Recently our mom who is 86 years fell while bathing. She has never had this happen before but this particular time as she prepared her bath perhaps her mind was somewhere else or for a simple second she lost concentration. She is okay but I think something has now changed.

She used a bath chair for a couple of reasons she has had knee surgery and although one knee functions quite well, the other needs to be redone and so it does not bend as a knee should.

She fell for the simple reason as she went to sit on the bath chair it moved, and as result she lost control and fell.

There are several things that happened at the same time, no lifeline, no one in the vicinity while she was bathing and panic after she realized she would not be able to get herself up.

Three hours passed and she was unable to get up or out of the tub, she yelled out and banged on the bathroom wall but unfortunately the person next door was away and did not return till the afternoon.

This is not an account of my mother or what happened to her, because it happens everyday to an elderly senior, and yes mom you are elderly. This is let adult children and elderly seniors know it could happen to you and your loved ones.

Her story ends with the fire department being called and having to break the open the door and go in and help her out of the tub. She was in a weakened state and spent the night in a hospital being released the next day.

I spoke with her a few days later, and she said, she is not afraid to bathe or be alone, but I am not sure. Something in her voice has changed, she is not the same, she sounded weaker, she sounded scared. For us, her children we now have another stressor in our lives of which most of us do not need and could be alleviated with a few little changes for our mom.

Lifeline, it would be such a great little tool, so if there was an emergency be it a fall or an illness, help is just a push of a button away.

Bath Chairs For a whole range of products go to Premier Mobility http://bit.ly/145CohH98071 TransferBench 400 Seniors Falling While Bathing! A bath chair that is steadied by being outside the tub is much better than one that is inside the tub. Of course using protective slip resistant bath mats are a must for everyone. A whole line of products are available and some can be acquired on loan from the Red Cross.

Home Support, someone to come in and be there while she is bathing, simple, no intrusions just help if she needs it,maybe someone to help clean up the bathroom after and put the towels through the laundry. Minimum of an hour maybe two at the most 2 times per week. Help specific for that elderly loved one, one on one.

Walker, a rolling walker so that there is support and balance while walking, a place to rest when tired and place to put your packages or purchases if you go for walk to the store.

It is simple really, families who have an elderly loved one need to work together and make sure the elderly person is safe, first and foremost.