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ways to improve bathroom safety in rehab facilities

Ways To Improve Bathroom Safety in Rehabilitation Facilities

August 9, 2024 9:00 AM
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    Rehabilitation facilities are responsible for the care and well-being of patients who, by and large, have an elevated risk of falling. As such, the importance of bathroom safety at these facilities should not be underestimated.

    The article at hand focuses on practical safety improvements that rehabilitation hospitals, long-term care hospitals, specialty hospitals, and other facilities offering inpatient rehabilitation and post-acute care can make to protect patients in the bathroom.

    Bathroom Safety Challenges at Rehabilitation Facilities

    Ambulation, transportation, and transfer activities involving high fall risk patients already present appreciable safety challenges. Bathroom settings can compound these challenges by adding unique environmental constraints along with a need to perform time-sensitive tasks (e.g., using the toilet, showering, undressing/dressing).

    When evaluating their facility’s current patient safety program, leadership should seek to identify any existing shortcomings and look for ways in which to optimize the functional design elements of the facility’s bathrooms and/or strengthen bathroom-related protocols.

    Assessing Bathroom Risks: Identifying Potential Hazards

    The items below represent some of the more common potential safety hazards that may exist in the bathroom environment:

    • Challenging doorways / bathroom layouts ― The width of the bathroom doorway, the size and configuration of the bathroom itself, or limited space between fixtures can hinder accessibility for patients being assisted by caregivers, especially when ambulation devices are in use.
    • Slippery floors ― Wet or slick surfaces can be particularly dangerous for high fall risk patients.
    • Improper lighting ― Insufficient or dim lighting, shadows, and even glare can be problematic. 
    • Inconvenient fixture heights ― Shower curb, toilet, countertop, and rail heights can create difficulties for patients.

    Routine checks of the bathroom environment should be conducted to confirm that floors are dry, lightbulbs are working, and fixtures remain in good condition.

    Individualize Your Approach to Bathroom Safety

    ways to improve bathroom safety in rehab facilities

    Informed by a thorough fall risk assessment, an individualized bathroom safety plan should be tailored to support the patient’s unique capabilities and needs. This bathroom safety plan is a key component of the individual patient’s more comprehensive fall safety plan.

    Individualized bathroom safety plans should indicate the patient-specific measures to be implemented, detailing applicable procedures, assistive equipment/devices, and schedules (e.g., toileting, showering, rounding). As part of the patient’s broader fall safety plan, the bathroom safety plan should be kept up to date and follow the patient throughout their healthcare journey.

    Improve Bathroom Safety at Your Facility

    Here are several ways that rehab facilities can address bathroom safety issues:

    Toilet Safety

    Supervised/assisted toileting is a fundamental safety measure to help safeguard fall risk patients. The implementation of individualized toileting schedules in concert with regular rounding can help reduce problems associated with urgency or incontinence.

    Devices such as raised toilet seats and toilet safety frames can facilitate toileting, as can a bathroom design that provides sufficient space around the toilet. Placement of toilet paper holders for ease of access is another basic design consideration.

    Technology solutions for safety include pressure-sensitive, wireless toilet seat sensors that alert nurses when a patient is attempting an unassisted toilet seat exit. Similarly, wireless or wired chair sensors are available that alert nurses when a patient is attempting an unassisted chair exit, possibly with the intent of heading to the bathroom. Meanwhile, self-releasing belt sensors for chairs and beds are designed to give nurses extra time to reach a patient attempting to exit a chair or bed without help ― and can serve as a reminder for the patient to seek assistance.

    ocp-content-10-toilet-sensor

    Shower and Bathtub Safety

    Items such as walk-in tubs, roll-in showers, shower chairs and benches, nonslip mats and decals, and handheld showerheads can help improve safety and ease of use.

    Use of Grab Bars and Handrails

    Grab bars and handrails near toilets, showers, and bathtubs can help improve bathroom safety, provided they are placed properly, installed securely, and made of appropriate materials.

    Use of Appropriate Flooring

    Nonslip flooring materials, along with regular maintenance and cleaning, can help prevent patients and caregivers from slipping in the bathroom.

    Lighting Improvements

    Bathroom lighting should not only be adequate but adjustable; all shadows and glare should be eliminated. Motion-sensor lights can be installed for use at night.

    Use of Assistive Devices

    Depending on patient needs, assistive devices/equipment such as bath lifts and transfer benches can improve bathroom safety. Gait belts and transfer belts may also prove helpful. Note that when used correctly, gait belts and transfer belts can help reduce the risk of injury to caregivers.

    Use of Fall Risk Identifiers

    Brightly colored items such as bracelets, socks with skid-resistant treads, and blankets can help staff visually identify high fall risk patients.

    Communication Amongst Staff

    Clear communication is critical for patient safety in the bathroom. Patient fall risk information should be shared consistently amongst all staff members caring for the patient, especially during handoffs.

    Caregiver and Patient Education

    Staff should be trained on the proper use of safety devices/equipment for the bathroom and made aware of potential safety risks and how to avoid them. Open communication with leadership about safety concerns should be encouraged as a means of initiating improvements.

    It is also important for patients and their families to receive education on applicable bathroom safety practices both during and after a stay in the rehab facility.

    Creating a Safer Bathroom Environment for Patients in Rehabilitation Facilities

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    There are many ways to improve bathroom safety in rehabilitation hospitals, long-term care hospitals, specialty hospitals, and other facilities that offer inpatient rehabilitation and post-acute care. Enacting bathroom safety measures such as those discussed in this article relies on a commitment by leadership and staff to adopt a proactive approach and work together to better protect their patients.

    Contact us to learn more about improving bathroom safety in your rehabilitation facility!

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