By now, you have probably installed non-slip mats in your shower and grab bars where you need them. And, if you haven't, you should!
But there are other ways to improve the safety of your bathroom.
One of the easiest ways is to install a night light. Many varieties light when they detect movement.
Consider re-painting an all-white bathroom. An all-white bathroom with shiny fixtures, bright lights and mirrors can cause glare that make people disoriented. They can even be blinded by the brightness, especially if their vision isn't perfect. Reduce the glare by using frosted bulbs. Consider painting the walls a contrasting color, which can help you and your guests keep their balance.
Don't try to make the bathroom warmer by using a space heater. They are a risk of electrocution. Propane heaters also don't work. They need more ventilation than a bathroom provides. Install a permanently wired heating unit instead.
* Check your shower doors for cracks, chips or the glass rubbing against metal. Shower doors have been known to shatter. In one recent year, the Consumer Products Safety Commission received 2,000 such reports. Of course, doors will also break if someone falls into them.
Shower doors are made of tempered glass, which means they shatter into hundreds of pieces and shards. Anyone present can be injured by falling into the pieces. If it ever happens, throw one or more towels over the broken pieces so you and others can walk out safely.
