Best Bath Safety Practices and Products for Post-Acute Care Patients

Bath safety is foundational in post-acute care, as the bathroom is often one of the most used rooms. A recent study showed that falls in the bathroom were more than twice as likely to result in an injury. And for seniors, people with disabilities, and those recovering from injury or illness, the bathroom presents especially unique risks with its slippery surfaces, tight spaces, and complex transfers.

This guide shares clinical favorites and procurement best practices to help you standardize your and your patients’ equipment choices, reduce falls, and streamline supply ordering.

Selecting the Best Solutions: What to Use and When 

Transfer Benches & Shower Seating

• Choose sliding benches to reduce lift effort over tub sills and to keep hips stable. 
• Prioritize nonslip feet, drainage openings, height adjustability, and side entry support.

Grab Bars & Rails  

• Use permanently mounted bars for primary support. 
• Ensure placement is aligned with local facility policy and safety standards.

Additionally, verify stud anchoring and load ratings.

Browse all Bathing and Toileting aids on PerformanceHealth.com for facility or home use. 

Implementation Checklist 

Environment & workflow 

• It’s a good idea to map each bathroom’s transfer path (from bed to toilet to shower), noting sill heights, door and curtain types, reach zones, and storage. 
• Add visual cues and lighting to make the journey easier.  
• Keep essentials within arm’s reach to allow the patient to maintain some independence. 

Equipment 

• Select benches and stools by patient size, weight capacity, and ease of adjustability. 
• For shared equipment, prioritize infection control surfaces and cleaning protocols that fit shift turnover. 

Policy & documentation 

• Standardize product selection, installation, inspection cycles, and cleaning SOPs. 

Replenishment 

• With Performance Health’s Supply List, you can monitor product availability and share approved product lists within your company.
• Publish an approved supply list for bath safety with preferred items, recommended alternatives, and inventory reorder points that you can distribute to patients who are heading home. 

Implementing bath safety policies can help to prevent fall events, enable independence, and improve patient confidence.  

Performance Health is the largest rehabilitation supplier in North America, delivering trusted solutions directly to the point of care. With over 70 years of expertise serving over 5,000 hospital systems and 30,000 clinics, our fulfillment operations seamlessly process orders in the quantity desired with industry leading fulfillment rates, ensuring access to the products you need.  

Medical Disclaimer: The information provided on this site, including text, graphics, images, and other material are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.