Elderly Bathtubs Prevent Injuries While Bathing

Posted by Safety Bath Walk in Tubs on May 2nd, 2017

Bathtubs designed for the elderly are gaining in popularity as their ability to help prevent some of the biggest at-home accidents becomes more widely known. This type of specialized tub can help prevent trips, slips and falls in the bathroom, making them an important addition to any home where mobility issues are becoming a concern. For seniors especially, this type of tub can prevent serious injuries, including broken hips that all too often strip older people of their independence permanently.

Elderly bathtubs are different from traditional tubs in a number of regards. It’s those differences that make them so strongly recommended by healthcare providers and other medical professionals. Here are just a few of the ways an elderly bathtub can prevent injury:

• Removing the perilous “step-over” – Standard bathtub models require people to take a step that is roughly 20 inches off the ground to access water. During this step over process, people with mobility and balance issues may lose their footing. If that happens, serious injuries, such as broken hips, head wounds and more may occur. By offering a swing-in or swing-out door, an elderly bathtub eliminates this perilous step. These tubs require only a slight step off the floor to access the interior.
• Providing safety seats –In order to use a traditional bathtub, elderly people must sit down at floor level within the tub. While getting down may be easy for some, getting back up may not be. Elderly tubs tend to offer safety seats seniors may use instead of fully submerging in water. When combined with shower hoses, these seats and specialty tubs enable seniors to bathe in privacy without concerns about how they will get out of the tub.
• Offering slip-resistant flooring – Most elderly bathtubs are designed from top to bottom with safety in mind. That means the flooring is also addressed. To prevent slips when surfaces get slick due to water and soap, these tubs tend to offer slip-resistant flooring.
• The safety bars – Grab bars are built into many elderly tubs by design. When they’re not, these features are very simple to add. The bars enhance safety by giving seniors something to steady themselves on as they get into and out of the tub. They can also help those who wish to submerge in a tub’s waters to enjoy a long soak and those who opt for using the seating instead.

Elderly bathtubs are designed inside and out to prevent accidents that commonly occur in the bathroom. For seniors, a simple slip and fall may result in serious injury and consequences that rob them of their ability to enjoy independence. As more people learn about the benefits of tubs designed for the elderly, these models are becoming popular in homes across the country. Many people, in fact, are choosing them whether they have elderly loved ones in their homes or not just because of the safety features they provide.

About the Author:

Safety Bath Walk in Tubs has been manufacturing tubs since 1992.  Our tubs are made with the highest quality materials, from one piece Fiberglass backed acrylic to aluminum door systems with auto locks. We have Walk in Tubs to fit all applications and it is our duty to ensure that we fit the right tub to the individual clients needs without any high pressure or intrusive sales people.