8 Reasons Walk In Tubs Are Better Than Regular Bathtubs
Are you still holding on to that worn out bathtub that seems to be getting harder and harder to clean as it does on the skin? Below, we’ve compiled a list of all the shortcomings of a traditional bathtub that we take for granted and how a walk-in tub answers those shortcomings.
High Step-In
Seniors that strain too much when lifting their legs for any reason find it especially difficult to lift them over a 14″ – 30″ traditional tub wall. The impersonal and generic designs of traditional bathtubs are incapable of maintaining a senior’s bathing independence without the help of costly extensions.
A walk-in tub’s step-in height ranges between 0″ and 9″ from the floor. A senior would never have to lift their leg over a high wall to practice their bathing independence ever again.
No Independence
Studies show that seniors prefer everything they use on a regular basis to be easy to reach – take that away from them and they will be too depressed to do anything at all. A senior is happiest when they’re truly independent of helpers and caregivers.
Walk-in tubs take all the safety precautions into consideration when built and designed. With a low entrance threshold, conveniently positioned safety bars, anti-slip floor, and wheelchair support, we can ensure that senior will have all that they need to regain their bathing independence.
Limited Safety
As people get older, they become more and more prone to slip-and-fall accidents, especially in the bathtub – where most accidents occur. Traditional bathtubs have no answer to this problem because they have a generic design that assumes everyone has the same range of motion and reach.
Conversely, a walk-in tub is always purchased only if the enclosure fits the person’s description most closely to make them feel comfortable and confident about bathing again.
Require Mobility Add-Ons
Depending on how immobile a senior is, a bathtub could need anything from additional safety rails to bath lift chairs. They could even require a conversion that closely emulates the operability of a walk-in tub (i.e. cutting a rectangular portion of the bathtub wall to be replaced with a special door).
No Massage Systems
Apart from soaking, a traditional tub doesn’t offer the therapeutic enhancements incorporated by the walk-in tub. Even though soaking offers great therapeutic benefits for the mind and body, it can never be as effective as a whirlpool or air massager.
Not Comfortable
Even if a transfer bench or seat was added to the tub, it won’t be as comfortable as one would hope. A walk-in tub’s smooth and soft textured surface is easy on the skin and keeps the back slightly reclined for an optimally relaxing bathing experience.
Take Up a Lot of Space
No matter the size of your bathroom, regular bathtubs take up a lot of space for such a low amount of utility. A walk-in tub with just enough legroom and comfortable space for a seated senior can pack many safety, therapeutic and luxury features.
High-Maintenance
A regular bathtub makes it super impractical to clean every once in a while due to its unnecessarily large size, which invariably causes more back aches than one needs in a single lifetime. Every nook or cranny of a walk-in tub’s enclosure is extremely easy to reach and clean.