My father, who lives with me, has his own bathroom here.聽 Unfortunately, it was a bathroom that contained a combination tub/shower with a glass door.聽 Because my father has difficulty with his balance and also has some neuropathy, we knew we needed a different set-up for him. It was dangerous for him to step over the side of the tub and I also had visions of him falling through the glass door.聽聽 Changing the tub into just a shower would require major plumbing changes, so we looked into and purchased one of the newly advertised walk-in bath tubs.
These bath tubs are advertised as being great for elderly, disabled or mobility-impaired individuals.聽 They are made of fiberglass or acrylic, are found in sizes ranging from 48″ X 28″ to 60″X32″聽 and are said to fit any bathroom.聽 If the bathtub area is too big, there is an “extension kit” which essentially adds a shelf area to the tub.聽 They each have a seat installed and there is also聽the option of聽choosing one that is complete with聽a hydrotherapy unit (we chose this option because my father has both arthritis and leg muscle cramps).聽 The cost for these units can be in the thousands, so it is a fairly expensive聽purchase but can be one that enables a person to continue to live at home rather than in an assisted living facility.
Having experienced the walk-in tub for over 6 months, I am going to say that it was not the right choice for my father, but it may be a good choice for other senior citizens.
The positive aspects of it were the built-in anti-slip seat, the anti-slip tub floor, the low-level entry, the temperature control (it does not allow the temperature of the “hot” water to be hot enough to burn), the height on the sides of the tub which helps to keep my father from falling, the ease of cleaning the “unit” and the hydrotherapy.
The negative aspects of it are that it is an almost claustrophobic bathing experience when using the shower curtain, as the bathing area is very small.聽 Additionally, if your bathroom is such that an extension (or shelf) 聽is required, the shower curtain聽must sit聽on the inside of the tub making an even smaller bathing area.
This is definitely not a product that will enable a person with dementia to have more independence.聽 It’s much too technical.聽 Once entering the tub, there is a special lever that must be pulled in order to make the tub water-tight.聽聽My father聽is confused by the hand-held shower sprayer (doesn’t realize that it can be left hanging in its casing) and several times, I have heard聽him turn on the hydrotherapy jets without having any water in the tub (is a burnt-out motor in our near future?).聽 He also forgets (with short-term memory, that means 2 minutes later) that the shower curtain must be on the inside of the tub itself, so very often, we are sopping up water from the floor after his shower (water on the bathroom floor contributes to slipping, as well.)
It is also NOT conducive to caregivers helping with the showering of聽 the patients or loved-one.聽 The sides are too high, thus contributing to back strain and the water聽does not stay in its designated area.聽 If a caregiver was helping聽 their loved-one to bathe (rather than shower), it would be fine.
I think this is probably a great product for those in their late 60s and 70s who may be “a little wobbly” and could use the extra support and also benefit from the hydrotherapy.聽 I don’t think it’s a good product choice at all for those with dementia who are trying to continue to bathe on their own.
Your thoughts?
***Update !-27-2014聽 Please see my Buyer’s Guide on the Consumer Affairs website here.
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That’s one good thing about the Internet, yes? You can find folks who will offer both sides of the story.
Thanks for stopping by.
Firstly may I say what a great and honest review, and apologies that I was a bit slow finding and reading it.
You have highlighted what is probably the most important part in the whole process, which is actually selecting the correct bath (or shower) for the needs of the user or in some cases the needs of multiple users which may differ if it’s a partner, son or daughter. Someone who has dementia but still wishes to bathe without help may not need or be able to use some of the options and equally somebody who does require assistance should select a bath or shower which allows the carer or partner to do so.
Take your time in selecting a solution and the provider who is offering the advice (not just the sale), as mentioned it’s not a cheap expense, but can offer so much to people who can’t easily do what most of us still take for granted.
Great points, Jon. Thank you.
I hate to think of senior citizens making this decision on their own, there is such a wide range of disabled bathing options I wonder if seniors are put of by just sheer range of options and then purchasing one which isn’t right for them, I had a quick search, look how many types there are in my link!
Do you think your father could benefit from a different form of bath?
My aunt got some great help from her doctor but i don’t know if there any resources available to help seniors in this decision?
Unfortunately, my father has already passed.
I think that you are right about the huge number of decisions a senior (or any caregiver) must make at such a distressing time in their lives.
If I had it to do over again, I would have chosen a level-entry shower (but the jets were so compelling due to my father’s leg cramps, so who knows?)
Our company dedicates to the research on walk in bath tubs for over 10 years, and as you can see from our title, we are focusing on no other bathtubs but only on walk in bathtub in the past ten years, and we keep developing new technology about it, now we are able to install the Ozone generator to kill the bacteria insidethe tub, also the FM radio and combo massage system controlled by a touch key panel.
