One of the essential tasks of caring for our elderly parents or grandparents is bathing. Helping them safely shower or wash often presents some challenges. One way to reduce the problems is to consider one of the best shower chairs for older people and choose the one that best fits your needs.

Types of Bath Chairs

Bath chairs, including a shower bench, allow the person to sit or lie in the tub. This allows more of a bathing experience, as opposed to a shower. There are a few types of bath chairs available. Some provide more stability for people with more movement challenges. Others help those more able to feel safe in the tub.

You Might Choose to Use a Bath Chair for Your Elderly Loved One

Consider One of Several Reasons

• Some elderly cannot easily sit on a shower chair. Perhaps they are unsteady or even unable to sit at all.

• The feel of warm water and the use of bath chairs for seniors, such as the best shower stool for elderly, helps to comfort the person.

• Thus, immersing or partially immersing their body in the tub of water provides a soothing and relaxing experience. Bath chairs for seniors can enhance safety and stability during bathing, making it an even more enjoyable and worry-free experience.

• Some injuries need soaking. Even if the part can be absorbed allows out of the tub, soaking in a tub helps facilitate the comfort level.

Possible Reasons to Not Use a Bath Chair Include the Following

• Some elderly are uncomfortable being lowered into the bathtub, even on a steady device.

• For some, immersion in water might elicit fear. We find this in some dementia patients and also in people who don’t like water.

• If the person has a bandage or recent surgery, the bath chair might not be an option.

• Shampooing their hair can be more challenging with some bath chairs. If this is a concern, look for one that accommodates hair washing.

• A bath seat is usually a single-purpose option. It is only used for bathing.

Shower Chairs

A shower chair allows one to sit all or primarily out of the water to get cleaned safely.

Choose a Shower Chair Over a Bath Chair for Several Reasons

• If the person has recently had surgery or any injury that should not be immersed in water but can be safely showered, the chair prevents immersion.

• Some people don’t like to lie in the tub. Some dementia patients may feel threatened by the tub but are comfortable in a shower chair.

• When the person needs thorough cleaning after a bowel movement on the skin, the best shower seats for seniors, such as a shower chair, allows for complete cleaning without spreading any soil onto the body.

• For some people, the shower chair allows easier access to hair washing.

• Shower chairs provide a steady place to help with other essential grooming, such as shaving, hair styling, and cleansing.

Situations Where Shower Chairs Are Less Useful

• If the person cannot sit, even with assistance, none of the shower chairs will work, as well as a bath seat or a bed bath.

• Some elderly can sit but are less comfortable in that position. They might prefer one of the bath seats.

• Some shower chairs have limited weight capacity. If your elderly loved one needs a more prominent seat, the safest shower chair for elderly, such as a bath seat, might be a better option. This is especially true if the person is not able to sit comfortably.

Key Features to Look for in Shower Chairs and Bath Seats

• Adjustable height seat enables the patient to sit more comfortably and assists in safety when sitting or standing. The seat might have adjustable legs and a separate adjustment for the seat itself.

• A Comfortable backrest, especially padded shower chairs, is necessary. A shower or bath might take some time with the patient. Having a comfortable backrest, preferably padded, allows for his comfort.

• If the bath seat uses suction cups to support the swivel seat, ensure they are solid and sturdy.

• The shower or bath chair should include a heavy-duty framework and seating. The patient may be seriously injured if the seat moves about, shakes, or even comes apart.

• The shower or bath seat should have a wide seat that accommodates your loved one quickly, with appropriate vertical grab bar locations. This ensures both comfort and safety during the bath or shower.

• Padded handles allow the patient to grip firmly, thus avoiding slipping and possibly getting injured.

• For comfort, a padded seat is necessary. It also prevents skin irritation and potential bruising.

• For safety, the unit should have non-slip feet with slip-resistant rubber tips. A bath seat sloping in the tub or a shower chair moving about is quite apt to cause an accident. At the very least, it is uncomfortable for the patient and the caregiver.

• The chair should fold for easy storage between uses. Unless you have a large room, the shower chair needs a place to keep it between uses.

