How to make a bathroom safer after a fall

Updated October 6, 2026 · General information, not professional advice

How to make a bathroom safer after a fall: start here

Bathrooms combine wet, hard surfaces with a lot of standing up, sitting down and stepping over things. After one fall, the risk of another goes up: the CDC says falling once doubles a person's chance of falling again, and more than one in four older people fall each year.

Start with the changes that matter most: something solid to hold, somewhere to sit, and floors that don't slip.

The most important changes

• Grab bars next to the toilet and inside the tub or shower, plus one at the entry. They must be anchored into wall studs or with approved anchors. Towel bars and suction-cup bars are not safe to lean on.
• Shower chair or tub transfer bench. A transfer bench straddles the tub wall so your parent sits down outside the tub, then slides over.
• Handheld shower head so they can wash while seated.
• Non-slip surfaces: adhesive strips or a rubber mat inside the tub, and a non-slip, low-profile mat outside. Remove loose throw rugs.
• Raised toilet seat or toilet safety frame to make sitting and standing easier.
• Lighting: bright overhead light and a motion-sensor night light on the path from bed to bathroom.

More upgrades worth considering

• A walk-in or curbless shower if stepping over the tub is unsafe.
• Lever-style faucets that are easier to use with arthritis.
• Setting the water heater to 120°F or lower to prevent scalds.
• A bedside commode at night if the bathroom is far away.
• Keeping toiletries within reach so your parent doesn't bend or stretch.
• A door that opens outward or can be unlocked from outside, so you can get in if they fall.
• A medical alert device that works in water, worn in the shower.

Get a professional home safety check

An occupational therapist (OT) can watch your parent move in their own bathroom and recommend the right equipment and placement. If your parent is getting Medicare home health care or outpatient therapy, ask the doctor to include an OT home safety evaluation.

Also ask the doctor to review why the fall happened. Medications that cause dizziness, low blood pressure on standing, vision problems, foot pain and leg weakness are common causes. The CDC's STEADI program has free checklists for families, including a home fall prevention checklist.

A quick bathroom safety checklist

Walk through the bathroom with your parent and check each item:

• Can they get on and off the toilet without grabbing a sink, towel bar or door?
• Can they get in and out of the tub or shower without lifting a leg high while standing?
• Is there a grab bar within reach at every point where they sit, stand or turn?
• Is the floor dry and free of rugs, cords and clutter?
• Can they reach soap, shampoo and towels while seated?
• Is the path from bed to bathroom lit at night?
• Can they call for help from the bathroom, and can someone get in if the door is locked?

Any "no" is a place to start. Fix the riskiest items first, often grab bars and a seat for bathing.

Who pays for bathroom safety equipment

• Original Medicare generally does not pay for grab bars, shower chairs or bath benches. It may cover a bedside commode as durable medical equipment when a doctor orders it and your parent is confined to a room.
• Medicare Advantage plans sometimes offer bathroom safety items as an extra benefit. Call the plan.
• Medicaid waiver programs in many states pay for home modifications.
• VA may help veterans through home improvement and structural alteration grants.
• Area Agencies on Aging and local nonprofits often run free or low-cost home repair and grab bar programs.

seniorcare.si can show licensed home care agencies near your ZIP code if your parent also needs help with bathing.