be building a new home for yourself, or you’re providing an extension or alteration to your existing home, it really pays to think through accessibility and, ideally, to talk diligently discuss the matter with your architect. Make accessibility a part of your dream home; we promise you’ll thank yourself for it.

If you’re investing in your home, chances are you want to stay there for some time longer. As you get older, the demand for increased accessibility will grow amongst your family and friends, so why not make the extra effort to plan long term? As we discussed in last week’s post, a living space will always benefit from universal design in its initial stages, rather than a more expensive retrofit.

First things first, talk to an expert. If you’re building a whole new home, your architect is the best point to start at because he or she is aware of the latest requirements: these will offer inspiration for what comes next… for example, the kitchen is often overlooked as a shared living space. In fact, it’s the most important shared space in a house (Kitchen Is King).  Accessible shelves, worktops and equipment are simple features you can seamlessly integrate into your new space to make it a place for anyone to comfortably contribute to the longevity of the household.

If you’re pursuing a DIY project and, for example, find yourself re-tiling the bathroom, take a moment to consider how easy it would be to increase the accessibility of the space a hundredfold. Grab bars are a terrific, and increasingly appreciated option for those on a low budget, and, if you’re feeling more adventurous, why not invest in an accessible shower?  Again, we guarantee that you’ll thank yourself down the road, if not also immediately.

[If this post has caught your imagination, here are a few places you can do some more research online:

Creating Accessible Homes - Cooperative Extension Service, Kansas State University (PDF File).

Fair Housing Act Design Module - provides clear guidance about ways to design and construct housing that complies with the Fair Housing Act.

Centre for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access - The IDeA Center practices human-centered design through research, development, service, dissemination and educational activities.]

Filed under Home Safety Tips, Home safety tips for the elderly
Tags: , , , ,
July 14, 2010

Accessible Shower Tools and Devices

We talk a lot about the kinds of accessories you’ll need for an accessible shower in your bathroom. For example, you’ll want grab bars and we offer a variety of shower pans for just about any project that you and your contractor might dream up. But, unless you’re a construction person, do you know what a “shower pan” is? Of course you have experience with them, but we don’t usually think of them in these terms on an everyday basis. Here’s a little guide to explain some background:

A shower pan is simply the floor of the shower. It directs all the water into the drain while keeping the subflooring and walls dry and rot-free. Shower pans are made of waterproof, synthetic materials like fiberglass, acrylic, etc. There are new materials on the market all the time, but you get the basic idea.

Many of the threshold-free showers need to be constructed with tile, since they are on the same level as the main floor. These do not require a shower pan (which you can think of as a liner) but are contstructed by a mason using grout and tile. This is custom work, so you can see that using a shower pan is a more economical option.

Installing a shower pan usually takes half a day plus. There is some light demolition work required—to strip out the existing pan or tile, and then plumbing skills come into play. The pan consists of the liner—the pan itself, and the drain assembly. The main part of the drain is typically a chrome-plated ring that has threads on the outside of it. Then, a nut is screwed onto it from underneather. These are your typical plumbing methods to ensure that all the water goes directly into the drainpipe. This prevents leaks that might otherwise develop around the outside of the hole in the pan. The last part is the strainer, which, if you’re observant at all, you will be quite familiar with.

We’d love to help you with your selection of a shower pan, or anything else when you’re refitting your bathroom. Get in touch!

Filed under bathroom safety tips and products
Tags: , ,
June 25, 2010

Bathroom Accessibility: Shower Pans

In our last entry we discussed the merits of properly installing grab bars. We would like to continue along the theme of a well equipped handicapped shower and now turn our attention towards shower pans.

At Barrie Free Architecturals, we offer several types of quality shower pans and bases. Each offers its own advantages and features.

Barrier Free Shower Pans

Shower Pan Remodeler – If you are remodelling an existing bathroom, we would like to suggest our shower pan remodeler. This single piece model will is easily installed in your existing shower with a traditional threshold of 4” to 6” and allows for easily installation of shower doors.

Corner Shower Pan – Our corner shower pan is made of a high quality polyester gelcoat and does not require a mud setting.

Barrier Free Shower Pan – This fibreglass pan is available with center, right and left drainage, replaces existing bathtubs, and features a low threshold.

ADA Shower Pan – ADA Shower Pans are made of fibreglass, available as ADA transfer pans, and also available as roll in shower pans.

