No matter how healthy or athletic you are, a slip, trip or fall can happen at any time, and any accident carries the risk of injury. But no one is more at risk than seniors or PRMs, and not just because they are necessarily more likely to fall. For seniors, recovering from a fall can be difficult and sometimes impossible. More than 300,000 people are hospitalized each year for hip fractures, and 95% of these fractures are the result of a fall. Overall, 80% of falls occurred in the bathroom. Given that a quarter of all French people 65 and older fall each year, this means that every senior has a significant chance of suffering a fall, and the risks are even higher in the bathroom.
Making the bath safe
Fortunately, there is an entire industry dedicated to making bathing easier for seniors. And the products available don't just make bathing safer: they also allow people with disabilities, whether due to age or illness, to maintain their own hygiene despite their challenges. Some high-end products, like the walk-in tub, make it easier for someone with mobility issues to bathe or shower and, for the most part, make bathing safer. But age doesn't just lead to mobility issues or risk of falls; it can also lead to the kinds of problems that soaking in a tub (and especially one with features like a whirlpool or spa tub) can help, problems like arthritis, Parkinson's disease, circulatory issues, etc. Making a bathroom safer or easier to use allows someone to maintain their own hygiene.
Bathtub with door
The walk-in tub is an excellent solution to the safety and mobility issues caused by the use of traditional tubs by people with disabilities. People often try to convert their traditional bathtub into a senior or disabled bathtub by adding grab bars and benches. However, the traditional bathtub was never designed to be used as a safety bucket or even as a disabled bathtub, even with these band-aid style solutions. These bathtubs with safety side doors enhance the ability to be independent in the bath for life. With several safety bathtub models available to choose from, you are sure to find a bathtub with a door that best suits your needs.
Benefits of a walk-in tub
Buying a sitz bath isn't cheap, but it pales in comparison to the emotional and financial costs of a visit to the emergency room or assisted living facility. A walk-in bathtub eliminates the most dangerous safety risks for seniors in the home. Seniors with disabilities or those with limited mobility benefit tremendously from walk-in tubs. Rather than risk injury when entering or exiting the tub, walk-in tubs have a watertight door that opens for safe and easy movement. The tubs are equipped with safety features designed to eliminate the threats seniors face in the bathroom, and you can even customize the features to meet your parents' specific needs.