Safety
Bathroom fall prevention for Arizona homes
Falls are the leading cause of injury for Arizonans over 65. The bathroom is where hard floors, water and tight turns meet, so it is the best room to start making safer.
- Since 2012
- Installed in as little as one day
- Install or supply-only, statewide
Direct answer: According to Arizona's 2024 State Trauma Advisory Board report, falls caused 84.5% of trauma injuries among Arizonans older than 65 in 2023, and 524 deaths. To lower bathroom risk, add grab bars anchored into framing, use non-slip surfaces, light the path at night, sit to bathe if standing is tiring, and ask a doctor about balance, medicines and vision. A walk-in tub or curbless shower reduces the need to step over a tub wall.
The numbers
Why the bathroom deserves your attention first
National and Arizona data tell the same story. The CDC reports that more than one in four adults 65 and older fall each year, and that falls are the leading cause of injury and injury death in that age group. In Arizona, the state's trauma system counted 26,470 fall injuries among people older than 65 in 2023, which was 84.5% of all trauma injuries in that age group, along with 524 deaths.
The bathroom is not the only place falls happen, but it combines nearly every risk in a small space: wet, hard surfaces, a tub wall to step over, a low toilet, glass doors, and trips made at night when you are half awake. A CDC study of emergency visits for bathroom injuries found that about 81% were caused by falls, and that injury rates were highest in or around the tub or shower.
Sources: CDC, older adult fall facts; Arizona Department of Health Services, 2024 STAB report summary; CDC MMWR, nonfatal bathroom injuries.
The good news, as both the CDC and the Arizona Department of Health Services stress, is that falls are not an inevitable part of aging. Many of the risks can be reduced with a mix of health steps and home changes.
Talk with your doctor
Start with health, not hardware
Home changes help, but some of the biggest fall risks live in the body. The National Institute on Aging and the CDC both recommend a few health steps that pair well with a safer bathroom.
- Tell your doctor about any fall, even one that did not hurt. It is a useful warning sign, and many people never mention it.
- Review your medicines. Some cause dizziness or drowsiness, especially in combination. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to go through the full list, including sleep aids.
- Check your eyes and feet. Get your vision checked regularly, and wear well-fitting, non-slip footwear.
- Work on strength and balance. Ask about exercise or physical therapy. Many Area Agencies on Aging and senior centers in Arizona host evidence-based balance classes.
- Ask for an occupational therapist. An OT can watch how you bathe and recommend exactly where support is needed.
Sources: National Institute on Aging, falls and fractures in older adults; CDC STEADI, older adult fall prevention.
Checklist
The room-by-room bathroom checklist
Walk through your bathroom with this list, ideally with a family member. Most items cost little and can be done this week.
The path to the bathroom
- A clear route from the bed to the bathroom, with no cords, rugs or furniture to step around
- Night lights or motion lights along the way, so you never cross a dark room
- A light switch you can reach from the doorway
The tub or shower
- Grab bars at the entry and inside, anchored into studs or solid blocking, not into drywall alone
- A non-slip surface in the tub or shower floor
- A handheld shower on a slide bar, so you can rinse while seated
- A shower chair or tub transfer bench if standing to bathe is tiring
- Soap, shampoo and a towel within reach of a seated position
- An anti-scald valve set to a safe temperature
The toilet and sink
- A grab bar or safety frame beside the toilet
- A raised seat if standing up from the toilet is hard
- A stable place to lean at the sink; a towel bar is not built to hold your weight
The floor and the door
- Rubber-backed mats instead of loose rugs, or no rugs at all
- Spills and splashes wiped up promptly
- A door that opens outward or can be unlocked from outside, so help can reach you
- A phone or medical alert button that works in the bathroom
Local factors
Arizona conditions that add risk
A few features of Arizona life deserve a spot on your list.
Summer heat. In July the cold tap can run warm, and a hot bath in a warm house can leave you lightheaded when you stand. Drink water, keep the bathroom cool, stand up slowly and keep a hand on a grab bar as you rise. Our heat and bathroom safety guide explains why.
Tile everywhere. Many Arizona homes have tile or polished concrete floors throughout, which are cool and practical but hard and slick when wet. Non-slip mats and prompt drying matter.
Monsoon outages. Summer storms can knock out power after dark. A battery night light or flashlight in the bathroom is a cheap safeguard. See our monsoon guide.
Living alone or part-year. Many older Arizonans live alone, and many winter residents are far from family. A medical alert device and a daily check-in with a neighbor or relative add a safety net if a fall does happen.
Remodel
When a bigger change makes sense
If you find that stepping over the tub wall is the hard part, small fixes only go so far. That is when a walk-in tub, a low-threshold shower or a roll-in shower earns its cost. To be clear, no tub or shower can promise to prevent falls. What these designs do is reduce the need to step over a tub wall, let you bathe seated, and give you solid places to hold on.
- A walk-in tub suits people who can sit and stand from a chair-height seat and want to soak.
- A low-threshold shower suits people who can manage a small lip and want the simplest routine.
- A roll-in shower suits walkers, wheelchairs and caregivers who need room to help.
Our tub or shower guide compares them, and the Fit Check gives a quick starting point. If cost is the worry, the funding guide explains VA grants, ALTCS and what Original Medicare generally does not cover.
After a fall
If a fall happens
If you fall, stay calm and check for pain before moving. If you cannot get up safely, call for help with your phone or alert device. The NIA suggests that if you can get up, roll to your side, rest, then get onto your hands and knees and crawl to a sturdy chair to push yourself up slowly. Afterward, tell your doctor, even if you feel fine. Then look at what caused it and fix that first.
FAQ
Fall prevention questions
How common are falls among older Arizonans?
Very common. Arizona's 2024 trauma report found that falls caused 84.5% of trauma injuries among Arizonans older than 65 in 2023, with 26,470 injuries and 524 deaths. Nationally, the CDC reports that more than one in four adults 65 and older fall each year.
Where should grab bars go in a bathroom?
The most useful spots are at the tub or shower entry, inside the tub or shower, and beside the toilet. They must be anchored into studs or solid blocking. An occupational therapist can recommend exact positions based on how you move.
Will a walk-in tub prevent falls?
No product can promise that. A walk-in tub reduces the need to step over a tub wall and lets you bathe seated with grab bars nearby, which lowers some of the risk. Health steps such as balance exercise and a medicine review matter too.
Who can assess my bathroom for fall risk?
An occupational therapist is the best person to assess how you bathe and what would help. Ask your doctor for a referral. Your Area Agency on Aging may also know of local home safety programs.
What is the cheapest change that helps most?
For many people it is a properly anchored grab bar at the tub entry, a non-slip mat and a night light on the path to the bathroom. A handheld shower and a shower chair are next.
Does Arizona heat affect fall risk in the bathroom?
It can. A warm bath in a warm house, especially if you are a little dehydrated, can make you lightheaded when you stand. Drink water, keep the room cool and stand up slowly with a hand on a grab bar.
Want a second set of eyes on your bathroom?
Send photos and we will point out what we would change first, whether or not you buy anything from us.