• Water is slippery. The chair needs to ensure sturdiness in wet conditions. If it slips around the water area, the patient may get injured.

• Most don’t think about the removable backrest until they need it. A removable back provides easier access for the caregiver to bathe the patient and more comfort as the patient need not lean forward.

• It might seem obvious, but ensure the chair has suitable drainage holes to prevent water pooling on the seat.

• Select a unit specifically designed for the intended use, including proper handicap shower bar placement, rather than using a generic folding chair that may lack essential safety features such as padded armrests, height-adjustable legs, and drainage holes.

Other Key Features and Tips

The caregiver needs easy access to help the person bathe, keeping safety in mind. If the seat height causes this problem or the seat is too small and unsafe, it makes giving the shower more challenging and risks the safety of the patient and the caregiver.

Most of our elderly loved ones have limited mobility. Those built-in handles are pretty helpful if they are sturdy and easily accessible. Even if the patient can stand, the bathroom floor is often slippery. Consider using a large, sturdy mat on the floor when showering the patient.   Bathtubs can prove quite tricky unless the person is using a bath seat. If possible, keep all objects away in the bathroom and move slowly to ensure safety.  

If You Have the Option to Add or Renovate

When it comes to ensuring the safety of our cherished elders during bathing, strategically you can add a bathroom grab bars. These essential fixtures provide much-needed support and stability, reducing the risk of slips and falls. The optimal locations for these grab bars include near the shower or bathtub entrance, inside the shower area, and beside the toilet. By placing them within reach and following safety guidelines, we can create a secure bathing environment that empowers our seniors to maintain their independence while prioritizing their well-being.

Some valuable additions or renovations can make a big difference in the safety and well-being of your loved one. Most know that having sturdy handles called grab bars within easy reach helps prevent falls. These must be strong, durable, and in the best position for easy reach, including the option to add a vertical grab bar location.

A shower with a large open area makes showering in any bathroom much more effortless. Add a large bench, slip-proof mat, and grab bars for extra safety. While the court might be built-in, having adjustable legs often makes height adjustment easier. And the built-in bench will not have removable arms or a removable backrest. For these, they use a shower chair that can be removed when not in use makes more sense. Having a shower seat that can be adjusted is just part of the picture.

What About a Walk-in Tub?

If your loved one can stand safely, the walk-in tub might be an option. You can also add a shower grab bars location to ensure their safety. Some even have a quick drain to prevent the patient from chilling during a slow draining process. However, they are more challenging for caregivers to assist with the shower or bath, so keep that in mind when choosing. Some older adults need more help bathing to ensure good hygiene. We’ve put together some tips to help with those issues, too. And if they argue about showering, check out our tips on avoiding conflict over hygiene.  

Transfer Benches

Many elderly find it difficult to move onto the shower chair or the bath seat. Using one of the transfer benches makes this transition much more straightforward. These benches fit in the shower, allowing one to sit on one side and get off the other. With the assistant’s help, the elderly move onto the shower or bath seat much more manageably and with less risk of falling.

Small Spaces

Please look at other options if the bathroom you must use is small and not easy to maneuver around. We’ve seen this in some tiny mobile homes with a half-tub rather than a full-sized one.  

Sometimes this can be removed and replaced with a small shower stall. The small space may still be an issue, but it allows a bit easier time adding a shower chair.   While you might wish to remove a wall and make that small space larger, that is often unrealistic. You might need to consider a sponge bath at the sink or shower. Or perhaps even in the kitchen if the spread in the bathroom is too small.

Finding the Best Shower Chairs or Bath Seats

Consider a few different aspects to get the best shower chair or bath seat. Please take a look at the points and key features we’ve provided. You also need to consider the basic needs of the person using the bath bench, shower chair, or bath seat. With these key features in mind, you should be able to safely and comfortably bathe your loved one.  

The video showcases the best shower chairs for the elderly with varying features such as adjustable backrests, heights and armrests. They are lightweight, durable, and made of sturdy materials like anodized aluminum and plastic. The chairs also have non-slip rubber feet and drainage holes for added safety.

Video Credits: @gearresearch

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Bathing Tips (Caregiver Action Network)