Bathing Area Safety and Lower Extremity Function in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

Occupational therapists and others frequently recommend grab bars and slip-resistant surfaces inside and outside of the bathing area to prevent accidental falls. In addition to observing and describing grab bar safety and floor surface safety, the authors tested the correlations between these safety features and three falls risk factors: lower extremity dysfunction, fear of falling, and self-reported falls history. Sixty community-dwelling participants aged at least 60 years were recruited. Only 13 of 60 (22%) in the total sample had adequate grab bars, and only 7 (12%) had adequate surfaces both inside and outside the bathing area. Of those with less than ideal scores on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) testing lower extremity function, 39 of 52 (75%) did not have adequate grab bars and 31 of 52 (60%) had inadequate surfaces inside the bathing area. The point-biserial correlation between the SPPB and grab bar adequacy was statistically significant (r = −.41), indicating a mild tendency for grab bar adequacy in individuals with relatively low SPPB scores. However, there was little relationship between the SPPB and slip-resistant surfaces inside (r = −.08) or outside (r = .07) the bathing area. Secondary analyses found no discernible relationships between bathroom safety equipment and participants' self-reported histories of falls or their fear of falling. Of the five participants reporting histories of severe falls, all lacked adequate grab bars and non-slip surfaces. Modifications to improve the safety of bathing areas for community-dwelling older adults at risk for falls are needed.