Accessibility isn’t much of a concern for most people—until it suddenly is. Often, senior citizens find themselves surprised by their seemingly sudden inability to go about their normal tasks. One area that is often an issue for elderly individuals is the bathtub. Climbing over that high ledge (especially when the inside of the tub is wet and slippery) can be a severe hazard. If you’ve started to notice you’re unable to enter your tub safely and efficiently, here are some options to make it more accessible.

Transfer Bench

One very simple option is to add a transfer bench to your tub. These benches are typically crafted of metal and plastic and sit partly inside of and outside of your tub. This will allow you to seat yourself on the part of the bench outside your tub, then slide into the tub, lifting your legs over the tub’s edge as you move. Plus, it provides you with a secure seat inside the tub as you shower.

Of course, because the bench is located at the same height as the tub’s side, this isn’t a beneficial option if you want to bathe; once you’re in the tub, you’d need help removing the bench so that you could sit in the bottom of the tub for your bath. However, if you have a shower-tub combo, you can use the bench for sitting while you shower, then slide yourself quickly back out of the tub.

Walk-In Upgrade Kit

Your second option is to upgrade your existing tub to a walk-in tub with a conversion kit. These simple kits allow you to add a door to the wall of your tub, providing a lower, safer entry step to get in and out of your tub. They’re designed to be a DIY kit, so if you’re doing the conversion yourself, you must follow the instructions exactly; if you don’t, your tub’s new door is very likely to leak.

While a cheaper option for obtaining a walk-in tub, conversion kits are much less reliable in remaining waterproof. Additionally, they don’t improve the safety of your tub any more than just lowering the step. You’ll still need to lower yourself into a very low seated position and rise from it as well. Often, that low seat can be just as much of an issue for seniors as climbing over the tub’s wall.

Walk-In Tub

If accessibility is a genuine concern for you, your best bet is to replace your standard tub with a walk-in tub. Besides having the low entry step that conversion kits provide, walk-in bathtubs come with a slew of other safety and accessibility features to make your tub more accessible. Safety bars, grab handles, accessible controls, and a high, upright seat allow you to bathe independently again without concerns for your safety. For those with reduced mobility, a walk-in bathtub is the safest, most accessible choice.

The bathroom is the most visited place in any home and one that needs to be always clean and well-maintained. Whether members of the family don’t spend hours in it, or some may enjoy some private time sitting in the tub for relaxation, the bathroom may be one of the easiest targets for grime, mould, and bacteria to build up. While some of them are not as visible, they can cause a lot of problems, including those concerning the health of the people who live in the house. And more than any other room, the bathroom requires deep and thorough cleaning to remove all of the undesirables from its environment. It is essential that you have the best cleaning tips from the experts to ensure that your bathroom is clean and free from germs, and is a lot more than just neat and tidy.

Below are some simple tips you can use to keep your bathroom well-maintained, spotless, and clean.

Remove clutter

Most experts will tell you that the first thing you need to do when you start upgrading or renovating your home is to declutter. Your bathroom is undoubtedly one of the rooms that need it the most. Germs and bacteria build up on various items in the bathroom that remain untouched or unused. We tend to accumulate so many things like jars of lotions and creams, cosmetics, oils, etc. We also forget to throw away empty jars and containers, and other items that are no longer needed. If there is any place that could benefit from being minimalist, it is the bathroom. Get rid of what you don’t need and give your bathroom the space it needs for what is essential.

Be mindful of grout

Shower tiles have tiny crevices that catch drops of water when you take a shower. When left unattended, moulds and mildew can develop. One way to get it cleaned is by using a mixture of bleach and water and scrubbed on the tiles. However, this can cause irritations on the skin or the eyes when not used carefully. A more natural way to remove grout is with either lemon juice or vinegar. They are both effective and natural cleaning tools. It is also a good habit to dry up shower walls and floors after use to avoid mould buildup.

Allow natural air in

Everyone knows what fresh air can do to any room of the house. It freshens up the room and removes whatever toxins may be caught inside. The bathroom environment is humid. Harmful bacteria are more likely to thrive in this type of environment. Mould develops quickly, as well. The bathroom needs to be well-ventilated not only to remove unpleasant odours but to avoid the risk of getting sick from the buildup of bacteria. It also helps to keep the room dry. If possible, an exhaust fan must be installed inside the bathroom.

It is vital to keep your bathroom clean and well-maintained, not only to keep it attractive but healthy and safe.

Image: https://www.pexels.com/photo/oval-mirror-near-toilet-bowl-1910472/

 

Considering how busy you are each day, you don’t have enough time for yourself. You meet a lot of people at work. At home, you have to spend a lot of time with your children and loved ones. Before you know it, you have lost precious time, and it’s time to go to bed. The least that you can do is to have a few moments of silence every day. These are the reasons why despite a busy schedule, you still need to have quiet time.

You want to have enough time to think

If you’re the type of person who keeps acting in the moment, it might be time for you to change it. There’s nothing wrong with being spontaneous, but it also helps to reflect on your actions. Take your time to think about a lot of things before you decide to act on them. For instance, you need to make a massive decision at work. If you decide right away, you might end up with the wrong choice. However, if you take your time to be quiet and think about the consequences of your action, you might end up taking the right path forward.

It would help if you had time to recharge

You’re not a robot, and you also need time to recharge. If you keep doing a lot of things each day, you will end up getting tired and frustrated. Therefore, it helps you to keep quiet even for a few minutes each day so that you can regain the energy you lost. Even if you’re only sitting in front of your computer the entire day, it could still be exhausting.

You deserve it 

You don’t even need to think of a reason to have a moment of silence. You did a lot of things throughout the day, and you deserve to rest. You shouldn’t reach a point where you have to find a reason for you to take a break. It needs to be a part of your routine. You don’t usually pat yourself on the back, and a moment of silence could be a great treat.

You want to filter your words

When you react right away when someone tells you things you dislike, you might end up in a fight. However, if you take your time to think about your words, you will try to filter them. Therefore, it helps you to have a moment of silence so that you can think about how you’re going to respond to people who stress you out. You can choose the right words to prevent further escalation of the problem.

Make it a habit to spend time with yourself, and drop everything else. You can even do it at home. It helps if you have a new steam shower so that you can relax while bathing. Try to let go of everything that bothers you, and have a good rest. You can even set the alarm so that you will remind yourself to do it each day.

 

Image: https://unsplash.com/photos/8i2fHtStfxk