Make Your Life Easy With A Walk In Bathtub
Written by Stephen Daniels   
Wednesday, 03 February 2010 08:53
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.
by StephenDaniels


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.

An easy to install and comfortable alternative to traditional showers, walk in tubs have many features and amenities designed to make life easier. More and more handicap accessible units are being manufactured that include handy grab bars, height-adjustable shower heads and easy to use faucets. These tubs can contribute greatly to 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.

An astonishing variety of walk in bathtubs are available on the market today. What they all hold in common is some kind of inward or outward opening door in the side of the tub. This allows for a low threshold that is far safer and easier to step into than in 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, inward-opening doors are advantageous because they are "self sealing" due to the pressure of the water on them when the bath is full, and they also require less room.

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.

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.

Unlike traditional tubs, walk-in models require you to be inside the tub both as it fills and as it drains. This necessitates several special features, the most important of which is a thermostatic mixer. This regulator ensures that all water comes out of the faucet at just the right temperature for your comfort and your safety. Some models have quick filling features as well. Another major issue is how quickly the tub empties. Seniors could catch a chill from sitting for several minutes in cool water as they wait for the tub to drain. Dual drain systems, or even a pump that can drain the tub in less than a minute, are options that some models offer to solve this problem.

Whether you mostly prefer showers with just the occasional bath, or you'd like to be able to soak in the tub every day, walk in bathtubs make your life easy by offering the ultimate in safety and in comfort.

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