it was recommended to me to look into the life alert system. What you went through scares me so much, what happens if you're naked and wet and fall on the floor? Now let's add in all of the rescue firemen who want to come in and see you naked. Scary scary scary. Life alert is a good idea even if you're alone you know help will come.

I have a soft chair that I sit on in my bathroom it helps to sit down to be able to dry yourself off. Just make sure you lay a big soft towel over the chair or it will always be wet.

I'm so glad you're safe. :-)

They have ones with auto alert also- senses a fall - if you can't push the help button yourself it will call for help automatically.

Consider the AutoAlert benefits:

Access to help if you can't push your button
Increased peace of mind and confidence
Wear it in the shower, where falls often occur, as it's waterproof.
Use it to call for help from anywhere in or around your home.

http://philips.lifelinesystems.com/c...-alert-pendant
I'm sure there are other brands available too.

http://www.pioneeremergency.com/auto...fall-detector/

My gosh 40.00 -53.00 a month for these things!!

I worry about my dad w PD & DDD getting in and out of the shower, they have a smaller bathroom so places to grab, but if his legs totally quit on him and he falls, plenty places to hit.

Can you have some handrails mounted into the floor?

It might sound weird, but if there's not a wall right next to the shower to drill a grab bar into, what about a floor to ceiling pole? As long as it's bolted into the floor and secured into a beam in the ceiling.

or, temporary solution...one of these (altho, if it were me, I'd want something securely bolted to the floor and into the structure in the ceiling)

http://www.amazon.com/Standers-Secur...=cm_cr_pr_pb_t (read the reviews)

im sorry erin, but I could only think of a stripper pole in her bathroom. too funny.

Me, too!!

I can just hear the conversation now with my sons........

Me: "I want to install a pole in my bathroom."

Son: "A WHAT??????"

Me: "A pole....it's to help with my balance. Geeze."

Son: "Look Mom, I know you get bored but there's other things you can do, ya know."

Or something to that effect........

Erin, I looked at that pole you linked to and it looks really nice. My only problem is that the ceiling in my bathroom is vaulted. DS said he would install a grab bar in the shower for me, though. That will help. I'll just have to be really careful once I step out. I had some area rugs down in the bathroom but took them up because I kept tripping over them......with my left leg being so weak I tend to not lift that foot up enough.

I had to take up my bathmats too. (currently waiting for my flare that caused drop foot to hopefully go away and give me back my foot) I miss my bathmats, that tile floor is COLD! (cant wear socks when I'm barefoot because socks make my feet slide....even the ones with the non-slippy stuff on the soles)

I knew you all would have your minds in the gutter about the pole. but it's another way to get a grab bar into a space that's not really set up for a traditional grab bar. The pole isnt just a pole, but it's got a grab bar on it that you can hold onto...it's not just a plain "stripper" pole. That grab bar hanging off of it would get in the way if you tried to dance with the pole...you could hurt yourself!

Kitty,

I am sorry about your near-fall. That thing w a foot sticking to the floor while the rest of you goes forward? That has a name- it happens to me and I can't remember the name of it. <shrug>

My Mom (87 and spry) has one of the life alert products. They told her not to take it off in the shower/bath because that is where most falls happen.

Is it "ataxia"??

I always fall - not too gracefully any more - found yesterday my head is an hard as marble topped wash stand