Improving Bathroom Safety with Shower Chairs
My husband and I enjoy a large walk-in shower in our master bathroom. We have a wonderful showerhead and handheld shower and at the end of a hectic day it certainly provides a few glorious moments of sanctuary. I have easy access to all the products I use in the shower so I am squeaky clean when my shower is done! I am always careful when I enter the shower and I have everything arranged so that I feel safe from falls. The other evening I was running behind with all the things I needed to do and I was rushing to get done showering. Suddenly, as I bent my body to shave my leg, I lost my balance and slipped. Luckily, I did not fall but my head hit the shower wall very hard and I was startled. The thud must have been pretty loud because my husband came running into the bathroom. He helped me to the bench we have in the bathroom when it dawned on me that this was certainly the wake-up call I needed to come up with a simple DIY safety solution. I shopped for a shower chair the very next door. Since that experience, I use the shower chair each time I need to shave and on the nights I am tired I sit down to wash my hair. I embrace the shower seat and I am happy that I was wise enough to accept that I need it.
Can you imagine if you are that much older in years how it may feel when you are in the shower? Most often, balance is the issue or should I say lack of balance? Yet, some of my clients are still reluctant to use a medical alert system and a shower chair. I gently guide and we discuss all the ways that the bath chair may help them enjoy their shower experience and make it safer at the same time. Sometimes, all that is needed for an older person to remain independent is a bath and a shower stool. For most people independence is the key issue.
Bathrooms within residences differ in floor plans and size and you will find a selection of shower chairs to fit your needs. There are shower benches; shower chairs, shower seats with or without arms, wall-mountable shower chairs, tub transfer benches for simple slide-transfer, and some of the nicer chairs have compartments to hold shower products and a handheld shower. There are rolling shower chairs with wheels which are ideal for walk in showers, and can be easily wheeled in-and-out around the shower stall. Folding shower chairs are just right for small bathrooms. They can be folded-up and placed against a shower wall or in a cabinet out of the way after use. A bariatric shower chair is the correct choice for people who are heavy. It supplies a wider and deeper seat surface than the typical shower chair and is ideal for those who need additional stability within the shower.
Even in cases where an older person requires assistance from a caregiver, shower seats for elderly may provide that bit of self-confidence that the shower experience is comfortable and safe. It otherwise may have instilled fear and apprehension. For any one of us who is finding it a bit harder to approach the shower nowadays, shower chairs make it less difficult and a whole lot safer to enjoy the shower. Remember, it is always best to be safe, not sorry.
