Why the Disabled and Elderly Need to Use Shower Chairs

If you have mobility or balance difficulties, taking a shower or a bath can be really risky business. For most people, it is a time to wash away the cares of the day, or wake up to the start of a new day. But, if you face physical challenges, the act of bathing can be scary at best. Instead of putting your health at risk, you should know why the disabled and elderly need to use shower chairs.

I know. I speak from personal experience. I have been living with cerebral palsy all of my life. In the past, when I was a lot younger, stronger, and skinnier, I used to lift myself in/out of the tub. Precariously, I have perched on the side of the tub and transferred my body to a kitchen chair or commode-if it was close enough.

Unfortunately, even under the best of circumstances, I have occasionally slipped back into the tub and acquired the bruises to prove it. However, as I got older, bathing became more precarious. As my disability becomes more of a challenge with age, or during pregnancy, getting in/out of the tub is not worth the risk. So, now I have a shower chair.

Safety

For the first time in almost 30 years of living, I enjoy the simply pleasure of a shower. Forget bathing out of the sink, because using the tub is too scary. Now, I can safely sit down and not have to worry about slipping in the tub and take the chance of drowning, if I knock myself out. At the very least, I will not have a goose egg or headache to match.

Relaxation

If you face the challenges of poor mobility and balance, then you already know that bathing without aids is anything but relaxing. Your nerves and muscles are on edge, and you are always on the alert for the slightest slip. It is enough to get back out in one piece.

With a shower chair, you can actually relax and enjoy getting clean and being under the warm spray. In fact, you can stay for as long as the hot water lasts. Combined with carefully installed hand grips, you can easily transfer your body to safety, even if you are normally confined to a wheelchair because your legs cannot do their job.

Accommodation

In all honesty, my mobility has become more limited with age. I am slower, heavier, and my crutches have been traded in for wheels a few years ago. As a result, traversing the distance between wheelchair and shower chair has become a greater challenge. No problem! I have found a different style of shower chair to accommodate my needs.

For example, to make the transition safer, I now have a shower chair with a wider seat. A portion of the chair remains outside the shower. Now, I can sit down and slide my body across, until I am positioned safely for a nice warm spray. In addition, a hand grip makes shifting position easier.

So, now you know why I think the elderly and disabled need to use shower chairs. Can you relate? Please do not risk a fall that could put you in the hospital, cause you great pain, or ruin your ability to be independent. Get a shower chair. You can actually relax and let the hot water soothe your cares and pains away, in a style of chair that meets your specific needs.