Shower Aids for Disabled and Elderly, What are the Options?
The bathroom can pose a risk to many vulnerable individuals such as the elderly, disabled, and mobility restricted. With the help of shower aids and bath aids, safety can be maintained with some extra support, and these users can continue to use the bathroom independently, helping to maintain their self-esteem and confidence without compromising their safety.
Different options you can expect to find
To ensure the safety of all users in the bathroom, there are many different shower aids available. These include products such as:
Disabled or Accessible Shower Cubicle
In this blog we will cover grab bars, shower seating and bath seating options.
What are Grab bars?
Grab bars are wall-mounted safety aids that provide users with something to grip onto for extra support when moving around a space. These aids come in all different lengths, shapes, and styles to ensure that each individual’s needs can be met.
When to consider using grab bars in the showering area?
Grab bars are excellent safety additions for anyone who may be struggling with standing unaided for a long period of time, struggling with stability, or anyone who may be prone to serious injury if a slip or fall was to occur due to the bathroom primarily being fitted with slippery surfaces.
There are many different options you can find when it comes to using grab bars in the showering area.
Simple Grab Bars can be installed just about anywhere in the bathroom that a user may need extra support. This type of grab bar has a concealed mount and is available in a variety of finishes such as stainless steel, matte black, and gold. These aids are also available in many different lengths and diameters, to ensure that the needs of every individual and their unique spaces can be met.
Grab bars with corner shelves allow for an added level of safety without compromising on design integrity and functionality. The corner shelving allows for users to place their soap, and other shower products onto the safety aid. This means that if a vulnerable user is sharing the bathroom with non-vulnerable users, everyone can find utility in the aid.
Nightglow suction grab bars are a style of safety aid that allows users to easily see their support aids in low lighting situations. This means that users who may be vision-impaired can still easily see their aid when it would otherwise be difficult to do so. The section element of the support bar means that the aid can be moved around a repurposed whenever necessary – this does, however, mean that it cannot support the full weight of users, but still provides something to grip onto for extra support.
What is bath and shower seating?
For elderly, disabled, and mobility restricted individuals, bath and shower seating is a great safety aid to have in the bathroom. Bath seating includes things like transfer benches, and stools that provide users with extra support when moving between the bathtub and the rest of the bathroom, or even while using the bath.
Shower aids include wall-mounted shower seats, and shower stools to ensure that when using the shower, users are completely supported. The aids are designed to allow vulnerable users to continue bathing independently to maintain their self-confidence without compromising their safety.
When to consider using bath & shower seating?
Bath and shower seating is an excellent safety aid option for many elderly, disabled, or mobility restricted individuals. If a user has trouble with stability, standing for long periods of time, struggles with knee, leg or back problems, or simply wants to ensure that they are doing everything they can to avoid injury – bath seating is a great option for them.
Types of Bath & Shower Seating
There are many different types of bath seating options available that will ensure the safety of vulnerable users.
Bathtub transfer benches allow the user to remain seated while moving between the bathroom floor and inside the bathtub. The user can sit down while outside of the bath, and slide across the seat into the bathtub. This means that they don’t have to shift their weight entirely to one side of their body, making them unstable, when entering and exiting the bathtub. This aid is excellent for people who struggle with stability, or anyone who has knee, hip, or leg problems. The added backrest also means that while bathing, the user can be supported, and comfortable for the entirety of their bathing time.
Bath seats attach to the sides of the bathtub and allow the user to remain on a seat while they bathe. This aid is excellent for users who may have issues lowering themselves all the way into the tub due to issues such as a knee injury.
Freestanding bath/shower seats are an adjustable and versatile aid that allows users to remain seated while bathing, whether they’re in the shower or bathtub. This aid is a backless stool, with adjustable legs that can be changed to suit the height of either a bathtub or shower. A shower seat is a great option for users who may not be able to stand for prolonged periods of time independently.
Rotating bath stools are similar to freestanding bath/shower seats, but the seat has a rotating area that allows the user to easily maneuver around the shower to grab any products they may need or to simply maintain their comfort throughout the bathing experience.
Shower chairs are a great way to ensure that users who may not be able to stand for long periods of time can still remain comfortable and independent when showering. The aid functions as a regular chair, but is optimized for wet areas. Shower chairs have rubber feet to ensure they don’t slip and are made with waterproof materials that are easy to clean.
Wall-mounted shower seats are excellent aids for users who may share a bathroom, or simply just don’t need the aid every time they take a shower. Wall-mounted shower seats attach to the wall and can be folded away when not in use.
Bathroom Safety Tips for Seniors - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTWv6hOmRak
