Types Of Transfer Shower Benches

Submitted by: Michael L Levy

Elderly and disabled people often find it a difficult task to get in and out of a bath tub. The space available is usually very limited and the disabled person s lack of flexibility makes it tough to maneuver himself. This makes bathing a tedious, tiring and often stressful activity. Shower benches are designed to take care of these problems. These can be conveniently placed in the bathroom so that the user can slide over into the bath easily.

A shower bench lets the user move himself into the bath without assistance, giving him some much needed independence. Because he need not step over the wall of the bathtub, the risk of tripping and falling is drastically reduced. The shower bench goes a long way in making your bathroom safe for elderly and disabled family members.

As with any safety product you must look for quality and durability when you are shopping for shower benches or transfer benches. Look for products which conform with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This Act gives specific norms for products designed for people with restricted mobility so that they get utmost safety and comfort.

These benches come in many types, each with a different feature designed to address different needs. Here is some information on these features to help you select the right type of shower bench to suit your needs:

Sliding and Non Sliding

These are the two main types of shower benches. The sliding models come with bearings or coasters which move the seat on railings so that the user can simply propel himself to either side using the arm rest for support. The non sliding type is a long bench over which the user must slide himself to reach the other end. The seat itself does not move in this type of bench.

Swivel Action Chair

You will find these with sliding transfer benches. The chair can be moved to either end and then swiveled to make it easy for the person to get on or off. There are locks to keep the chair in the swiveled position.

Suction Cups

If your bathtub or shower stall gets very slippery then you need to consider a bench with suction cups on the feet on either end. These cups ensure a non slip grip on a smooth surface. This part stands within your tub or stall while the normal bench legs are placed outside.

Comfortable Padded Seats

Many leading manufacturers design benches, particularly sliding ones, in padded vinyl. This provides greater comfort while sitting and also makes it less abrasive on the skin when the user has to slide over to the opposite end.

Commode Provision

You can use these benches as support when using the toilet too. This saves you the cost of getting a separate toilet frame. Choose a transfer bench with a commode opening to use it in this way. Check the height of your existing toilet and make sure the bench will fit over it when you are shopping for shower benches.

About the Author: For more information on

shower seats

or

shower pans

contact an accessibility expert at BarrierFree.org

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=569083&ca=Home+Management