Making the bathroom safer

Sahelisaheli.ca · hello@saheli.ca

Why this matters

A bathroom puts water, hard floors and hard edges into the smallest room in the house, and it is used at every hour, including half awake. Most of what makes it safer is simple: keep the floor dry, light the room before you step in, and keep things within reach.

One point is easy to miss. A towel rail, a soap dish or the edge of the sink is not built to take a person's weight, yet a hand reaches for whatever is closest. Notice what gets leaned on. Guide 10 covers grab bars and where they belong.

Quick safety check

Ask yourself:

Is the floor dry, with a bath mat that has a rubber back?
Can you turn the light on from the doorway, before you step in?
Can you reach the soap, shampoo and towel without bending low or stretching?
Can the door lock be opened from outside with a coin?
Is the floor clear of bins, scales and laundry baskets?

Room by room

Bath and shower
Put a non-slip mat inside the tub or shower. Keep soap and shampoo on a shelf you reach without bending.
Toilet
Keep the toilet roll within reach of the seat. Leave the floor in front of it clear, so you can stand up easily.
Sink
Keep what you use every day at the front of the shelf. Wipe splashes off the floor as they happen.
Floor
Keep it dry and clear. Bins, scales and laundry baskets go against the wall, not in the middle.
The way there
Light the route from the bed to the bathroom door with a night light, and keep it clear.

What you can do today

1
Check the mats
Make sure there is a non-slip mat inside the bath or shower and a rubber-backed mat outside it.
2
Bring things within reach
Move soap, shampoo, towels and toilet roll to between waist and shoulder height.
3
Check the lock
Make sure the door lock opens from outside with a coin or a key kept nearby, or leave it unlocked.
4
Clear the floor
Move bins, scales and baskets to the wall, and hang towels up rather than leaving them down.

Where a companion helps

Some of this is easier with someone alongside. A Saheli companion can help with:

Wiping down and drying the bathroom floor
Moving everyday things to a shelf within reach
Buying a non-slip mat, a bath mat or a night light
Washing and hanging up towels and bath mats
Keeping soap, toilet roll and toiletries stocked
Companionship and regular visits

A companion goes with you; they never drive you and never provide the vehicle. You arrange the ride, or you travel together by transit, taxi or rideshare.

Find a companion

Companions are not an assessment team

Saheli companions give non-medical everyday support and companionship. They do not assess a home, install anything, or advise on health.

In an emergency

Call 911.

For anything medical

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist about dizziness, balance, eyesight, memory or medication. Some difficulties at home have a medical cause, and no change to the house will fix those.

Using this guide

If you are a family: Print it, walk the home with it, and do what you can today. Come back to it every six months.
If you are a companion: Share this with a family, or use it as a reminder of what to notice on a visit. It is not an assessment, and none of it is yours to carry out.

Next in this series

06Making the bedroom safer (coming soon)
07Making the kitchen safer (coming soon)
08Stairs, hallways and landings (coming soon)

A new guide every week, free to read and print.

Need a hand at home?

Saheli helps you find a companion nearby for the everyday things, matched on language and the traditions that already feel like home.

Find a companion

Reviewed 28 September 2026 by the Saheli team.

This guide gives general information only. It is not medical, legal, or professional advice, and it does not replace an assessment by a qualified professional. In an emergency, call 911.

Making the bathroom safer

Why this matters

Quick safety check

Room by room

Bath and shower

Toilet

Sink

Floor

The way there

What you can do today

Check the mats

Bring things within reach

Check the lock

Clear the floor