Shower Gurneys Improve Life for the Disabled and the Caregiver

Shower gurneys, also known as shower trolleys, serve a dual purpose: transporting an immobile patient to a bathing area and providing a surface upon which to support the entire weight of the patient's body during showering. For patients suffering from a variety of conditions that may make it difficult to sit up, the shower gurney is an invaluable caregiver tool. According to a recent report published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), conditions that limit mobility may include "degenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease; injuries such as stroke, and traumatic brain or spine injuries; and congenital abnormalities such as cerebral palsy. Other examples of conditions that may limit mobility are obesity, arthritis, lower limb ischemia, pulmonary disorders and balance disorders."

Shower Gurney Styles

Shower gurneys are available in several different styles, so that every patient with mobility issues can enjoy the refreshing feeling of a shower. Styles include fixed height and adjustable height, in a choice of battery-operated and hydraulic versions. Some models fold for easier storage, and almost all are available in pediatric sizes.

Fixed height shower gurneys are most often constructed of furniture grade PVC tubing. Some styles offer a waterproof, perforated, foam pad. Other styles can safely hold the body weight of patients up to 900 lbs.

Flexibility

The ability to adjust the height of the table means caregivers are assured of their own comfort when bathing the immobile patient. Some adjustable height shower gurney styles offer a motorized mechanism that helps to safely tilt the patient to the side, allowing access to the patient's back. Others offer a side-mounted lifting column, ensuring the safety of both patient and caregiver when transferring the patient from the gurney to the bed. One battery-operated, adjustable height style has sides that can be automatically adjusted to allow for both deep and shallow bathing options, serving the patient's needs and helping the caregiver to provide total patient hygiene.

Making Life a Little Better and Safer

Patients are individuals, and the bathing methods they prefer are just as individual. Some patients prefer showers; others prefer baths. The way in which a caregiver chooses to bathe the patient is based partly on patient preferences, but the patient's wellness level and other factors also play a part. Patient care facilities are interested in serving the patient's needs, while protecting the health of caregivers, a group with a higher than average incidence of back injuries. Other concerns high on the priority list are the ability to provide efficient care while also saving time. The wide variety of shower gurney styles available today make patient bathing comfortable for the patient and safe for the caregiver and, in most cases, conserve environmental resources, such as electricity and water.

So, if you are the caregiver or the disabled, a shower gurney gives some semblance of normality and dignity to the process of bathing that most people take for granted. Some even have adjustable headrests, so the patient can enjoy the warm cascading water, without feeling like he/she is going to drown. It can actually be something to look forward to again.