When discussing bathing and other bathroom-related areas with regard to seniors, safety is a primary consideration. At Heavenly Walk-In Tubs, our safety tubs are perfect for any elderly or disabled people in need of a bit of extra support during their bathing experience.

When discussing these safety elements in regard to portable bathtubs and our other products, one area can be easily forgotten: Water temperature. While falls and movement are naturally the primary concerns, it’s easy to forget that the wrong temperatures can be dangerous for seniors as well. Let’s look at some basics here, including temperature guidelines to follow.

Proper Temperatures

Everyone has their own preferences for temperature, and these can be prioritized to a high degree. However, in most situations – especially for anyone with health issues or general stress on the body, including many seniors – bath temperatures more than a few degrees higher than normal body temperatures are not recommended. Any temperature above 102 degrees Fahrenheit can affect health if enough time is spent in it.

Sticking close to this general guideline is recommended, within reason. Some people may enjoy temperatures outside of that range, and there are cases where if the exposure is for a small enough time window, this is okay.

Bathroom Temperatures

The temperature of water itself isn’t the only important consideration to make. Temperature is a perceived feeling, which makes the environment a big factor – if the bathroom itself is too cold, water will always seem colder, and vice versa. It’s important to perfect both the bathroom and water temperature when finding the idea conditions for seniors to bathe in safely.

Dangers

There are a few health issues that can take place with water at varying temperatures:

• Scalding water: Water around 120 degrees Fahrenheit or higher can physically burn the skin, often in short periods of time. Burns in the elderly significantly raise the risk of infections, and can lead to losses of mobility plus dehydration and scarring.
• Hot water: Generally hot water can also be dangerous when outside the recommended range. Any seniors dealing with mobility or reaction time issues can find these conditions worsened by consistent exposure to water that’s too hot, and blood vessels can dilate and impact skin and cardiac issues.
• Cold water: Water that’s too cold can constrict blood vessels near the skin, and reduce blood flow within internal organs and the heart. It can also lead to hypothermia in some cases.

To learn more about proper bathing temperatures, or for more information on our portable bathtubs, speak to the experts at Heavenly Walk-In Tubs today.