If the elderly are still living in their own home it is vitally important to address safety and security issues. The #1 room in the home where injuries occur is hands-down the bathrooms with potential slip and fall accidents.

Here are some general safety tips for the bathroom and bedroom of your parent?s home many which are inexpensive and easily implemented. Take time to review overall safety factors of the home, make a list by room and work your way down the list.

Bathroom:

1. Installing grab bars for the shower/tub and toilet area. Coated steel grab bars are rust proof and designed specifically for the bathroom area. Do not allow anybody ? especially an adult ? to use a towel bar as a grab bar; the towel bar is not intended to take much weight and can easily come away from the wall resulting in a loss of balance and potentially causing serious injury.

2. Shower seats are an essential item for any elderly or ill person and can make a huge difference in their level of confidence with personal care. Most shower seats have a wide stance, non-slip feet and adjustable height.

If you are considering a bathroom remodel give careful thought to installing a handicap accessible shower stall or walk-in tub. Many people find it difficult to step over the high edge of a standard bathtub. Most new shower manufacturers also offer a variety of built-in benches in the shower however, I would still recommend a separate shower seat as it is adjustable, more secure seating and can be used in other bathrooms, hotels, etc.

3. Elevated toilet seats when used with secure grab bars can be a tremendous help to the elderly or ill. The sleek, low-slung design of a modern toilet is particularly ill-suited to leg weakness or vertigo. If their legs tend to give out on them while going to a seating position ? an elevated toilet seat and properly installed grab bar is the answer.

4. Make sure there is an adequate number of electrical outlets and they are easily accessible. Older homes in particular have electrical outlets built-in to overhead vanity lighting making it almost impossible for regular use.

If you are remodeling install outlets at or near waist level. Anybody in a weakened condition or prone to vertigo will be less apt to take a fall while bending over to a baseboard outlet.

5. Floor covering in the bathroom should be slip resistant. Avoid bathroom rugs with too much fluff to lessen the likelihood of tripping.

Bedroom:

1. Determine there is adequate lighting both at bedside and overhead. If closets are large or deep either install a light with an extended pull-cord or a wall light with the switch outside the closet.

2. Is the bed so high it is difficult to get into? Is the bed so low your parent lets their weight collapse onto the bed? Your parent should be able to sit on the side of the bed with their feet flat on the floor and knees parallel with their hips.

Home improvements stores sell bed risers to adjust a bed that is too low and if you are somewhat handy consider cutting down the legs of a bed that is so high it is unsafe.

3. Again, as in the bathroom, electrical outlets should be adequate in number to avoid extension cords and placed at a higher level if installing additional outlets. Make sure electrical cords are against the wall or behind furniture and if necessary tape cords to prevent them becoming a tripping hazard.

4. Bedroom floor covering, as in the rest of the home, should be firmly secured to the floor and either do without scatter rugs or make sure they have non-slip backing with flat surface.

Joanne Robbins has published several articles on a variety of topics. Her most recent project is http://boomer-gear.com for those who have achieved 50+ status.