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.

A majority of the most popular models are termed as “sit-in” tubs and feature a chair-height seat that is easy to get in and out of. These are great for showering as well as bathing. Alternately, other models feature powered seats that can lower and lift you safely and easily in and out of a traditional height bath. This allows you to experience full-length bathing without the worry of slipping and falling. In addition to anti-slip surfaces and convenient grab bars for added safety, quite a few models also feature hydrotherapy jets, which have therapeutic properties that can aid further in easing achy joints and sore muscles.

These handicap accessible tubs are available in a wide variety of sizes to meet your needs and lifestyle. Shorter models can be found for a variety of hard to fit places, including bathtubs that are specifically made to take up the same amount of space as a standard shower stall. Long tubs are more spacious and similar to traditional bath sizes, giving you room to stretch out and relax.

As you’ll need to be inside the tub both while it fills and empties, most walk in tubs have special features. One important feature is a thermostatic mixer, a temperature regulator that makes sure all water comes out at just the right temperature for your comfort and your safety. Many units have quick filling features as well. Another major issue is how quickly the water can drain. Seniors could catch a chill from sitting for several minutes in cool water as they wait for the tub to empty. Many models offer dual drain systems, or even pumps that can drain the unit in under a minute, to solve this problem.

Whether you’d like to soak in the tub daily, or you plan to mostly take showers but like the option for an occasional bath, walk in tubs simplify your life by offering the ultimate in comfort and safety.

Interested in learning more about walk in tubs? Pace Bathrooms is your premiere family owned and operated, full service company specializing in bath safety. They install every tub they sell and make sure that you are satisfied. Located in California, they sell and ship tubs all over the U.S. They can convert any room for safe bathing, no matter how large or small. Powered by SEO 2.0 Services