Elderly Bathtubs: A Guide To Buying Bathtubs For The Elderly
Elderly bathtubs are specially designed to accommodate individuals who have problems with mobility or are otherwise disabled. Taking a bath is a simple and highly effective way of relieving your body of stress and it can have many other therapeutic benefits as well. So it is an unfortunate fact that the people who can benefit from them the most, the seniors and those with disabilities, have the most difficulty experiencing them. The following will provide you with some helpful information that you can use when buying elderly bathtubs and handicap bathtub lifts.
Probably the most popular type of elderly bathtubs currently on the market are the walk in bathtub styles. Just as the name implies, they allow you to simply walk into them without having to step over the tall siding. This is typically accomplished with the use of installing a door on the side of the tub. These bathtubs are much different than other, more traditional tubs in many ways besides the side door. For one thing, they are usually built much deeper and have a built in bench where you can sit instead of having to lie down. In fact, lying down is sometimes not possible at all due to the unique proportions of these tubs.
Another interesting feature about walk in bathtubs for the elderly is their special non-slip floors. Bathrooms are probably the most dangerous room in the house because it is so easy to slip and hurt yourself. Seniors are especially susceptible in these situations because their bones have become more brittle and easily broken. Therefore you should take every precaution to make sure you prevent this. In addition, these tubs also usually have built in grab bars as well which can give you something to hang onto in slippery conditions. These can even be installed in other places in your bathroom as well, for added safety.
In order to make sure that the walk in showers and baths for the disabled you purchase will truly be able to help you prevent accidents, make sure they are certified by the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act. These tubs are given a stricter set of standards to abide by so you can expect a much higher quality. Not only are these tubs much safer than the others, but you can expect them to be more comfortable and to last longer as well.
When buying elderly bathtubs, it really helps to do as much research as possible before making your purchase. This is an expensive investment, so you really want to make sure that you have chosen the best one for you before buying. Investigate the different companies out there, such as Premier Bathrooms and other stores on the Net and see what they have to offer. Next, visit some bathroom fixture showrooms in your area that offer these tubs and see a few up close.
