Safe Showers – Walk In Tubs Make Your Life Easy
4 Feb 2010Those who have physical impediments may find bathing to be a frustrating and complicated process, especially when using traditional bath or shower designs. Unlike walk in bathtubs, which are created for bath safety and comfort, standard showers usually don\’t have anti-slip features and grab bars, and they lack the comfortable seating that can be of great assistance to people with limited mobility.
Increasingly, manufacturers are producing walk-in bathtubs with safety features that traditional showers miss. These easy to install, handicap accessible tubs include height-adjustable, easy-to-use faucets and shower heads and strategically located grab bars as well as many other amenities that can enhance comfort, safety and ease of bathing.
For the ultimate accessibility, handicap showers usually feature a very low threshold or are even level with the floor. However, walk in tubs provide the option of either taking a shower or enjoying a nice soak in warm water without worrying about how you will get in and out of a traditional bath. Being able to take a bath is not merely a luxury – soaking is well known to be therapeutic and aids in easing bodily aches and pains. Walk-in models usually come with a shower head that can be either hand-held or wall mounted and can be adjusted to the perfect height for you.
Today, there are a great number of different walk in bathtub models on the market. All of them feature an inward or outward opening door in the side of the tub. This makes the tub far safer and easier to step into than traditional baths. Outward opening doors are considered to be safer in some cases, as the door can be opened even when the tub is full in case of an emergency. However, most choose inward-opening doors. These are advantageous because they require less room, and they are \”self sealing\” due to the pressure of the water on them when the bath is full.
A majority of the most popular models are termed as \”sit-in\” tubs and feature a chair-height seat that is easy to get in and out of. These are great for showering as well as bathing. Alternately, other models feature powered seats that can lower and lift you safely and easily in and out of a traditional height bath. This allows you to experience full-length bathing without the worry of slipping and falling. In addition to anti-slip surfaces and convenient grab bars for added safety, quite a few models also feature hydrotherapy jets, which have therapeutic properties that can aid further in easing achy joints and sore muscles.
Many different sizes and types of handicap accessible tubs are available to accommodate your needs and lifestyle. Short models are designed for various hard to fit places, including many that are specifically made to fit into the same space as a traditional shower stall. Long tubs are similar in size to traditional baths, allowing for more room to relax and enjoy a soak.
Since being inside the tub is a necessity both while it fills and empties, walk in tubs have special features. The most important of these is a thermostatic mixer, a regulator that makes sure all water comes out at the right temperature for your safety and comfort. More advanced units may have a quick filling option. It is also important that the tub drain quickly. Seniors could catch a chill from sitting for several minutes in cool water while waiting for the water to drain. To solve this problem, many tubs offer dual drain systems or even pumps that can drain the unit in under a minute.
Whether you\’d like to soak in the tub daily, or you plan to mostly take showers but like the option for an occasional bath, walk in tubs simplify your life by offering the ultimate in comfort and safety.