Up to today, we already have 17 (seventeen) ready models of walk in bathtubs (can have optional massage system: air or whirlpool massage or combo) can be your choice for your market. Each two to three months, we will make new moulds for making tubs for clients’ option and keep them updated.
We believe that we can provide the seniors more alternative in bathing. If need more details, please contact frank@chinawalkinbathtub.com
Walk in bathtubs are really comfortable and easy to access. You should install a barrier free walk in tub in your bathroom for safety.
Thank you, Frank, for keeping us updated. The Ozone cleaning system will be very helpful.
Unfortunately, walk in baths are NOT that comfortable due to the claustrophobic effect of a very small environment and the necessity of having to wait (while naked) for the bathtub to fill and empty. And while they are generally easy to access, many seniors have difficulty with the door handle that creates the water seal.
I was shocked when I see some people says a walk in bathtub can be 4000 USD, that is rediculous, I must say! Yes, I myself is a manufacturer of walk in bathtubs in China, but I am not trying to do some advertisement here, I just dont understand how come a tub be so expensive when shipped abroad!!!
We sell our walk in tubs highest at 1000USD and normally 800 USD (size different) with all assoseries installed, including drain, faucet, air and aqua massage system, We understand that there must be some other cost on like shippment and custume clearance thing, but still shouldn’t be as that expensive! What’ s wrong with the local dealers ?
Hi Shelly,
Hope you saw my last comment on the page, I am angry to know the local dealers make it such a unreasonable price, and saying about the Ozone system, many of our customers like it, and it does helpful.
Also, I want people to awear that the leakage of the walk in bathtubs are also quite widespread. And we spent hunderds of thousand to discover a special materia to make the door seal, and now we could gurantee a lifetime no leakage of our walk in tubs, either inward, or out ward swing door.
To the walk in bathtubs, especially selling to USA and Canada, people attached great importance to the cUPC certifacate for the soaker tubs and CE certifacate to the pumps (water pump and air pump). However , there are many many manufacturers do not have been approved by such authoritative certificate and don’t even have a clue about what exactly a ADA compliant is. Our company know how important about this, so
we dedicate a lot to the quality and safety. This is why our walk in bathubs are quite well sold with compliments.
Whatever question, you can get me on my Facebook https://www.facebook.com/xu.frank.330?ref=tn_tnmn OR send me email : frank@chinawalkinbathtub.com
Frank
Thank you, Frank.
You are clearly passionate about your product and that is good to know. Are there any specific dealerships where folks can find your bathtubs being sold?
The ozone cleaning feature is a great addition and I’m glad that you mentioned the leakage problem because that is something that not a lot of dealers mention. Certainly that could be a big problem to seniors and their caregivers.
Thank you very much for responding.
I am currently working on a project for Consumer Affairs regarding walk in bath tubs so please stay tuned for that publication.
~ Shelley
People concerns much about how long they would have to stay in the walk in tub before the water drain up.
We use copper drain with lager drain, which makes the tub drain up within 2 mins, hope can behelpful to the bather. The copper drain will be of course a little bit more expensive than the plastic ones, but still affordable.
For a factory of walk in tub selling to USA and Canada, the cUPC certificate, as a basic gurantee of quality and safety, is very significant, you may check the link to see how does it looks like.
http://pld.iapmo.org/file_info.asp?file_no=0008430
For my aging mother, we have recently installed a walk-in tub from Safeguard Tubs, because as her age is increasing she is getting more agile day by day and it is becoming difficult for her to enjoy her bath properly. On one of our doctors recommendation we have installed this walk-in tub. They have many variety of tubs to chose from, but we opted out to get the hydrotherapy one as it would be helpful to provide relaxing experience to muscle cramps, joint pains which my mother is experiencing because of her age. Also they come with proper safety bars installed to the tubs and anti-slip flooring making it easy to bath without any assistance.
Bought a jaccuzi walk in tub. Water jet and was told that it cleans itself and no bacteria would grow. After about 7 months we are noticing a smell coming from the tub water jets. We had premier bathing come out and they only sell the air jets. They explained why only air over water. (Bacteria, Mold, Pipes with hard water breaking down.) Wish we went with an air jetted tub. The warranty on the tub is lifetime on the body and the seal but the rest is only a year. Not Happy with the water jet tub
I believe that some of the newer systems are equipped with something that helps to kill the bacteria. Thank you for writing, though, as folks need to know this information.
My mother moved in with us 2 years ago and she had a bath lift which was worked well except that the depth of our (then) bath meant she only had a very shallow bathing experience so we decided to redo the bathroom and have a walk in bath tub installed. It has been possibly the worst decision I have ever made; not only was the installation a nightmare with subsequent flooding of the kitchen due to poor plumbing but the thing that no one tells you is that you have to get into the bath and then turn the water on (obvious you may think) but this has the result that you are sitting in a cold bath for quite a long time before the water is high enough to cover you (and allow you to turn on the jets) and then having finally warmed up you then have to sit cooling while the water drains out again before being able to get out. Even having heating in the bathroom and being wrapped in towels does not help. I would NEVER recommed one of these to anyone.
