Shower Benches

A Water Power Tub Lift can help those struggling to maintain their independence bathe in privacy. By utilizing the power of water, this tub lift requires no batteries—it simply uses your existing water pressure to slowly lower you into the tub within five inches of the bottom. When it is time to exit the tub, it is possible to raise 24 inches to clear the side of most tubs.

The Water Power Tub Lift weighs only 19 pounds and is extremely durable. It is easy to remove from the bath tub, for other household members not in need of assistance, to use the tub. This tub lift can lift folks weighing up to 200 pounds on just 20 PSI of water pressure. There is no hassle of charging or changing batteries, just the ability to bathe unassisted.

A tub lift is the ultimate in bath safety, and the Water Power Tub Lift does not disappoint. This lift is efficient but operates at a slow, steady pace which adds to the feeling of well-being. Its quality construction is backed by a one year warranty on the frame. Let the power of water put you in the tub without adding any batteries to the landfill.

If you need a transfer bench and are concerned about legs jutting into your bathroom walkway and posing a tripping hazard, you will want to consider a Snap and Save Sliding Tub Mount transfer bench.

The Snap and Save Sliding Tub Mount transfer bench has several great features that set it apart from other transfer benches. This transfer bench clamps directly to the tub side for the ultimate in space-saving and safety. With no legs outside the tub, there are no worries that anyone will trip. Small bathrooms will definitely benefit from increased walkway space.

The best part of the Snap and Save Sliding Tub Mount transfer bench is as the name implies. You simply sit on the bench, fasten the safety strap, press to unlock, and then slide into the perfect shower position. Once the lock is in place again, you are ready to enjoy a refreshing shower. There is no uncomfortable sliding of bare skin on plastic, the Snap and Save Sliding Tub Mount transfer bench does all the work for you.

Every couple of months my husband and I take a road trip down to New Mexico to visit our children and grandchildren. After we retired, we decided to move to the Southwest to be closer to our family, but we didn’t want them to feel obligated to come over to grandma and grandpa’s house every Saturday or Sunday afternoon. I love the fact that we can simply hop in the car and be at their front door in less than two hours.

The only drawback, however, is that their guest bedroom and bathroom are somewhat small. Typically this wouldn’t be an issue, but I’ve been confined to a wheelchair for the last few years, so getting around a cramped bathroom can be an issue. Using a shower seat is a necessity, so I purchased a folding shower seat for when I come down. It easily collapses, allowing us to stow it away and make a little extra space.

Everyday adult children are making the difficult decision to move their elderly parents into their homes. Sometimes these moves force the parents out of homes they’ve lived in for decades and can make them feel less independent. In order to ease the transition, there are several safety precautions children can take:

1. Eliminate throw rugs from floors to eliminate trips and falls.

2. Make sure walkways are free of cables and cords.

3. Install grab bars in all bathrooms.

4. Make an appropriate bath safety seat available—transfer bench, shower stool, shower chair, etc. to maximize showering comfort.

5. A tub rail or bath lift will help seniors ease into the bath.

6. Consider moving your parents’ bedroom downstairs to eliminate the need to climb stairs.

A little extra effort will go a long way to make your parents feel that your home is their home.

My great-aunt lived with my grandparents when I was growing up. She was a widow in her late fifties, who was overweight and suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Even though she had an apartment in the basement, she still had to make it up stairs for meals. Slowly but surely she would make it to the table, but there was always the worry that she would fall.

Her limited mobility eventually became an issue with regard to her hygiene. As the older sister, my grandmother would make sure that she would bathe every few days. She did not have a shower chair or a tub rail or a grab bar, as these items were not readily available 25-30 years ago. She could not stand in the shower, so my mom, my grandma, and I would lower her into the tub and then have to get her back out again when she was finished. How wonderful it would have been for her to privately raise and lower herself into the tub with a bath lift. She would have appreciated the independence of a bath lift and been able to clean herself more often. A bath lift is a wonderful invention for both caregiver and those receiving care.

We all know that use of a shower chair is a great way for anyone to be safer in the shower. However, being able to determine a high quality chair versus a discount store knockoff can be harder. Here are a few features to look for in a shower chair:

1. The feet of a high quality shower chair are normally rubber-tipped for maximum stability.

2. The body of the shower chair should be made of heavy duty blow molded plastic reinforced with a metal such as aluminum.

3. The arms, legs, and back of the shower chair should offer height adjustments for a customizable fit.

4. Padding is also a great feature to look for in a shower chair—it is especially beneficial for someone who has lost muscle density and needs more support.

5. Bonus features such as an included shower sprayer holder, an accessory basket, and/or a soap dish set deluxe shower chairs apart.

No matter which one you choose, a shower chair is the best way to be safer in the shower.

I have always loved soaking in the tub, so I was thrilled when we bought our house and there was a deep soaker tub. Even at 37, I sometimes have trouble getting out of this tub. Pregnancy made it nearly impossible to get out of this tub. I now know that there are several things I can do to make using my tub easier.

A tub rail is perfect to assist me in and out of the tub. There are adjustable models to accommodate various tub wall thicknesses and to accommodate users of different heights. I don’t have to worry about the tub rail scratching my tub because most tub rails are cushioned to protect the tub finish.

Installing a grab bar is another way to make my bath more safe and enjoyable. A suction cup grab bar will work the best because I can keep relocating it until I find just the right spot without worrying about repairing my walls.

As my mobility worsens I will not have to ever give up my bath, as bath lifts make it possible for everyone to take a bath. Many bath lifts are built with the capability to allow soaking in a deep tub. No one ever needs to give up a soak in the tub with these great bath safety ideas.

I decided yesterday that my cloth shower mat is no longer cutting it. Sure, it soaks up the water my kids splash all over the floor, but it becomes very ineffective when they’ve already drenched it or when it gets bunched up, and they don’t have a sizable area to step out onto.

A teak shower mat will not get bunched up, so we will always have a nice sized area to exit the shower. A teak shower mat is water and mildew resistant and offers firm, comfortable footing for your bathroom. I also really like the luxury look of the teak shower mat. It’s always a bonus when something that works well looks great too.

A teak shower mat is not only a great idea for someone with unruly children—anyone can benefit from the added safety it will provide. I look forward to having a safer place to enter and exit my shower and to upgrading to the beauty of a teak shower mat.

After having three knee surgeries and a hip replacement in the last three years, my mobility leaves a lot to be desired. Simply standing up from a seated position is often a struggle, and frequently I need my cane or the assistance of a loved one. The rest of the time there isn’t any noticeable pain, but it definitely takes me longer to get everywhere.

The one area where I’ve really noticed my joints hampering me is in the bathroom. I absolutely love taking baths, but do to my surgically repaired joints, getting in and out of the tub is no easy task. For the last several months I’ve simply foregone my baths, opting for showers instead. When I was browsing online recently, however, I was able to find bathtub grab bars. They were simple to install and give me the ability to leverage myself getting out of the tub, taking much of the strain off my knees and hips.

While a built-in shower stool would be ideal and a walk-in tub would be great, many of us do not have the time or funds to implement these options when our mobility in the bathroom is limited. You will also have limited options for safety if you rent, not own, your home. So what can you do?

By purchasing a portable shower bench, you can overcome all of your bath challenges for under $100. A portable shower bench gives you a firm seat for your shower without waiting for a contractor to install a new tub or waiting for an inspector to approve your renovations. You do not have to worry about violating your lease, as no permanent changes will be made to your home.

Best of all, the portable shower bench can travel with you and make any bathroom just as safe as home, and it can be delivered to your door and ready to use in a week or less!