February 3, 2010
Bath Safety – Walk In Tubs Simplify Your Life
To those with limited mobility, standard showers and bathtubs can be difficult and unsafe to use. This can make the once simple task of bathing frustrating and complicated. Frequently, showers don\’t have the anti-slip protection and grab bars that are needed, or a seating area that can make the task easier. Walk in bathtubs, however, have all this and more, contributing to both safety and relaxation.
Handicap accessible bathtubs are a comfortable and easy-to-install alternative to traditional showers and provide all the safety features usual set-ups miss. Every year, manufacturers introduce handicap bathtubs that include height-adjustable, easy-to-use faucets and shower heads as well as strategically located grab bars. In other words, walk in tubs are all about your comfort and safety.
For the ultimate accessibility, handicap showers usually feature a very low threshold or are even level with the floor. However, walk in tubs provide the option of either taking a shower or enjoying a nice soak in warm water without worrying about how you will get in and out of a traditional bath. Being able to take a bath is not merely a luxury – soaking is well known to be therapeutic and aids in easing bodily aches and pains. Walk-in models usually come with a shower head that can be either hand-held or wall mounted and can be adjusted to the perfect height for you.
A surprising number of different walk in bathtub models and styles are manufactured today. An inward or outward opening door set in the side of the tub is the primary feature that sets them apart from other tub types. This door allows for a much safer and easier entry and exit into the tub than traditional baths. Outward opening doors may be safer in some cases, as the door can be opened even when the tub is full if there is an emergency. However, inward-opening doors are usually preferable in that they require less room, and they are also self-sealing due to the water pressure when the bath is full.
Excellent for either showering or bathing, \”sit-in\” tubs are generally the most popular models. They feature a chair-height seat that is easy to get in and out of. Other units feature powered seats that can lower and lift you safely and easily in and out of a traditional height bath. This allows you to enjoy full-length bathing without the worry of slipping and falling. While practically every model boasts anti-slip surfaces and convenient grab bars for added safety, many newer tubs also have hydrotherapy jet options. These jetted tubs have added therapeutic properties that can aid further in soothing aching joints and sore muscles.
These handicap accessible tubs are available in a wide variety of sizes to meet your needs and lifestyle. Shorter models can be found for a variety of hard to fit places, including bathtubs that are specifically made to take up the same amount of space as a standard shower stall. Long tubs are more spacious and similar to traditional bath sizes, giving you room to stretch out and relax.
Since being inside the tub is a necessity both while it fills and empties, walk in tubs have special features. The most important of these is a thermostatic mixer, a regulator that makes sure all water comes out at the right temperature for your safety and comfort. More advanced units may have a quick filling option. It is also important that the tub drain quickly. Seniors could catch a chill from sitting for several minutes in cool water while waiting for the water to drain. To solve this problem, many tubs offer dual drain systems or even pumps that can drain the unit in under a minute.
No matter if you would like to soak in the tub every day, or you primarily intend to take showers but would like the option for an occasional bath, walk in bathtubs make your life easy by providing maximum comfort and safety.
Want to find out more about walk in bathtubs? Pace Bathrooms is a family owned, full service company specializing in handicapped bathrooms. They can convert any room for bath safety, no matter how large or small. This article powered by SEO 2.0 Services
Filed under Health by Stephen Daniels