Shower Benches

In the next twenty years, 1 in 5 Americans will be 65 years old or older. This increase in older citizens will require more safety innovations for around the house. No room in your home requires more attention than the bath.

A shower chair is the first step to a safer bathroom. Sturdy legs and feet keep the chair firmly in place while you are seated to bathe. With no more worries of tiring out during your shower, you can relax and take your time.

Transfer benches allow those in a wheelchair to slide from the wheelchair straight to a seat in the shower. A transfer bench has all the benefits of a shower chair, while allowing for greater mobility for a wheelchair bound individual. Some transfer benches even have sliding seats for even easier use. Others offer a built in toilet to eliminate the need for both a toilet chair and a transfer bench.

Grab bars and tub rails are a necessity for a safe bathroom. A firm grip as you enter or exit the tub increases your sense of security. There are grab bar configurations to meet the need of every space. Many grab bars and tub rails offer tool free installation. There are even grab bars created specifically to help you get up from the toilet.

It is easy to make your bath safer using any or all of the items discussed.

Bath time is always a time when parents wish for an extra set of hands. The Otter Bathing System is a great way for parents and caregivers to safely bathe children with physical disabilities. By harnessing the child to the Otter, hands are free to get the child clean without the worry of the child slipping further into the water.

The Otter Bathing System is available in three sizes—small, medium and large. The small Otter has a 60 pound weight capacity, the medium Otter has a 120 pound weight capacity, and the large Otter has a 160 pound weight capacity. All three sizes offer the same great features:

1. A removable, machine washable fabric seat.

2. Height adjustable legs that work with the child seated in the Otter.

3. Height and width adjustable head cushions.

4. Five angle adjustments for the seat and back–0, 22.2, 45, 67.5 & 90.

5. The Otter is foldable for easy storage.

6. Two positioning straps to support your child.

Perhaps the best feature of the Otter Bathing System is the unibar which allows the seat and back angle adjustments to be made with one hand. There is even the capability of removing the seat fabric and allowing your child to sit on the floor of the tub while still safely harnessed. The Otter is a great way to bathe safer today.

In the last couple of years it’s become increasingly difficult for me to stand for any amount of time. Luckily, many of the activities I enjoy involve sitting, and virtually everywhere I go there is wheelchair access. Certain tasks like showering, however, pose a definite challenge.

Since my bathroom doesn’t have a tub, taking a bath is out of the question. And I certainly don’t want to have someone in the room with me while I bathing; I value my privacy. My son suggested that I try a shower seat, and it was the perfect solution. Not only do I get to sit down and shower at my leisure, it’s also made it easier for me to get in and out safely.

My back and hip have really been bothering me lately due to an injury from over twenty years ago. Add to that a recent tumble off a step ladder and carrying around some post-baby weight, and you’ll get a back that is just barely making it through the day. Being able to get in the shower with a shower chair has really helped loosen up my stiff muscles in the morning.

By sitting in the shower, I am taking the weight off of my lower extremities. I can flex my legs and feet and limber up while I shower. The low back support offered by the chair also makes my back feel better and supports good posture. Shaving my legs has become easier as well because I can reach to my ankles without having to bend as far.

Sitting in the shower chair also makes me feel more stable in the shower. Once I am seated, I can turn on the water from my hand held sprayer and know that slipping is impossible. The firm grip provided by my shower chair keeps me safe and sound. I can even use the arms of my shower chair for support to make a slip free exit from the shower.

Bath and shower safety products are now being designed to make their assembly and use as easy as possible. Nearly every product type has a model available that offers tool free assembly and/or installation.

A suction cup grab bar is a perfect example of tool free installation. No drilling is required to mount the bar. Its position is adjustable without the worry of needing to spackle the holes from its previous location. These grab bars have large suction cups that make them extremely strong and easy to mount on most smooth surfaces.

Folding bath benches can be collapsed without tools for easy storage and transport. No more worries of airport security deeming the screwdriver in your suitcase a terrorist weapon and delaying your trip.

Transfer benches are a must for someone who is wheelchair bound. The Carex Deluxe Bathtub Transfer Bench has arms that can be removed and swapped without tools to properly orient the seat within your bathroom. Whether you need to enter from the left or the right, it is easy to accommodate your bath needs.

Everyone knows that water is perhaps our most valuable resource. We all need water every day to survive. Water conservation is important not only when you consider its environmental impact, but also on a financial level as well. Many older folks on fixed incomes really monitor their water use so that their water bill does not increase.

A hand held shower sprayer is a great way to control water use while also increasing bathroom safety. Being able to have the water spray on, only when needed, without having to reach for the shampoo button on the nozzle overhead, will prevent falls and save money.

If you or your loved one is using a shower bench, then a hand held shower sprayer is a necessity. No one wants the water pounding in their face while they try to bathe. The shower sprayer keeps the water available at the touch of a button without having to rise from the shower bench. Being able to rinse those hard to reach spots without twisting and turning makes the use of a hand held shower sprayer not only economical but efficient and safe as well.

Teak is a type of hardwood that is most commonly seen in the southern and southeastern regions of Asia. Unlike other woods, teak is fostered best in an environment that experiences monsoons. The three most common varieties are Philippine Teak, Common Teak, and Dahat Teak.

The wood is generally used for a wide variety of outdoor furniture or boat decks. Because of its ability to withstand severe weather, it is not uncommon to see an outdoor teak bench or teak swing. While other woods need to be treated with oils or varnishes to withstand and endure outdoor conditions, teak has extensive natural oils that make it both durable and easy to work with. In recent years, teak’s water resistance has been put to use in a new fashion: the teak shower chair.

A tub rail is a great bath safety item. A tub rail serves two basic purposes. The first use is to provide leverage and stability as one enters and/or exits the tub. The second use is for support after exiting the tub. You can grab the rail and balance while drying hard to reach spots like the soles of your feet.

Tub rails are portable and require no tools for installation. There are two basic styles of rails—slide-on and clamp-on. The slide-on tub rail has a set width for attachment to the tub side. This rail is available to fit tubs of standard width. The clamp-on tub rail has variable width settings usually adjustable with a dial. This rail style is ideal for odd sized tub walls or for someone looking for a very snug fitting tub rail.

Most tub rails have protective covers to keep your tub side scratch free. These covers also help to make the fit snugger. Many tub rails are also height adjustable for an even more customizable feel. Tub rails are a portable, inexpensive, and flexible way to make bath time safer.

You’ve finished dinner and the dishes, and its time to get the children ready for bed. A warm soapy bath is a must for the toddler set and you child runs gleefully to the bathroom. Why are you trudging behind? Why are you dreading what can be quality time with your child? Comfort and safety are two reasons that come to mind, and both of these concerns can be eliminated through the use of a shower stool.

 Bathing children are very slippery. Trying to corral a three year old to wash her hair becomes a real issue when she is wriggling around the tub like a tadpole. She has outgrown her infant shower seat that was designed to keep her upright in the tub. Now the main issue is keeping her within arm’s reach for proper scrubbing. The shower stool not only keeps her close, it also leaves nearly all of her accessible for easier, fuss-free cleaning.

 Use of a shower stool also decreases the strain on your back as you get your child clean. No more bending over the edge of the tub to get the job done. Once seated on the shower stool, your child is at a more comfortable level for bathing. Adjustable legs allow for the growth of your child. My eight year old loves to sit in the shower with the water pounding on his shoulders. Bath time can be enjoyable for all with the help of a shower stool.