The bathroom causes more falls among older Australians than any other room at home. Most of those falls are preventable. This guide walks you through exactly what creates the risk, and the five changes that have the biggest impact on keeping you or your family safe.
Key takeaways
- Falls are the leading cause of injury hospitalisation for Australians aged 65 and over
- Wet floors, no grip points, and the effort of lowering and raising the body make bathrooms especially high-risk
- Grab rails, non-slip mats, shower seating, better lighting, and toilet support are the five most effective changes
- Most changes can be made without a full bathroom renovation
- NDIS and Home Care Packages can fund bathroom safety products and minor modifications
In this article
Why the Bathroom Is the Riskiest Room at Home
Falls are the leading cause of injury hospitalisation for Australians aged 65 and over, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. A large share of those falls happen at home, and the bathroom is consistently identified as the room with the highest risk.
What makes bathrooms so hazardous
Four things combine to make the bathroom the riskiest room at home:
- Wet, slippery surfaces. Tiled floors and bath bases lose their grip instantly when wet. A moment of inattention is all it takes.
- Nothing to hold onto. In a hallway or kitchen there are benches and walls to grab. Most bathrooms offer nothing near the shower, bath, or toilet.
- The effort of lowering and rising. Stepping into a shower, getting onto and off a toilet, climbing in and out of a bath, all require balance and strength. Both decline with age.
- Low lighting. Night-time bathroom visits carry real risk, especially when the light switch is not near the bed or the toilet area.
When bathroom falls are most likely to happen
Most bathroom falls happen at two moments: early morning when you are rushing and still groggy, and at night when light is low and alertness is reduced. Wet floors after a shower carry the highest immediate risk. Transitional movements, stepping over a bath rim, sitting down or standing up from the toilet, are the most physically demanding and account for a large share of falls.
Five Ways to Make Your Bathroom Safer
You do not need to renovate to cut the risk significantly. These five changes target the main hazards and work best when used together.
Install grab rails in the right places
Grab rails are the single most effective change you can make. They give you a fixed, load-bearing grip at exactly the moments you need it most: stepping in and out of the shower, sitting down and standing up at the toilet, and getting in or out of a bath. One rail beside the toilet and one at the shower entry are your minimum starting point.
Wall-mounted stainless steel rails are the safest option. Suction rails are useful for travel but they are not reliable as primary fall prevention. Browse our range of bathroom grab rails and toilet rails to find the right fit for your space.
Use non-slip mats on every wet surface
A non-slip mat inside the shower and one on the floor outside are both essential. Look for strong rubber suction cups, drainage holes to prevent water pooling, and a mat wide enough to step onto directly from the shower. Replace mats as soon as the suction starts to weaken.
Loose cotton bath mats are a trip hazard, not a safety aid. Check our non-slip shower mats for options designed specifically for older adults.
Add shower seating or bath support
Shower chairs and stools remove the need to stand through an entire shower, one of the most tiring and balance-demanding parts of the bathroom routine. For anyone still using a bath, a bath board lets you sit on the edge and swing your legs in rather than stepping over the rim. Shower chairs and bath boards come in a range of sizes and weight capacities.
Improve the lighting
A motion-sensor light in the bathroom means it is on before you step in, not after. A night light in the hallway between bedroom and bathroom is just as important. In older bathrooms, replacing single-bulb fittings with brighter LEDs makes a real difference. The goal is to have no dark moments during any night-time bathroom visit.
Make the toilet area safer
The toilet is one of the highest-risk spots in the bathroom. A grab rail beside it, a raised toilet seat if the current height is under 45cm, and clear floor space around the toilet all reduce fall risk significantly. Read our guide to toilet seat risers for more detail on this area.
Where to Start
You do not have to do everything at once. A grab rail beside the toilet and a non-slip mat in the shower are the two highest-impact changes and cost less than $200 combined. Build from there as your budget allows.
If funding is a concern, NDIS and Home Care Packages can cover bathroom safety equipment and minor modifications. We are happy to provide quotes for both. Browse our full range of falls prevention products to get started.