The bathroom is the most dangerous room in the home for older adults. Over 235,000 people visit A&E every year due to bathroom injuries in the UK — most of them from slipping or falling while getting in or out of the bath or shower, or while standing from the toilet.
The good news: most of these accidents are preventable with simple, inexpensive changes. Here are seven things you can do this week to dramatically reduce the risk.
1. Add a Non-Slip Bath Mat
This is the single easiest improvement you can make. A good non-slip bath mat with strong suction cups locks to the floor of the tub or shower and doesn't shift even under running water. Look for one that covers the full floor of the tub — small mats leave gaps where feet can land on a wet surface.
Cost: £15–£30. Takes 30 seconds to install. Our non-slip bath mat has 200 suction cups and covers the full tub floor.
2. Install a Toilet Safety Frame
Standing up from the toilet is one of the hardest and most fall-prone movements for anyone with reduced leg strength, hip problems, or arthritis. A freestanding toilet safety frame fits around any standard toilet with no drilling or permanent fixtures and provides firm support on both sides.
Cost: £40–£60. Installs in minutes, removes in seconds — ideal for renters. View our toilet safety frame.
3. Fit a Grab Bar in the Shower
A fixed wall-mounted grab bar provides the most secure support for stepping over a bath edge or steadying oneself in a wet shower. These require drilling into tiles, so you may want a professional to fit them. Alternatively, a suction-cup grab bar provides temporary support — less permanent but still useful.
4. Improve the Lighting
Many bathroom falls happen at night. If your parent gets up in the night to use the bathroom, make sure the route is lit automatically — not dependent on finding a light switch in the dark. A plug-in motion sensor night light in the hallway and bathroom solves this completely.
Cost: £15–£25 for a 2-pack. Our 2-pack motion sensor lights cover both rooms.
5. Consider a Bath Seat or Shower Stool
For anyone who can't stand for long periods, a bath seat or shower stool eliminates the need to balance while washing. These are particularly valuable after hip or knee surgery. They're widely available from mobility retailers and most fit into a standard UK shower tray or bath.
6. Remove Trip Hazards
Loose bath mats (the decorative kind without suction cups), trailing cables, and items stored on the floor are invisible trip hazards for someone with reduced vision or a shuffling gait. Move everything off the floor. Use wall-mounted storage wherever possible.
7. Check the Water Temperature
Older adults are more susceptible to scalds because skin becomes thinner with age. If your boiler has an adjustable thermostat, set the hot water temperature to a maximum of 50°C. This prevents accidental burns while still providing plenty of hot water.
How Much Does Bathroom Safety Cost?
You can make significant improvements for under £100 in total. The combination of a non-slip bath mat, toilet safety frame, and motion sensor night lights covers the three most common causes of bathroom falls.
View our full range of bathroom and home safety products — all shipping from UK warehouses in 2–5 working days.