Water Safety for Older Adults

Older adults can stay safer around water by making bath time safer, checking whether their medicines or health conditions affect balance and alertness, swimming only with lifeguards or a buddy nearby, and wearing a life jacket on or near open water. Risk rises with age, but most of it can be planned for.

This page is for older adults and for the families who care about them.

Why risk rises with age

2nd highest

CDC reports that drowning increased 19% in adults ages 65 to 74 in 2022 compared with 2019 (opens in a new tab), and that drowning death rates among adults 65 and older have been increasing for decades (opens in a new tab). In 2022 the rate was 1.8 per 100,000 at ages 65 to 74, 2.0 at 75 to 84, and 2.1 at 85 and older (opens in a new tab).

Several things add up:

• Swimming skill. In a 2023 CDC survey, 18.6% of adults 65 and older said they don't know how to swim (opens in a new tab), more than any younger age group.
• Changing ability. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reminds swimmers that your swimming ability decreases with age (opens in a new tab).
• Health and medicines. Heart conditions are associated with a higher risk of drowning (opens in a new tab), and some medicines affect balance and alertness (see below).
• Cold water. The National Weather Service says cold water can cause a sudden spike in heart rate and blood pressure, which can cause heart failure and stroke for vulnerable people (opens in a new tab).

Bathtubs and showers

Bathtub drowning isn't only a risk for babies. A CDC National Center for Health Statistics review of 1999 to 2010 found that drowning occurred most often in a bathtub for infants and for adults aged 85 and over (opens in a new tab).

The National Institute on Aging's fall-prevention advice applies directly to the tub. It suggests you:

• mount grab bars near the toilet and on both the inside and outside of your tub and shower (opens in a new tab)
• place nonskid mats, strips or carpet on every surface that may get wet
• leave a light on in the bathroom at night, or use a night light that turns on by itself

One more thing to ask about: showers. If you have a condition that can cause fainting or seizures, ask your doctor whether a shower is safer for you. CDC suggests people with seizure disorders consider taking a shower rather than a bath (opens in a new tab). See water safety with epilepsy or seizures.

Medicines and health conditions

CDC's advice is direct: avoid swimming if you take medications that impair your balance, coordination or judgment (opens in a new tab). It notes that several medicines can cause these effects, such as those used for anxiety and other mental health conditions. The National Institute on Aging adds that the more medications you take, the more likely you are to fall (opens in a new tab), and that if a drug makes you sleepy or dizzy, you should tell your doctor or pharmacist.

You don't need to stop any medicine on your own. Instead, bring your full list to your doctor or pharmacist and ask:

• Can any of these make me dizzy, sleepy or unsteady?
• Is there a time of day when it's safer for me to swim or bathe?
• Does my heart, blood pressure or other condition change what kind of water activity is right for me?
• Are cold water, hot tubs or hard exercise in the water a concern for me?

The Red Cross also says to know your limitations, including physical fitness and medical conditions (opens in a new tab). For more, see heart conditions, medicines and swimming safety.

Swimming for fitness, safely

Water can be a great place to exercise. The National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD), based at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, says that exercising in water can provide greater range of motion, improved balance, increased flexibility, strengthening and improved cardiovascular fitness (opens in a new tab).

NCHPAD's safety basics:

• Never swim alone, no matter how good your skills are.
• Swim only when a lifeguard is present. NCHPAD recommends a team of at least two lifeguards for a pool.
• Check the pool: clear water, marked depths, a clean non-slip deck and visible rescue equipment.

Programs for older adults in New York City:

• NYC Parks Learn to Swim holds free classes for seniors (ages 62 and over) (opens in a new tab) at indoor pools in fall, winter and spring, by lottery. Seniors learn basic swimming and safety skills such as breath control, floating and arm strokes. Indoor classes need a recreation center membership.
• NYC Parks Senior Splash is a free water aerobics class for seniors 62 and up (opens in a new tab), held at outdoor pools in summer. No sessions were listed in October; check the page when summer schedules come out.

Outside NYC, ask your local parks department, YMCA or community pool about older-adult classes. See free swim lessons in NYC and learning to swim as an adult.

On open water, wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. The Red Cross says to always wear one while boating, regardless of swimming skill (opens in a new tab).

Grandparents watching grandchildren

Many grandparents care for young children, at home and on family trips. The rules for children don't change with the caregiver:

• Arm's reach. The AAP recommends that a supervising adult with swimming skills be within arm's length, providing touch supervision (opens in a new tab), for an infant, toddler or weak swimmer in or around water. If you can't swim or move quickly, pair up with another adult for water time.
• No distractions. The AAP says to avoid using your cell phone, doing yard work or drinking alcohol (opens in a new tab) while children are in or near water.
• Floaties aren't safety gear. The AAP says floaties, water wings and inflatable toys can deflate and do not prevent drowning (opens in a new tab). Use a fitted life jacket instead.
• Barriers at your home. If your grandchildren visit, empty buckets, latch the bathroom, and make sure any pool has a four-sided fence.
• CPR. The AAP says everyone, including caregivers, should learn CPR (opens in a new tab). Ask a family member to take a class with you.

Share our Water Rules for Babysitters with everyone who helps, and read water safety rules for babysitters, nannies and grandparents.

Caring for someone with dementia? The Alzheimer's Association says six in 10 people living with dementia will wander at least once (opens in a new tab), and advises identifying dangerous areas near home, such as bodies of water, ahead of time. See wandering and water: a safety plan.

What you can do today

1. Make a medicine list and ask your doctor or pharmacist the four questions above.
2. Check the bathroom: grab bars inside and outside the tub, a nonskid mat and a night light.
3. Find a class. Look for an older-adult swim or water exercise class at a lifeguarded pool.
4. Set a buddy rule. Never swim alone, and wear a life jacket on any boat or dock.
5. If you watch grandchildren, agree with their parents on the water rules, and sign up for CPR together.