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Those who have physical impediments may find bathing to be a frustrating and complicated process, especially when using traditional bath or shower designs. Unlike walk in bathtubs, which are created for bath safety and comfort, standard showers usually don’t have anti-slip features and grab bars, and they lack the comfortable seating that can be of great assistance to people with limited mobility.

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.

Showers that are handicap friendly generally have a very low threshold or are completely level with the floor, providing maximum accessibility. However, walk in tubs let you opt for either a shower or a nice soak in the tub without the worry of how you will get in and out of the bath. Soaking in warm water isn’t a mere luxury – it can go a long way towards soothing aches and pains. Walk in baths often come with a shower head that can be either hand-held or wall mounted and can be set at the right height for your needs.

Today, there are a great number of different walk in bathtub models on the market. All of them feature an inward or outward opening door in the side of the tub. This makes the tub far safer and easier to step into than traditional baths. Outward opening doors are considered to be safer in some cases, as the door can be opened even when the tub is full in case of an emergency. However, most choose inward-opening doors. These are advantageous because they require less room, and they are “self sealing” due to the pressure of the water on them when the bath is full.

“Sit-in” tubs are typically the most popular models, offering a chair-height seat that is easy to get in and out of. These are convenient and excellent for both bathing and showering. However, some other models provide powered seats that can lower and lift you safely and easily in and out of a traditional height bath. This allows for a full-length bathing experience without the worry of slipping and falling. In addition to anti-slip surfaces and convenient grab bars for added safety, many tubs offer hydrotherapy jets as an option. Hydrotherapy is very therapeutic, aiding further in soothing aching joints and sore muscles.

Many different sizes and types of handicap accessible tubs are available to accommodate your needs and lifestyle. Short models are designed for various hard to fit places, including many that are specifically made to fit into the same space as a traditional shower stall. Long tubs are similar in size to traditional baths, allowing for more room to relax and enjoy a soak.

As you’ll need to be inside the tub both while it fills and empties, most walk in tubs have special features. One important feature is a thermostatic mixer, a temperature regulator that makes sure all water comes out at just the right temperature for your comfort and your safety. Many units have quick filling features as well. Another major issue is how quickly the water can drain. Seniors could catch a chill from sitting for several minutes in cool water as they wait for the tub to empty. Many models offer dual drain systems, or even pumps that can drain the unit in under a minute, to solve this problem.

Whether you’d like to soak in the tub daily, or you plan to mostly take showers but like the option for an occasional bath, walk in tubs simplify your life by offering the ultimate in comfort and safety.

Interested in learning more about walk in tubs? Pace Bathrooms is your premiere family owned and operated, full service company specializing in bath safety. They install every tub they sell and make sure that you are satisfied. Located in California, they sell and ship tubs all over the U.S. They can convert any room for safe bathing, no matter how large or small. Powered by SEO 2.0 Services

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 2:23 am and is filed under Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.