A bath tub walk in introduction

Bath tub walk in improve the safety and quality of life for many older people who have limited mobility, something that traditional baths can struggle with.

Many people (including seniors) enjoy soaking in the bath and walk-in baths offer a safe and convenient way for seniors to bathe.

Soaking in a bath is a relaxing and enjoyable activity.

Stepping into the bath can make it safer and easier for seniors.

Most models have inward swinging doors, massage functions and safety features such as grab rails and non-slip surfaces.

The benefits

They are safer and easier to use than conventional baths.

They are designed to walk in, sit down, fill the bath, wash/soak, drain the bath and walk out.

They usually have hand-held shower heads, grab bars.

Some brands also have a complete bath/shower system that can be used as a shower.

This makes it versatile for those who want to use it without both a bath and a shower.

pop tub

Who should use one?

For people with reduced mobility (reduced strength, balance and endurance) who prefer to take a bath rather than a shower.

It is ideal for older people who can soak in a bath as it relaxes muscles, reduces pain and has a therapeutic effect.

A good walking bath will have:

Quick drain function -as the user has to sit in the bath while it fills and drains.

Water capacity – Some water heaters do not have enough capacity to hold large amounts of water, so a smaller model may be advantageous.

Step-in height -Step-in height is important.

Shower option -Shower possible

Grab bars -Built in grab bars to prevent falls

Non-slip surface -Tub floor and top of tub are non-slip

Place to store soap and shampoo -Designed to store bath items

that might otherwise fall to the bottom of the bath and be difficult to retrieve

Faucet – easy to reach seat for seniors of all heights and sizes

Quick fill taps – this also relates to water pressure, where older people have to sit and wait for the bath to fill up

Massage jets – relaxation facilities for the bath

Heater – This keeps the bath water warm in the bath, which prevents it from cooling down when bathing.

Inner and outer doors

There are two styles of door: swinging inwards and swinging outwards.

Inner doors.

Doors that cannot be accidentally opened to swing inwards
As the water fills the bath, the seal becomes more effective
The door does not come into contact with other bathroom fittings (e.g. toilets, doors, etc.)
There is no risk of water dripping from the door onto the floor, which could lead to a fall
It is easier to close the inward swinging door as you do not have to reach for the bath area

stone resin tubs

Outward-facing swing doors.

Opening the door may result in water dripping on the floor after bathing – this poses a risk of falling
Things to consider before you buy
There are several things to consider.

Hot water tank capacity – some baths require a large amount of water to fill up.

It is important to know how much hot water is in your existing tank

as this may affect the type of bath you are buying or whether you need to upgrade the tank
Do you want to take a bath? –

Many baths also come with a bath surround and a shower mixer to use the bath as a shower.
The size of the bathroom –

Does it need to be refurbished or is there room for the existing bath?

and whether you should also consider upgrading other bathroom fittings, such as a higher toilet and/or additional grab rails.

Contact us to find out more about Bathrooms News.