Bathroom equipment and accessories
Of all the places where mobility is needed in the home, the bathroom is one of the
most important. It’s also a private space where people can relax in a hot bath, enjoy
a nice refreshing shower or just read a paper and contemplate life, if you know what
we mean!
Recent developments in bathroom furniture and fittings mean that today’s less
mobile person can enjoy all the benefits of their bathroom and still retain their
privacy and independence to a greater degree than was previously possible. Walk-in
baths, toilet lifts, bath lifts and seated showers all contribute to that feel-good
factor when you enter your bathroom. Below are featured just some of the kind of
equipment that’s available today at an outlet near you!
Walk-in Baths
Of all the fittings available for bathrooms today, the walk-in bath is surely king.
No more balancing precariously on one leg when getting in or out, greatly reduced
slip risk and enormously enhanced convenience mean that the walk-in bath is a top
requirement
for those with reduced mobility. Confidence is also bolstered by the
fact that the user is much less likely to have a slip-related accident - these most
commonly occur when getting out of a normal bath - and this confidence also helps
those who are less mobile to lead a more independent lifestyle. Walk-in baths also
feature high sides and back, providing a very secure environment for those lacking
upper body stability. The seat height in a walk-in bath means that the user is at
a height which is comfortable for carers or assistants, if those are needed. Walk-in
baths vary greatly in style, size and of course price but there’s one out there to
suit almost every pocket!
Bath Lifts.
If you’re confident of getting into a bath, that’s fine. But how about standing up
to get out? Even a bout of fairly mild backache can turn this simple manoeuvre into
an excruciating episode. If you have greater mobility problems it’s often downright
impossible. Enter the bath lift! These straightforward devices lower you gently to
the bottom of your bath - unlike walk-in baths where you are usually seated - and
raise you into a high sitting position to make getting out much easier. Particularly
popular with people who have lower back pain or leg weakness, the bath-lift is a
good add-on item for use with a standard size bath.
The power-assisted bath.
For those not wanting to go to the lengths of having a walk-in bath fitted, yet needing
more assistance than a bath-lift, the power-assisted bath is the answer. This piece
of equipment lifts the bather into the bath bodily by means of a powered seat, lowering
them into and raising them out of the bath effortlessly. A power-assisted bath has
the advantage of retaining your standard bath for use by other family members who
may prefer it to a walk-in bath.
Toilet lifts.
This is something we all use, after all, and it’s no good just hoping it will go
away. Yet
many people still get embarrassed about even talking about it - call it
what you will, the W.C., the loo, the john - it’s a part of life. And if people get
embarrassed talking about it, imagine having to have someone help you off the thing!
That’s where toilet lifts come in. For people with severe mobility difficulties a
helper may be the only way but for others, who maybe find just standing from a low
sitting 
position difficult, a toilet lift can be a great aid to independence - and
dignity! Many models are now operated by rechargeable battery and are designed to
blend in with existing bathroom furniture, as well as taking up little room, as these
images show.
Independence showers
As their name suggests, these showers enable those who find showering difficult -
perhaps due to poor balance - to enjoy a seated shower in a purpose-built cubicle.
These cubicles can be very versatile - some are completely self-contained and can
fit in almost any room of a house, giving the user ultimate flexibility in their
choice of location. Independence showers are easy to use and let the user enjoy a
refreshing shower whenever - and almost wherever - they want it! The idea is so simple,
yet can make such a difference to the lifestyle of a less mobile person - well worth
your consideration!
