Choosing the Right Walk-In Bathtub

Navigating the home can prove to be an extreme endeavor for seniors, the disabled, handicapped or mobility challenged, threatening their independence. One out of three adults over the age of 65 experiences harmful falls each year with the majority of those tumbles occurring in the bathroom. The Center for Disease Control reports that two thirds of bathroom-related injuries happen near or in the shower. Blame this on a combination of wet slippery floors, stepping over high tub ledges and leaning on doors not meant to support body weight.

Bathtubs for the elderly and disabled diminish injury hazards, making it possible for the bathroom to once again return to a safe and relaxing retreat. Knowing the models and features available makes simple work of choosing the right tub.

 

Walk-In Tubs

These tubs often include a multitude of important safety and convenience features such as built-in grab bars, anti-slip surfaces and lowered step-in entries. Being able to experience an easy to navigate bathtub from the comfort of one’s own home brings the luxury of a spa-like soak within easy reach. Many of these tubs also provide the added available option of hydrotherapy, which not only allows for needed relaxation but can also increase mobility, offer pain relief, boost energy and improve sleep quality.

 

Walk-In Tub and Shower Combinations

These allow for the choice of soaking in a tub or the convenience of taking a shower. Providing the best of both options, they are available with most of the same offered features that can be supplied on a walk-in tub. Bathtubs for the elderly and disabled can also be equipped with additional safety and convenience shower options such as a shower wand, a bidet and massaging therapeutic water jets.

Features Add Safety and Convenience to Daily Routines

When deciding on the walk-in tub that will fit one’s needs, consider the features required or desired. Great safety features to look for include anti-slip floors and seats, built-in grab bars, anti-scald technology and wide safe doorways with low steps. Also notice if any controls in the tub are easy to reach, and if it includes any luxury additions one would enjoy such as heated seats. Take into consideration if it will fit into a standard tub space and if the area necessary for that particular model is available in the room it is to be installed in. If mobility makes cleaning difficult, also notice if the tub of choice offers easy to clean surfaces and mold-resistant coating.

 

Bathtubs for the elderly and disabled provide the means for taking charge or assisting with their own personal hygiene, allowing for greater independence. Knowing the different models and options available on the market makes it simple to choose the right tub to meet one’s needs.