Where to Find Quality Handicap Bathtubs?

One of life’s little luxuries is a nice, hot bubble bath. Unfortunately, for many people this becomes outdated when age and/or disability makes the bathtub a treacherous place to use. The conventional ‘fix’ of putting a plastic seat and some grab bars into an existing tub, while better than nothing, still has a lot of flaws. Many people cannot lift their legs far enough to climb into and out of the tub. With the seat just resting on the bottom of the tub, chances for slippage and injury are always there. All this is a thing of the past with handicap bathtubs. These tubs are specifically designed to be user-friendly for those who want a lovely hot bubble bath, but cannot longer safely climb into and out of a conventional tub. All the tubs do have a very small step-up necessary in order to enter.

Handicap bathtubs come in a variety of sizes and styles. They all have a door allowing easy access to the bathing area. Once shut this door is watertight. Many handicap bathtubs will fit into the space left by a conventional bathtub. Some are the same height as a conventional bathtub with a seat that is ten inches high, while others are taller with seventeen-inch high seats. These taller bathtubs may be thirty-seven or even forty-seven inches high to give the bather a total immersion experience. If you get a handicap bathtub that has a one-piece construction design, there is less likelihood of the tub flexing in normal usage. Flexing may cause leaks. Look for a lifetime warranty on the frame, door seal, and other crucial parts of the bathtub. There are tubs that offer almost full immersion and easy wheelchair transfer. Some designs have hydrotherapy air jets and whirlpool water jet hydrotherapy. A built-in grab bar and a hand-held showerhead for ease in rinsing make these handicap bathtubs truly user-friendly.

The handicap bathtubs have inward-opening doors, which keep drips from getting onto the bathroom floor when a person exits the tub. These doors may be either a convenient width for entry or exit of a person with a cane, or extra wide for a person who needs to transfer from a wheelchair or walker. Some of the doors are even shaped specifically for wheelchair access.

For those on a budget, or who wish to visit friends or relatives and still want to be able to get clean, a lifter may be the way to go. The lifter can make any tub much more handicap accessible. You can find a lifter that is only 20.5 pounds and folds into an easy-carry position. When placed into the tub, some lifters can recline up to fifty degrees. It can be placed into a conventional bathtub without the need for tools, and the seat height can be adjusted up to 18.5 inches for certain models.

Handicap bathtubs may range from about $2000 to $4500 or even more, depending on the features that are wanted. If you are in the market for a handicap bathtub, do your research, and you will be able to find the one with the features you want in the price range you can afford.