Yes, the chill while waiting for fill and drain is a big problem, especially for seniors who may not regulate temperature very well. My father had the same experience.
Thank you for your comment, Carolyn.
I’ve just ordered/received a walk in tub and NOW I’m reading all these things I’m concerned with- I don’t know why they didn’t’ show up in my previous google searches, but I am grateful to have found your active post while it’s still sitting in the box in the garage! Anyway, I was wondering on a couple other points-I’ve heard some people complain because no sales people mention it, that they had to get a larger water heater as the tub holds 70 gallons but they only had a 40 gallon water heater. (which I think is going to be our case).
How deep is the water when you’re seated in there? MOST pictures show a person fully immersed in the water, (which is of course how I dream of being), but I just read another blog that said that’s all a farce and the water really only reaches just above the small of your back leaving your upper body out of the water?
I wonder if it would be beneficial to have the shower hose line hooked to it’s own hot water line and then perhaps you could fill the tub thru the faucet while hot water is coming thru the shower head as well to keep you warm during tub fill and empty?
I’m so excited and now scared at the same time! Thank you for your help!
Thea
Hi Thea,
Thanks for writing. I imagine that you will probably need a larger water heater because the tub does require a lot of water (I don’t recall off-hand how much it actually holds).
You won’t be fully immersed but of course, where the water level sits depends upon your height and the size of tub that you purchased. A good way to tell is to sit in tub before you ever bring it inside the house.
I don’t think hooking the shower hose line to another source would be a good idea. How would you turn it it off once the tub was full (you would be sitting in the tub and if you opened the door…. well, oops, what a mess).
Best wishes with your tub. There are some positives about them. Write and let us know how you like it once it’s installed and you’ve had a chance to use it for awhile.
Shelley
It is true this precise type of compact walk-in bath isn’t the most spacious, especially with a closed shower curtain.
However there is full length walk in baths which would feel more spacious and comfortable to sit in for a while, especially for people with dementia for example. They would also be easier for care givers as the bath allows for a more laid down position.
Have a look at walk in baths suppliers such as Access walk in Baths or even Abacus, they both have various models and designs.
Chloe
This page is spot on about these expensive units not being the solution they are marketed as, and another blogger named Carol Bluestein elaborates on her page why even for those without dementia issues why most people will be highly dissatisfied by their purchase. She explains how due to the physical constraints of the thing the average person can only immerse themselves up to their belly button… Hardly the relaxing bath we all have in mind.
Now in defense of the manufacturers (but not unscrupulous salesmen which is another issue I won’t touch) several commenters mentioned long lists of BBB complaints etc and it would be easy to throw out the baby with the bathwater (pun intended) confusing peoples’ unrealistic expectations (whether their own or promised by sales) with the possibility the manufacturer really does make a bad product.
To that end I think there were some points expressed here that would be unfair to apply to the average tub purchase. Of course the dementia patient will have a number of difficulties that no manufacturer could be expected to accommodate and the additional reasons why these may not be for everyone may get lost beyond that.
Thank you for your care to your father. I’m highly impressed to see the comprehensive resources being offered by your site. Also, look forward to see your next post about. Thanks again.
Thank you for your care to your father. I’m highly impressed to see the comprehensive resources being offered by your site.
Thanks, Nathan. 馃檪
These bath tubs are advertised as being great for elderly, disabled or mobility-impaired individuals.Senior bathroom remodeling ideas and given different types of product which makes our bathroom modern and comfortable are amazing…..Specially for the elder and handicapped people walk in tubs.
Yes, they are advertised as being great. But they aren’t, especially for those persons with any type of dementia. They are also not great because an elder, who may be thin and frail must sit in the tub while it drains. Even 2-3 minutes can be an uncomfortable chilling experience.
I did get a walk in tub for my husband who has dementia and there is definitely an adjustment period. I had to make several adaptations to the tub and we don’t use a shower curtain at all for the reasons you mention. But he has finally learned to love it although I don’t leave him alone in the bathroom and that can be a bother. I posted an essay on the subject and got some good feedback on the adjustments I made and on what others have done. If the tub is already in place, it is worth making the adjustments and my husband does benefit greatly from the massaging action. Information on what I did to make the adjustments and on some additional dangers not mentioned here is at the following URL: http://finalfifteen.com/2016/10/04/rub-a-dub-dub/
Thanks for your comment, Janet! I hope all those who are considering a walk-in tub will pop over to your site to read your recommendations.
~Shelley
Thanks for the post.