We also happen to be having a sale on many of our shower pan models so make sure to check out the shower pan section of our website for a complete descriptive list along with our featured sale items.

Of course, if you have read the above shower pan descriptions and are still unaware of which exact shower pan to choose then we welcome you to contact us. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Filed under bathroom safety tips and products
Tags: , , , , ,

Installing a grab bar in a Handicap Shower

In our earlier post this week we discussed the importance of shower seats to improve accessibility in the shower. We would like to stay on the theme of handicap showers and now turn our attention towards grab bars.

Since the point of having a grab bar is to help people stay upright and potentially avoid falls, they really need to be installed correctly and not fail when they are needed most. A proper installation is essential. Ordinary towel bars will not do because they are simply not strong enough to support the weight and torque that may be placed upon a grab bar.

Anything that needs to stay on the wall and not come off–especially grab bars–needs to be screwed into the studs. And we want our grab bar screwed into 2 studs, not just one. Studs are typically located 16 inches apart, measured from center to center. You can locate them by using a stud sensor or by using a nail (if you don’t mind patching up). But make sure you’re certain you have got them located. Then, mark your tile or other bath surround effectively using some colored tape or a dry erase marker. Determine how you want to place your bar. For example, often a grab bar is placed at an angle between two studs on the tub’s longest wall. The bottom of the bar is typically about 6 to 10 inches above the top of the tub.

Drill a 1/8 inch hole to confirm the stud location. Obviously you’ll be going through the tub surround now, so make sure you have the appropriate bit, be it for plastic (for acrylic surrounds) or glass and tile, or stone (for slate tiles). If you find the stud, keep going and drill the remaining holes. If not, locate the stud and try again. If you’ve hit the wrong place, don’t worry, the hole should get covered up by the mounting plate. If you need to enlarge the holes with a larger bit to accomodate the screws, do that at this point.

Now you’ll want to put caulking on the back of the flange and screw the bar to the wall with stainless steel pan head screws. The screws should go in to a depth of at least one inch. Two inch screws are a good rule.

Finish off the details that come with the kit, and test your bar’s strength by yanking on it. If you can feel any kind of give, you need to figure out what went wrong and rectify that. You don’t want a grab bar to fail when you need it.

Check out our great selection of grab bars, and feel free to contact us for advice or recommendations.

Filed under bathroom safety tips and products
Tags: , , , ,
April 19, 2010

Less Mobile Americans, Shower Seats, Grab Bars, and a Company by their Side

Americans are becoming less mobile. This is the news brought by a survey conducted by the National Health Interview Survey. With 15,000 individuals surveyed annually, the results showed that almost half of the middle-age American population has trouble performing certain physical functions.

What is the root cause of these physical disabilities that occur much earlier than usual?

Although further studies explaining the rise of physical disabilities among middle-aged Americans have yet to be done, they possibly reflect the lack and decline of health among present generations. With pollution, unhealthy food options, and a culture defined by anxiety and stress, there’s no wonder the mobility of Americans are at risk. Also alarming is the fact that these health issues show itself as early as the 30s or 40s. By the time this generation has reached its 50s to 60s, serious help is usually needed.

For many middle-aged Americans, the answer to dealing with mobility issues is prevention supplemented by intervention and support. Although prevention can be done in terms of having the right diet, performing exercises and living a healthy life among other things, intervention and support cannot always be easily acheived. This is where Barrier Free comes in. Committed to improving the quality of life of those who are less mobile, our products will help you go about your daily life with much more ease. Think about having to stoop or bend down whenever you take a shower. Or the long climb you have to endure as you take the stairs. The pain of having to stand for at least two hours when you can hang on to something, like a grab bar.

These are everyday activities that middle-aged Americans, such as yourself, might be experiencing. Without addressing these problems with intervention activities, they will only get worse and may have an adverse effect in the long-term. The first step is to admit that the problem, in fact, exists. Only this way can the appropriate solutions be identified.

These are everyday activities that Barrier Free can help you with. And, the best part is, you don’t even have to pay a fortune for the care you’re going to get.

Filed under Mobility Issues and News
Tags: , , , , ,
April 8, 2010

Best Safety Devices for the Bathroom

Recently we blogged about avoiding falls in the home, and as part of that entry we only mentioned the bathroom very briefly. However, the bathroom is an area that’s important enough for its own post, and it’s an area where we at Barrier Free have some special expertise so we would like to delve more deeply into this room today.

