Traditional bath tubs and showers were designed for younger and middle-aged people who were able to use them without assistance.
Not designed for safety, they simply can’t meet the reduced physical capabilities of an aging population, or those with disabilities.
Transferring safely into and out of a bath tub is the most important part of bathing without assistance. Other factors include mental, emotional, and physical stresses, and limited space in the bathroom to maneuver.
Fear of falling and medications can cause balance problems. Poor balance reduces people’s ability to transfer safely from the bathtub. A walk in tub or slide-in bath eliminates these transfer problems with connected with traditional bathtubs.
Some people try adaptive fixtures such as benches or bath seats. They don’t fix the cause of the problem: high step in height, slippery floors, poor upper body strength, and so on.
