Senior/Safety Products

 

Senior/Safety Products

Question:
I am afraid of my elderly mother falling, is there a product we can buy to apply to the bottom of the tub to guard against slipping? I'm thinking of hotel bathroom tubs, where there is a permanent bathmat in the bottom of the tub. Our tub is about 6 years old. It seems the bath mats you can buy in the store don't fit the tub well enough to do the job.
Answer:

That is a great question. You can buy safety strips to apply to the bottom of the tub and I think that this would be your best bet. Hotels will buy the tub with a safety bottom already etched in the surface. You can get an etching compound to do the bottom of the tub but you will find the surface will be tough to keep clean.

Question:
Can you supply a large shower unit that would allow a shower to take place in a wheelchair? If so, how could the wheelchair enter the shower and would the doors be able to be closed by the person in the wheelchair once in the shower?
Answer:

Yes, by removing your tub and installing a wheel chair accessible shower base complete with a custom-formed one-piece acrylic wall system. As for shower doors you may need to go with a curtain, because of the bottom wedge or track for the doors.

Question:
We have built a ramp for my husband who is in a wheelchair and found that when we have snow and cold weather it will form ice. We have used regular rock salt so no one falls, but is this good for the ramp? We built the ramp two years ago and last year had it pressured washed and then used a sealer. However, with the cold weather and an overhang we had ice again. Please help!
Answer:

Rock salt will work but it will cause the most damage to the wood. You will be better off trying to shovel and remove any snow and ice and then use a mixture of sand and potassium chloride or calcium chloride, both commonly called snow melt pellets. These work at a lower temperature and will be less damaging to the wood and surrounding vegetation.

Question:
Do you have an alternative tub? We are both retired but my wife is incapable of walking without assistance. Needless to say entering the tub is an issue. We have a walk in shower in the basement, but the stairs are an issue. We are looking at remodelling our current bathroom, i.e. sink(s), water closet (toilet), bathtub, and replace vanity with pedestal sink(s) to increase wheelchair space. Approximate size 5' x 11' with the tub recessed outside of this floor area. Do you have any suggestions?
Answer:

Follow this link, I'm sure these people can be a great help in solving this issue. http://www.arwholesale.com hope this helps.

Question:
I'm having trouble deciding whether to install carpet or lay ceramic tile in my living room and dining room. I'm definitely installing carpet on the stairs and in the upper hallway, but can you give me your opinion on this? My parents are elderly so I don't know if that has anything to with it.
Answer:

If it was me and my parents were living there I would personally go with the tile, its warmer, less slippery and easier to keep clean. You might consider mixing it up for effect but overall carpet for now.

Question:
How often should you check your fire alarm?
Answer:

I'm not aware of what type of fire alarm you mean, a house unit should be checked twice a year and the battery replaced. In a condo or apartment building there may be condo rules that specify how often they are checked, or there should be.

Question:
How do I install safety grab bars on side and bottom wall over the bathtub, which is tiled, in order to be sure they are stable?
Answer:

I would want to install the gab bars directly into the underlying wall studs. First you'll need to locate the studs (using a "stud finder" available from your home store). Then check out how and where you want to position the bars, and make sure they will line up with the studs (you may have to put them on at an angle to align with the studs). Mark the position of the mounting brackets for the grab bars and then drill a small pilot hole through your tiles (using a 1/8" carbide drill bit). Now, drill a larger second hole to accommodate the mounting screws using a carbide drill bit, then install the mounting bracket and grab bars. Finish by applying some bathtub caulk around the top of the mounting brackets to prevent any water getting in under your tiles. Make sure to use bars specifically designed to be used as grab bars and strong enough to support a person's weight. Towel bars aren't strong enough to do the job.