$30K Falls vs. $30 Fixes: Bathroom Safety & Inclusive Design

What if a $30 grab bar could save you a $30,000 hospital stay?

In this episode, we’re joined by OT Maria Lindbergh of Toilet Talk to explore the real cost of bathroom falls, what equipment actually prevents them, and why most homes just aren’t built for real people. Brandy, Emilia, and Maria also dive into inclusive design, visitability, and the power of diversity in healthcare. It’s a must-listen for caregivers, OTs, and anyone planning to age in place.

Chapters:

00:00 – Welcome to the OT Party: Toileting Talk Begins

02:28 – A $30K Fall or a $30 Fix? The Wild Cost Gap

06:10 – Insurance Logic: Why Prevention Isn’t Covered

09:32 – Designing for Dignity: What Is Universal Design?

17:52 – The One Grab Bar Every Home Needs

22:07 – Visitability: Why Some Homes Make You Lonely

28:52 – From Church Steps to DEI: When Design Excludes

36:38 – What Inclusion Really Looks Like in Practice

Resources:

Find care equipment solutions: https://www.asksamie.com/

Caregiver training from OTs: https://www.higherstandardscaregivertraining.com/

Follow Maria & explore Toilet Talk: https://toilettalk.me

More CareLab episodes: https://www.carelabpodcast.com/