As many as one-in-six UK residents aged over 50 feel anxious about their safety in the bathroom during winter, according to new research commissioned by Age Care Bathrooms.
The research, which was carried out by YouGov, polled more than a thousand UK adults aged over 50 and over, and found that more than 8% said they felt unsafe in their bathroom during the colder months. An additional 9% said they had already made modifications to their bathrooms to reduce health and safety risks, such as installing grab bars, slip-resistant flooring or installing accessible showers.
This means more than 17% of UK adults over the age of 50 say they either feel anxious about their safety in the winter, or have taken steps to reduce incidents like falls in the bathroom.
This data varies slightly from region to region. Wales was reported to be the area that showed the most concern, with almost 12% of respondents saying they felt “unsafe” in their bathroom during the winter months.
Interestingly, YouGov found that the East of England was the most proactive with tackling bathroom concerns, with almost 14% of those polled saying they had already made safety adjustments to make their bathrooms more accessible.
When asked about what home improvements would improve their bathroom in the winter, roughly 11% of over-50s said that easier-to-use bathrooms, such as walk-in showers, grab bars, or seating, would make the biggest difference to their winter living experience.
In London, this figure apparently rose to 14.3% – or the highest of any region in the UK. In Wales, 15.4% also reported wanting easier-to-use showers or baths, and 8% wanted safer bathroom flooring — also the highest in the UK.
The UK’s over-50 population is now thought to be over 22 million, and as a result, Age Care Bathrooms says it is on a mission to increase awareness for home safety risks to reduce anxieties such as this.
“The bathroom is one of the most dangerous rooms in the home — especially in winter when cold conditions and mobility issues can turn daily routines into real hazards,” commented Sam Davies, founder of Age Care Bathrooms.
“What this survey shows is that many older adults are already aware of the risks, but too often they’re left without the means or support to act on them. We talk a lot about heating support and energy bills, but personal safety is just as critical. It’s not enough to stay warm – older adults need to feel safe and confident moving around their own homes, especially in the bathroom.”
