Bathroom Setup for Safety

The bathroom poses a high fall risk for older adults. You can make simple changes to reduce this risk. Start with the floor and the tub. Place a non-slip mat or self-stick strips inside the tub or shower. This gives your loved one better traction when the surface gets wet.

Next, look at the support structures. Install grab bars inside the tub, next to the tub, and next to the toilet. Do not use towel racks as grab bars, because they cannot hold a person’s weight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends these specific grab bar placements to help prevent falls.

Bathroom safety also extends to the path your loved one takes to get there. The CDC advises placing a night-light on the path from the bed to the bathroom. Ensure the lighting is bright and even. Have a doctor or pharmacist review all of your loved one’s medicines. Some medications cause sleepiness or dizziness, which increases the risk of a fall on the way to the toilet.

If your loved one has dementia, water temperature is another risk factor. They may not realize the water is too hot. Consider installing an automatic thermometer to control the water temperature. You can find more general hazard checks in our guide to preventing falls at home.

If you need help keeping an older adult safe at home, New Century Home Care can assist. Call 215-974-0000 or fill out our contact form and choose “I am a client” then “I need services”. Our Philadelphia office staff speak English, Russian, and Ukrainian.

Bathing Routine Tips

A good routine makes bathing less stressful for you and your loved one. Always gather your supplies before you start. Bring the soap, shampoo, towels, and fresh clothes into the bathroom first. This prevents you from leaving the person alone in the tub to grab a forgotten item.

Timing also matters. Schedule bathing when the person is most alert. If your loved one experiences sundowning or increased confusion later in the day, plan demanding tasks like bathing for the morning or early afternoon.

Communication helps the process go smoothly, especially if your loved one has cognitive changes. Speak directly to them and give them time to respond. Approach them from the front and identify yourself before starting the bath. Treat them with dignity and respect throughout the process.

Respect their privacy. Talk them through each step so they know what to expect. If they feel exposed, let them hold a towel over their chest or lap while you wash other areas. Small adjustments help them feel secure. For more ways to modify the house, read our overview on home safety modifications.

When to Get Help with Bathing

Sometimes, modifying the bathroom is not enough. If your loved one cannot wash themselves safely, they may need hands-on help. Under Pennsylvania law, hands-on assistance with bathing, dressing, and toileting is defined as personal care.

You do not have to manage this alone. A non-medical home care agency can provide personal care assistance. Aides help with self-administered medications, feeding, oral care, shaving, ambulation, bathing, hair care, grooming, dressing, toileting, and transfers. These are non-skilled services, meaning they do not include nursing tasks like wound care or injections.

It helps to understand the difference between home care and home health. A home care agency supplies employees to provide non-skilled services in the consumer’s residence. In contrast, Medicare home health covers part-time or intermittent skilled nursing and therapies. Medicare home health covers home health aide care only alongside skilled care for a homebound person. It does not cover personal care when that is the only care needed.

Bathing is an Activity of Daily Living (ADL). The state uses ADLs to measure what kind of help a person needs. You can learn more about how Pennsylvania defines these tasks in our guide to ADLs and IADLs.

Paying for Bathing Assistance Through Medicaid

If your loved one needs long-term care, they might qualify for the Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver. This program covers Personal Assistance Services to help with ADLs like eating, bathing, and dressing. To qualify, your loved one must meet functional and financial rules.

The local Area Agency on Aging, which is the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) in Philadelphia, performs a Functional Eligibility Determination (FED). They look at how much hands-on help the person needs over the last three days. Group 1 requires at least one condition from its list, such as needing hands-on help with three or more ADLs. Group 2 requires at least three items from its list. For example, a person might qualify for Group 2 if they need hands-on help with two ADLs, have a mild to severe cognitive impairment, and use a wheelchair.

Financially, the income limit for the CHC waiver is $2,982 per month in 2026. Only the applicant’s income counts. The resource limit is $8,000 for an unmarried applicant. If the applicant is married, the state uses a spousal impoverishment formula where the community spouse keeps at least $32,532 in resources, while the applicant keeps $8,000. The home the applicant lives in and one motor vehicle are excluded from this limit.

To apply for the CHC waiver, follow these steps:

1. Call the Independent Enrollment Broker (IEB) at 1-877-550-4227.
2. The IEB sends a Physician Certification form to your loved one’s doctor. The doctor should return it within five business days marking the patient as Nursing Facility Clinically Eligible (NFCE).
3. The IEB visits your home to help with the financial Medicaid application.
4. An assessor from the local Area Agency on Aging performs the FED.
5. The County Assistance Office reviews your income and resources to make a final financial decision.

If approved, a service coordinator will create a person-centered service plan that sets how many hours of Personal Assistance Services your loved one receives. Medicaid coverage begins on the date of application once approved.

Let New Century Home Care help your family with safe bathing and personal care. Call us at 215-974-0000 or submit our contact form. Select “I am a client” and “I need services” to get started.