The falls in bathrooms among older people can be a common feature but could be prevented.Researchers from the University of Michigan Health System//, have stated that many a times the simple practise of getting in and out of the bathtub or shower, for older people could turn out to be a dangerous feature even with essential feature.
The study that appears in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, explains that the researchers were of the opinion installation of proper equipment would be very essential.
Researchers videotaped people ages 60 and older who demonstrated (while fully clothed) how they normally climbed in and out of the shower or tub. One-third of the 89 participants in the study had difficulty, such as plopping onto a tub seat or hitting the side of the tub or the shower threshold with their legs.
"We found that there are a lot of independently bathing older adults who have trouble or are unsafe getting into and out of the tub or shower stall," says lead author Susan L. Murphy, ScD, OTR, an occupational therapist and research assistant professor with the University of Michigan Medical School's Division of Geriatric Medicine, part of the Department of Internal Medicine.
"For older adults, losing the ability to bathe is associated with having falls, fracturing bones, and even being admitted to a nursing home. It is important that we take steps to help to prevent bathing disability before it occurs," Murphy says.
One of the major problem areas the researchers found involved sliding glass doors in showers. Three-quarters of participants who used shower stalls with sliding glass doors tried to utilize the door for stability or balance.
"This is extremely unsafe because shower doors were not designed to support a person's weight," Murphy says. "This problem could be easily remedied by educating older adults not to use the door as a support or possibly replacing it with a shower cuPage: 1 2 3 Related medicine news :1
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