Long Term Care - Getting Out of the Tub

Everyone enjoys a warm bath. Bathing is crucial to long term health. Bathing is relaxing, soothing, and promotes blood flow. For some though, bathing has risks of falling and injury. A host of new products can make bathing safe and comfortable as well. Arthritis sufferers can find relief in a nice warm bath or shower, but also find a slippery surface keeping some suffers out of the water. Others who would enjoy the tub find it difficult to enter and exit over a high tub side. There is help with those having problems getting in and out of the tub or those having problems standing.

For support while standing, a tension pole can be of assistance. Like a pole in a subway car, it is mounted between the ceiling and floor, providing a comfortable height to hold onto.

A bath grab mounted on a wall also provides something to hold onto. Be sure to select a comfortable size for gripping suitable to your needs. Many styles fit right over the tub edge without damaging to the tub. A good bath grab has various angles allowing easy grabbing while you maneuver in the tub.

Grab bars and tension poles vary in lengths, textures and colors. Finding one to fit your needs and decor should be easy. Mounted on the wall and in strategic locations, grab bars help provide support. Taking appropriate precautions before mounting a grab bar will prevent a grab bar from coming off. Be suer that the wall is capable of providing enough support before using it as a mounting surface. Towel bars a not a suitable substitution, as they are not meant to support the weight of a person. A professional should be consulted before installing a grab bar or tension pole.

For assistance with poor balance, a transfer bench allows one to sit and slide into the tub.

Sitting on the outside of the tub, the bather slides their body onto a bench in the tub. Lifting one leg at a time, the bather moves from the outside of the tub to the inside. Once in the tub, the bather remains above the water, at the same height as the top of the tub.

A bath lift allows bathers to submerge into the water. The lift lowers the bather into or out of the water with the push of a button.

A bath seat or shower stool allows sitting in the tub or shower comfortably.

Grip covers enable the bather to grip and twist existing round faucet handles with less effort.

Slipping and sliding is prevented with a non-slip bath mat or non-slip tread strips in the bath or shower.

Rinsing off is easy with a hand-held shower. As part of a shower head or connected to the tub faucet, it is easy to direct the water where needed.

There are also control valves that prevents scalding for those who cannot feel water temperature.

Other tools that assist with bathing:

Sponges with handles come in differnet lengths to ease stretching and twisting while washing back, feet, and toes.

A back scrubber with a "U" shaped handles that allows reaching your back without raising your arm or lifting your shoulder.

A hair washer with a long handle makes it convenient to wash and rinse your hair without lifting your arms.

The soap bag has a long handle that attaches to the wall. No matter how the soap falls, the soap is always within reach.