All You Need to Know About Bath Seats And Bath Steps

Author: Derry Hall

A slippery floor in a bathroom can increase the risk of slip and fall injuries - especially for the elderly and people with mobility issues. Therefore, health professionals recommend using bathroom aids to minimize the risk of falls or slips after a thorough assessment of the patient's condition.

These aids can not only help prevent fall injuries but also enable people with mobility issues to use the bathroom conveniently and retain their independence.

Among a number of bathroom aids out there, bath seats and bath steps are quite common and popular. They not only ensure safety in the bathroom but also help relieve strained muscles and pain.

Keep reading to know in detail how these two aids can be beneficial for you.

1. Bath Seat

A bath seat provides a platform to sit on which helps to get in and out of the bath. It is lightweight, features a handle for extra support, and generally has adjustable height or width.

For people with mobility issues or the elderly, weakened muscle and bones or other medical conditions combined like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's Disease, etc. may lead to balance issues. A bath chair or seat can be of help to tackle such conditions.

Advantages

  • Enhanced Safety

    A bath seat is safe even when completely immersed in water. It reduces the chance of falling and in a way helps assure the users that they are safe and won't fall. This assurance enables the user to relax and bathe enjoyably without worries.

  • Improved Hygiene

    At times, the elderly people fear taking a bath and start avoiding it out of the fear of falling. If prolonged, lack of hygiene may lead to infection or other skin problems.

    Installing a bath aid like a seat reassures them that they are safe and encourages them to use the bathroom without any fears. Once they gain enough confidence, they stop refraining from bathing.

  • This, in turn, helps maintain their personal hygiene.in a better way.

  • Increased Independence, Confidence, and Freedom

    Asking for help in routine hygiene tasks could be embarrassing sometimes and make people feel vulnerable and dependent. One of the biggest benefits this aid offers is that it helps reduce dependence on care providers. This way, it plays a crucial role in increasing independence and self-confidence.

Bath Step

A bath step is another convenient and affordable aid to make bathing easy for the elderly or those with mobility issues. It is a stool or box with a stable and adjustable platform to provide assistance when stepping in and out of the bath.

As people grow older, they may start feeling a loss in their strength. Sometimes, a small action like lifting the foot can also feel difficult.

Here comes into play a bath step that helps reduce the efforts to get in or out of the bathtub. Secondly, by providing an elevated surface to the user, this aid helps prevent fall or slip injuries to a great extent.

Advantages of a Bath Step

  • Some variants have a padded top surface. This padding helps ensure a secure, non-slippery, and a comfortable hold.
  • In case the bathtub is slightly more elevated than normal, positioning a bath step next to it adds some extra inches and can help get in and out of the tub more easily.
  • Owing to it being lightweight, shifting this aid from one place to another is easier. Also, all its variants generally come with built-in handles that make their positioning easier.
  • As this aid eliminates the need to lift the leg very high, people with posterior pain can get relief with minimised movements and alleviate their pain.
  • Generally, materials used in a bath step are non-corrosive like aluminum that ensure its durability and longevity.

Summing Up

Stepping in and out of the bathtub and shower area safely is of utmost important to prevent the risk of fall injuries. Bathroom aids like bath seats and bath steps help minimize the risk of falls and make the use of bathroom safe and convenient for the elderly and people with mobility limitations. These bath aids not only add to the safety but also help increase self-reliance and confidence of users.