Everything you need to know about shower chair

By offering a safe and secure in-shower platform to sit on and bathe without the worry of falling in, shower chairs help those with mobility issues feel more comfortable taking showers and preserve their sense of independence and dignity. People with limited mobility, muscle weakness, or poor balance are at high risk for falls. The risk increases because of the slippery conditions typical in a bathroom.

However, not all elders view the shower in the same way as younger generations do. In addition to the mobility and flexibility decline that comes with aging, the slippery surfaces of the shower or tub can make bathing a challenge.

What is a shower chair ?

A shower chair can be either a portable seat that can be taken from the tub to the shower with the user, or a stationary seat that is permanently put in the shower. Most of these include a plastic seat, aluminum legs, and non-slip, rubber feet, making them both hygienic and suitable for use in or near water. Some are as simple as chairs, while others, like a transfer bench for the bathroom, can make getting in and out of the tub much easier.

An easier and safer way to take a shower is with the aid of a shower chair. A shower chair may become a regular fixture in your bathroom as you age, but it can be just as useful if you’re recovering from an injury or have problems getting around due to a sickness or disability. Despite their common use in healthcare facilities, chairs and tub benches are very convenient in the comfort of home.

However, there are some more upscale models that use teak wood for the seats. Since teak is so resistant to water, it is commonly used for bathroom accessories. The majority of shower seats feature metal, height-adjustable legs. If you want your rubber feet to stay put in the shower or the bathtub, they typically come equipped with suction cups.

Origin and Brief History of shower chair

The first patent for a shower chair was submitted in 1973, making it a relatively recent invention. The first prototype was essentially a wheelchair with the wheels cut off and replaced by rubber feet.

Since then, producers have used technological developments in the materials sciences to alter and improve the design, resulting in the wide variety of shower chairs on the market today.

What is the use of Shower Chair?

This is a rather specific kind of chair, as its name suggests. Its portability and ease of use in the bathroom make it ideal for anyone with mobility issues. Keeping bathers from slipping and falling is the primary goal of this product.

Transferring from a wheelchair to a shower chair is made easier with their help. Depending on the user’s mobility, it may not always be necessary to employ this supplementary apparatus.

It’s important to know that Medicare Part B does not pay shower chairs because they are not considered DME.

How to choose best shower chair?

Equipment designed for usage in damp conditions requires components that are impervious to water and corrosion. Both aluminum and plastic are common options for frames. Typically, aluminum is more expensive than plastic. There are seats constructed of hard plastic, chairs with mesh upholstery, and seats covered in antimicrobial materials. It’s important that the chair can withstand being wet and that it’s simple to clean.

Visibility

Those who are visually impaired will appreciate the use of contrasting colors to help identify objects. Some shower seats are colored bright blue to attract attention and reduce the likelihood of a slip and fall in the bathroom.

Weight Restriction

There is a wide range of sizes for shower seats. The typical weight limit for a chair is between 250 and 400 pounds. Bariatric variants are available for people who are heavier than that and can accommodate weights of up to 900 pounds.

Bathtubs and walk-in showers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and so do the accompanying shower seats and bath stools. Always take careful measurements of your shower or bathroom before purchasing a shower chair, since not all models are universal in their ability to fit into different layouts. To fit in walk-in showers, there are slimmer seats available, as well as ones that can be mounted on the wall or inside the tub.

Drainage Slots

In order to maintain healthy skin, avoiding prolonged contact with standing water is recommended. Some chairs designed specifically for use in the shower feature holes in the bottom through which water can drain. Due to the lack of puddles, the shower seat may be dried quicker, facilitating its continued cleanliness and hygiene.

Variations in Seat Diameter and Form

A shower chair’s dimensions and shape should be chosen with both convenience and support in mind. A triangular form and/or an accessible tilt will relieve stress on the surgically repaired hip joint while the patient recovers. It’s not just uncomfortable, but potentially dangerous, if a seat is too shallow or too narrow for the user to maintain their balance. The user’s sense of balance and security in the water depends on the seat’s capacity to give the necessary stability and support at the right height.

Removing the Perineum

The goal of a bath is cleanliness, so whatever measure taken to ensure maximum cleanliness in the process must be taken into account. There are some body regions that would be difficult to reach when seated in a regular chair that are easily reached through a perineal cut out in a shower chair.

Legs may be adjusted for the perfect fit

The legs of the majority of shower chairs are adjustable, but not all. Taking the time to assess your height and finding a chair that can support that range will help you get the perfect, comfortable fit.

Support

There is a spectrum of help needed for various users. There are a variety of choices for support that can make bathing more comfortable and safe, including backrests, armrests, handholds, footrests, and straps that keep a person in place.

Your choices for feet include suction cups, rubber pads, or swiveling, lockable casters. Before using a shower chair, it is important to make sure that it will not slip and has not been moved out of place between usage.

