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Paying for Senior Care
Handicap Bathtubs
Aug 03, 2016
Being handicapped can severely limit a person's freedom to bathe independently for many possible reasons. It does not necessarily mean that they cannot bathe by themselves outright, but traveling from the living room to the upstairs bathroom can be a deal breaker with many handicapped persons, and it discourages them from bathing altogether.
That is why we've compiled a list of bathing solutions that make it as easy, effortless and supporting of independence as possible.
In this article:
- Classes of people that need handicap bathtubs.
- Arthritis.
- Lower back pains.
- Rheumatism.
- Diabetes.
- Cerebral palsy.
- Portable handicap bathtubs.
- Handicap conversions for regular bathtubs.
Let us first examine the classes of people that need handicap bathtubs in the first place and why. For a brief list of these classes, click here.
Arthritis
Close to 10 percent of American adults are disabled due to their struggle with arthritis. The two main kinds of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OA occurs as a natural consequence of aging where the cartilage in the joints slowly dissolves and causes pain in the area. RA, however, results in the same but through a flaw in the body's immunity system that starts to attack the joint's lining. The joint pains can occur in the wrists, shoulders, knees, elbows, spine, ankles, knuckles, and hips. Depending on how severe the pain is, this can limit your body's range of motion - something that handicap bathtubs can treat.
Lower Back Pains
As mentioned earlier, conditions such as arthritis can lead to lower back pains. A strain on the muscles or ligaments of the back is the most common cause of lower back pains in 70-85% of all adults. In a lot of patient trials, the main counter method of treatment has been found to be hydrotherapy as opposed to land exercises. This is thanks in part to the active relaxant agents of air and water massages, as well as the buoyant quality of the water itself.
Rheumatism
Rheumatism is one of the marks of arthritis-related joint pains and inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by a rebelling immune system that causes joint pains, stiffness, fatigue, hair loss, seizures, and rashes.
Diabetes
Diabetes can lead to severe levels of immobility considering that 30-35% of patients with type I and type II diabetes have been linked to conditions of neuropathy, causing a loss of sensation in the ankles and knees. A sensory deficit such as this can trigger ulcers due to instances of undetected heat contact and excessive pressure in the area in question. A chain of events starting with ulcers can later lead to Charcot foot (further sensory deficit), limb deformation, and possible amputation.
Hydrotherapy can help in the early stages of neuropathy, prior to developing ulcers, by treating damaged muscle fibers, bones, and skin cuts. It does this by improving blood circulation and accelerating the process of delivering healing agents in the blood cells to the parts of the body that need them. Handicap bathtubs with a legs-only massage system make this process faster and easier than ever before. Click here to learn more.
Cerebral Palsy
The closest estimates conclude that one out of every three people with cerebral palsy can't walk, and three out of every four suffer from movement-related pain. No conclusive evidence as of yet has been disclosed about how handicap bathtubs can help adults with cerebral palsy, but some speculate that a child with this disease may be able to train him or herself to bathe independently before they undergo severe stages of immobility.
Click here for more information on handicap bathtubs for children.
The benefits of hydrotherapy are endless and can easily improve one's quality of life when used properly. Learn more about hydrotherapy's ability to treat diseases here.
Portable Handicap Bathtubs
Heavenly is the first manufacturer to produce portable handicap bathtubs as an innovative break to make bathing units, from an engineering point of view, more accessible to us.
Portable tubs shorten the gap between them and the user by making relocating easier when it's time to bathe. Making bathing easier for handicapped users is all about the level of convenience domestic spaces provide, and you're not going to get more convenient than this.
These models roll on lockable casters and can be positioned virtually anywhere in your house. All that's needed is a water hookup replaced with a "quick connection box" (shown here) which allows the water to reach the tap, and get caught in the drain & overflow without leaks.
Conversion Kits
If walk-in bathtubs are too expensive for you, a conversion can be a more affordable alternative. You wouldn't be getting the wide host of therapeutic features, but you can definitely benefit from the standard safety features found in all handicap bathtubs.
Anti-slip floors, lateral access benches & seats (for wheelchair-bound users), custom safety bars, a low-threshold entrance, and leak-resistant doors are all possible with conversion kits. Click here to know how.
Choices vary with conversion kits as they do depend on the style of your existing unit - whether it is a regular bathtub or shower stall. In the case of shower stalls, a simple ramp can be added to make it wheelchair-accessible without having to worry about transferring yourself from seat to seat. When it comes to regular bathtubs, however, prices could soar close to $1,000 without the costs of installation.
The key benefits of conversion kits include:
- They are hundreds if not thousands of dollars cheaper than fully-fledged handicap tubs.
- They can support wheelchair access.
- Incorporating the standard safety features found in factory handicap tubs.
- No leaks.
- Easy and quick to install within a matter of 2-4 hours.
- They don't require a removal of your existing tub or shower stall.
- They don't require a bathroom renovation or remodel to install.
For an informative showcasing of advanced bathing accessibility devices such as bath lifts, transfer benches & seats, power seats, and mobile seats, click here.
