A good shower seat in your bath is useful for both disabled persons and perfectly agile ones. The seat lets you sit back and relax in the bathroom while warm water falls over you soothing away the aches and pains which result from a hard day’s work. For the disabled, the shower seat is an indispensable addition to the bathroom which makes the daily cleansing routine easy and safe. To get the best and safest shower seats you should ensure that they meet the ADA guidelines.

Here are some features to look for in the seat:

Back and Armrests

Most shower seats come with back and armrests so that the user can lean back to rest while bathing, if necessary. The added support makes for a comfortable and relaxing bath. The armrests are used by the patient to brace herself when he is getting out of the bench.

You will find many models with back and arm rests which can be moved to either end of the bench. This is necessary so that you can use the bench with a right aligned or left aligned bath tub. The same bench can be used to move the patient on to the bed or couch by simply adjusting the movable armrest and back rest.

If you want a much more compact seat, consider shower stools. These come in durable, rust free plastic with aluminum framing. Shower stools are the most portable and compact seating option for a bathroom.

Adjustable Height

Make sure your shower seat is height adjustable. This is especially useful when more than one person will be using it. The height adjustment mechanism must be simple and the caregiver or even the user should be able to raise or lower the seat.

Good Grip on Wet Flooring

Check if the shower seat has a good grip. If your bathroom tends to get very slippery when wet, you can consider seats with suction cups on the feet. These cups hold the seat securely to the desired position in the bathroom and the risk of any accidents when the seat slips or slides is avoided.

Portability

If you are likely to use the shower seat in more than one bathroom in the house, then the portability of the seat is an important factor to consider. If you will use it only in a particular bathroom, you can look at permanent fixtures like ready to tile seats. These are affixed to the wall of the bathroom, are durable, and can be designed to blend in perfectly with your bathroom’s interiors.

Weight Bearing Capacity

The amount of weight the seat can bear depends on who will be using the seat primarily. For heavier patients, consider bariatric shower seats which are specially designed to take extra weight.

Safety, durability and capacity to bear weight should be the key considerations when you are buying shower seats. A look at the ADA guidelines will give you an idea of what to look for when shopping for a seat.

Author Bio: For more information on roll in shower or shower seats contact an accessibility expert at BarrierFree.org

Category: Home Management
Keywords: bath chairs