The article ignores the fact that there is a variety of equipment available to further minimize the risk of falls in the elderly - and it's the elderly that really matter, because a fall, in their case, could very well turn out to be life threatening. There are shower mats to increase friction. There are bars in the shower to hold on to. There are even tub benches to sit on while showering. I don't really expect the sort of absurd headline grabbing articles like this from the NYTimes. I expect articles that responsibly describe the risks and ways to mitigate them.