The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), in partnership with Canada’s Public Health Agency, has a program aimed at helping seniors use assistive devices around the home to improve quality of life and safety. They issued this PDF publication aimed at getting the word out. It’s divided into two sections: safe behaviours (good habits to try to cultivate) and safety devices that can help you.

Bathroom Safety Behaviours

1. Remove throw rugs. They easily be tripped over. Of course this is a good rule of thumb in any room of the house.

2. Good and proper lighting – we all relate to wanting to save energy but safety should come first.

3. Avoid sliding doors, shower curtains are the preferable alternative.

4. Avoid standing and stepping over the side of the tub. “A safer method is to sit on the edge of the tub, then swing one leg at a time.” Of course, there are lots of other solutions to this but we’ll get into those at a later date.

5. “Have a cordless phone within hands reach,” or wear a medical alert device. This ensures that if you have an accident, help is only a brief communication away.

Bathroom Safety Devices

  1. Grab Bars
    1. Make sure they are screwed securely into the wall studs.
    2. Suction bars are apt to give way, even if used properly. These could work for those who are small in stature or who do not require a lot of support when getting in and out of the tub.
  2. If you have difficulty sitting or rising from a chair, you may want to get a raised toilet seat that’s securely anchored to the toilet itself.
  3. Bath seats, benches or boards for entering of leaving the tub.
  4. Bath lifts use hydraulics to raise and lower the user into and out of the tub.
  5. Hand-held showers can help those who shower while seated.
  6. Use nonslip mats or strips for traction in the tub.
  7. You can use a commode toilet seat to raise the height of the toilet and provide arm rests. Additionally, these can be placed near the bed to eliminate bathroom trips at night–often much safer. Commodes without wheels are safer.

At Barrier Free, we offer complete bathroom safety solutions and handicap bathroom options, so in addition to the above information, make sure to peruse our website. When you’re ready to upgrade your safety, get in touch with our team. We are here to make your life easier and safer.

Filed under Home safety tips for the elderly
Tags: , , , , , ,
April 2, 2010

Tips to Help Avoid Falls

According to statistics, an increased risk of falling is an inevitable problem of ageing. And unfortunately a huge percentage of falls result in serious injury. So it’s best to do everything you can to prevent them in the first place. The interesting thing (for us anyway) is that a big part of avoiding falls not only involves being aware of your surroundings, but also what is going on with your body and physical health. Here is a list of tips we have compiled to help avoid falls and fall related injuries.

TIPS TO HELP AVOID FALLS

Medical Concerns

  • Take medications as prescribed, and ask your doctor and/or pharmacist if there is a risk of drowsiness or disorientation. Avoid sleeping pills as well; it’s easy to fall when you are not totally awake.
  • Have your eyes tested and make sure you are seeing and judging distances as well as possible.
  • Some illnesses cause physical imbalance; talk to your doctor to see if this might be the case.

Feet

  • See a doctor if your feet are painful or swollen.
  • Wear comfortable shoes with soles that grip.
  • Do not wear floppy slippers or socks.

Walking Aids

  • If you use walking aids, make sure they are well maintained and functioning properly. Additionally, make sure that they are nearby at all times. If you have people over, make sure they don’t inadvertently move your walking aid too far away.

Physical Environment

  • Flooring should be dry and non-slip. Occupational therapist Erica Jacques at Parkinson’s Hope Digest writes: “Remove throw rugs. I can’t stress this enough. Yes, they are pretty, and yes, they pull the room together. Unfortunately, throw rugs are one of the most common things that cause patients to trip at home.”
  • Watch around your feet and scan the floor—make sure there aren’t stray items on the floor.
  • Stairs should be in good condition and well lit. Good lighting everywhere is essential
  • Don’t use chairs with wheels. Your feet should reach the floor.
  • Kitchen: you should be able to easily reach the things you use most. We do offer accessibility items for kitchens you might want to look at
  • Bathroom: Dry the floors. If standing is difficult, you might want to install grab bars or seating.

Developing a few new habits can really pay off in terms of avoiding accidents and injury. And of course we here at Barrier-Free Architecturals offer a range of accessibility products to make your life easier. Here’s to your safety!

Here are some additional links that you might find useful:

7 Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Falling

Preventing Falls Fact Sheet

Don’t be shy about leaving your own tips in our comments section!

Filed under Home safety tips for the elderly
Tags: , , ,
© 2009 Barrier Free Architecturals Inc.