Stuffed Cushions

Pressure ulcers are preventable with the use of a cushioned seat, as they are less likely to occur due to the decreased pressure on the skin. People who are at risk for pressure ulcers due to prolonged sitting can protect themselves by investing in a ROHO Shower Commode Seat Cushion.

Can You Get a Shower Chair on Medicare?

Shower chairs and other aids for the disabled in the bathroom are useful for more than just making life easier. If you have trouble moving around or keeping your balance, these can keep you safe by reducing the risk of damage. Knowing how Medicare classifies Durable Medical Equipment might help you determine if a shower chair is covered under your plan (DME).

As a general rule, shower chairs are not included in Medicare Part B’s definition of Durable Medical Equipment as devices or objects needed to address a specified medical necessity. Medicare Part A may contribute toward the cost of services and materials you receive while legally admitted to a hospital or Skilled Nursing Facility, including the use of a shower chair.

One popular option for receiving Medicare benefits is the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. Medicare Advantage (MA) plans must offer at least the same coverage as Original Medicare’s Parts A and B, but many also offer additional benefits at low or no cost to enrollees. Some Medicare Advantage plans may include out-of-pocket expenses for ancillary goods like a shower chair. For specific information on how much shower safety equipment will cost you under your plan, please consult your plan’s website.

Guidelines for Long-Lasting Medical Equipment

Coverage under Medicare Part B has very specific requirements for what constitutes Durable Medical Equipment (DME). For the apparatus to qualify for insurance, it must fulfill a number of conditions. The tool or implement must:

• The product is designed for domestic use.
• For therapeutic purposes only.
• In a position to be used multiple times
• With a minimum lifespan expectation of three years
• Additionally, the prescribing physician and the DME provider must be Medicare-participating, assignment-eligible entities before Medicare would cover the cost of the equipment. Copayments or coinsurance may be required, and the Part B deductible will be in effect.

The Shower Chair: How Do You Use It?

In the introduction, we detailed the procedures anybody, not just the elderly, should follow when using any of the aforementioned shower chairs.
Set the Seating Unit in the Shower or Bathtub.
The senior won’t get much use out of the shower chair unless it is placed in a tub or shower enclosure.

Now is the time to place it there, taking all precaution to ensure its stability. The shower seat must not slip, wobble, or slant in any direction. If it isn’t stable, move it.

It is important that all four rubber feet make contact with the tub or shower floor without causing the legs to become unlevel.

Please Make Sure shower chair is Solid

Taking extra measures to ensure your safety is always a good idea.

The chance of the senior falling through the floor of the shower is further reduced with the addition of a mat beneath the shower chair.

Find a flat mat that won’t slide around on the floor.

A non-slip mat will prevent your elderly loved one from slipping and falling in the shower and will also prevent the shower chair from bunching up on the floor. There would be an unwelcome potential for injury from stumbling over it if it did.

Take Away the Hindrances

Is there anything harmful in or around the shower or bathtub?

Shower caddies, for instance, can be moved to the opposite side of the tub or shower stall for more convenient use. Those suction cups could lose their grip at any moment, sending the entire caddy crashing to the floor.

You should also examine the floor and, if present, the tub’s rim. Everything that could be broken or in the way, from bottles to soap dishes, needs to go.

Raise or lower the seat’s height

The legs of the chair you decide on should be able to be adjusted for height (for more on this, read “How Do I Choose A Shower Chair?”).

Before a senior takes a shower or bath, the shower chair should be set to the appropriate height (for info on how to do this, see section below: How To Measure For A Shower Chair).

A chair shouldn’t be too low if getting up from it is a chore, nor should it be too high if the user’s feet can’t flatly touch the floor. If the chair is the right height, the user will have enough legroom to stretch out completely.

Put your seat in the middle of the chair.

It’s time to assist your loved one into the shower chair now that they’re all set to take a bath. You can either physically transfer them from one location to another, or you can use a shower bench to make the trip easier.

Elderly people should also be taught how to properly use a shower chair. They must avoid the edge at all costs lest they be swept off. They should instead sit in the middle of the chair until they’re done with the shower.

Where can I buy a shower chair in Sydney, Australia?

You can easily purchase the shower chair from the Mobility Access Modifications (MAM), that offers  free shipping on all of their high-quality Shower Chairs and Bathing & Toileting Products.

Final thoughts

Shower chairs provide secure and pleasant assistance to ease the bathing process for those with mobility issues and lessen the risk of dangerous restroom falls. Allowing people to take care of their own bathing needs without worrying about falling can increase their sense of autonomy and the quality of their lives.

Consider the chair’s overall size and seat dimensions, weight capacity, height adjustment, construction material, style (chair, stool, bench, with or without backrest and arm rests), feet, cushioned or unpadded seat, and swivel or slide action.