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bathroom-safety-buyers-guide
Bath boards, grab rails and bath lifts are just a few of the products that help make the bathroom a safer place for those who need it. The ability to wash yourself independently is one of the core elements of your daily life that you may be especially keen to hold on to as you get older, or whether you simply have limited short or long-term mobility issues.
One of the first things people become aware of when considering bathroom aids is that there are a huge range of products available. In addition to Bathroom Aids like Raised Toilet Seats, Shower Chairs and Commodes, there are many helpful products that sometimes get overlooked. We provide grab bars, bath lifts and many more products. Medical Supplies Now provides bathroom safety for all, from toddlers to the elderly.
Grab Bars
First, let’s take a look at grab bars. Grab Bars can help you to stabilize yourself while you raise a leg over the tub edge. These bars are often mounted to walls and offer maximum security when installed correctly. Below we will look at the different types of grab bar, and what each bar can provide.
Types of grab bar:
Straight Safety Grab Bar
As the name itself suggests, this shower grab bar is straight and can be installed to the wall, anywhere in the bathroom. Since these bars are fixed to the wall, they offer outstanding support which makes them perfect for people with stability issues.
Clamp on Tub Rail
This tub grab bar is great for making stepping in and out of the bathtub more stable and secure. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to tighten it well.
Angled grab Bar
This type of bathtub support bars is ideal for maximizing the safety of the seniors and handicap people. Since this bar is bent at an angle, it can be installed in a wet area, as it will give a secure grip to the user, while also allowing more flexibility as far as the shape or style of the bathroom and shower is concerned.
Wall to Floor Grab Bars
As you can imagine, this grab bar is fixed to the wall and the floor and offers a great deal of stability. It’s usually installed next to the toilet and some models come with a second small support leg, to provide even more support.
Suction Cup Grab Bars
Suction Cup Grab Bars Suction grab bars are ideal if you have a landlord who doesn’t allow the installation of permanent grab bars. However, this type would work best on a smooth surface, since fixing it to the wall with tiles will be hard.
Flip-Up Bathroom Grab Bar and Flip Down Grab Bar
Flip-up and flip down grab bars can be moved out of the way, which is one of their best features. They can be installed on one side of the toilet or in the shower.
Floor to Ceiling Grab Bar
For those who have a difficulty with standing up from the toilet or even bed, couch or a dining table, there is this type of a bar. They don’t need to be installed and usually, come with pads to prevent scratching the ceiling or floor.
When looking at bathroom lifts or hoists, it might be the case that your strength and mobility have declined so much that they need extra support for washing in the bath. There are various types of bath lifts and hoists suitable for different needs. We let you know your choices.
First things first, there are typically 4 different types of bath lifts to consider:
- Powered seat - a motor lifts the seat up and down.
- Inflatable - the inflated seat is level with the top of the bath. As air is released, you're lowered into the bath. An electric pump re-inflates the seat when you're ready.
- Bands - you sit on a wide strip of fabric that's stretched across the bath. A motor feeds out more fabric to lower you into the bath. Band-type lifts are fixed to the wall, so are not portable.
- Manual - these use your weight and springs to go down and up.
Will a lift suit your bath?
If you think you’ve found the perfect bath lift, before you purchase it, you should consider the following options:
- If you have an unusually shaped bath, will the lift fit it?
- If your bath has built-in grab rails, check they won't get in the way of the lift's side pieces.
- If your bath is plastic, check with the manufacturer that it's strong enough for the lift
- The lift
- Is the seat shaped so that water runs off it or does it have a drainage hole?
- Is the seat designed not to get slippery when wet?
- Will it be easy to clean? Check there are no open tubes, which could get clogged
- If you want a padded seat, can the padding be replaced if it tears?
- Is the backrest the right size, shape and angle?
- Will it lift the heaviest person who will use it?
- Are the controls easy to press and see?
Bath Hoists
If a bath lift is something you feel is too much for you, perhaps you might consider a bath hoist. Again, there are varying types of bath hoists to consider.
Fixed bath hoists (electric or manual)
When using a bath hoist, you get your legs over the bath rim. Pulling on a grab rail can help you swivel.
Ceiling track hoists
These ceiling track hoists don't take up floor space, and are powered so you can use them without help.
Mobile hoists
Can be wheeled about so you can use them in more than one room. When bathing, you sit in a sling, which is attached to the hoist. It lifts you over the side of the bath and down. These hoists can be electric or pumped with a lever.
Bathroom adaptations:
If a conventional bath or shower are no longer suitable, there are several types of baths and walk-in showers to choose from. Discover your options and other ways to adapt a bathroom, including adapting the toilet.
Bathtub Walk Ins
Entering and exiting a bathtub are times when many mishaps can occur. Walk-in bathtubs can be an easy solution to this problem. These special tubs are designed for safety, with models typically having doors that open and close.
Walk-in shower units are a common feature in most modern homes. They use glass walls to enclose the showering area, sometimes provide access to the showering area by means of a water-resistant door and door frame, and sometimes include a seat in one corner.
In the tub version, the door into the bathing area is watertight while still allowing ground-level access. Essentially, the walk-in tub is a modern bathtub used in much the same way as any tub: it is a vessel that fills up with hot water, allowing a person to immerse themselves. The main difference is that walk-in tubs have a door in the side. To prevent spills, you must close the door before filling the tub. This means that you must enter the tub before turning the water on and can only get back out after all the water drains.
Some of our popular products:
Premium Slide in Tub 52" x 32" x 41" Wheelchair Accessible
The Mb Tubs Premium Wheelchair Transfer Walk In Bathtub was designed to provide a safe and luxurious way for those who are wheelchair bound to bathe comfortably in the home and maintain their independence. This model allows bathers to transfer seamlessly from a wheelchair or seat into the tub through the tub's specially designed 34-inch doorway just by sitting down on the tub seat and swinging in their legs.
Basic Walk-in Tub 53" x 26" x 36" Low Threshold
The Mb Tubs Low 3-1/2 in. threshold Walk-In Bathtub let’s you enjoy a luxurious soak in comfort without worrying about getting in or out of your walk-in bathtub or worrying about slipping and falling. The low 3-1/2 in. threshold walk-in bathtub is perfect for people with injuries affecting stepping in, out or over bathtub thresholds.
Overall, with a few modifications the bathroom can become a safe and convenient environment for all the family.
Bathrooms can post dangers to people of every age. Slipping, tripping, and falling are very real risks of bathing and showering. But no one is as much at risk as the elderly— and not only because they are necessarily more likely to fall. For older adults, recovering from a fall can be difficult and sometimes impossible. Here at MedSupplyNow, we hope our buyer’s guide has given you some helpful tips and advice on factors to consider when adapting your bathroom to become a safer place.