Making bathing easier for the elderly.
With mobility issues and increased risk of falls many elderly people avoid taking a bath. There are several products available to make bathing easier for the elderly.
The ideal solution is an electric bathing aid which automatically lowers them into the bath and then raises them out when finished. These are expensive and not everyone has thousands of pounds to spend.
Cheaper alternatives are seats that fit into the bath like the one shown above. This slatted bath seat
Alternatives include a bath seat that fits over the bath and allows the user to sit on it and swing their legs round. The seat swivels to assist with this. This type of seat is better suited to someone who has an over bath shower. It allows them to shower safely without the risk of falling. These seats cost less than £90 in some cases.
A cheaper alternative to the seat above is a slatted version. This is more of a perch and doesn’t offer the same degree of safety as it does not have a back.
All these products can be used in conjunction with step products outside of the bath to make it easier.
It is always worth bearing in mind that you may be able to get some equipment loaned free of charge from the occupational therapy department at your local hospital and that some local councils will provide grants towards the cost of alterations to the home for wet rooms.
Making bathing easier for the elderly also makes it safer and maintains independence for longer.
