Accidents, illness, and getting old can limit the possibilities of accessing a bathtub for a long time. No one wants to miss getting a bath for some reason. Anything can happen with anyone over time. Enjoying a bath in a comfortable bathtub can be a feast to the hygiene needs of the body. However, the advantage of the bathtubs for the disabled for an easy bath is undeniable.

Characteristics of baths for the disabled

Bathtub with specially designed door, bathtub shower with lowered threshold or even with lift seat, the bathtub for the disabled is available in several models and versions to be chosen according to its characteristics, size, and budget. In the function of the handicap, therefore of the mobility of the people, it is first necessary to define the type of bathtub for handicapped people best adapted. As a general rule, any bathtub for the disabled is intended for a person with reduced mobility is necessarily intended for an able-bodied person. The choice of the bathtub should therefore rest only on the disabled user, depending on whether he can access it alone or be assisted in entering, taking a bath, and leaving it. Bathtubs for the disabled should not be confused with the bathing aids for people with reduced mobility using a conventional bathtub (electric lifting strap, bath seat, etc.).

Walk-in bathtubs for disabled people

They exist in three main versions depending on the shape and dimensions of the door:

Bathtub with front door

Front door bathtubs are generally hip baths, and one width is fitted with a door with a lowered threshold. These hip baths only allow bathing in a seated position, making them less comfortable than baths in which you can take your bath while lying down.

Classic walk-in bathtub

Classic door bathtubs are fitted with a door, which is generally half-round, located across the width to allow only the legs of a person with reduced mobility to pass. Depending on the version, some can be fitted with an interior lift seat to enter a seated or semi-seated position, then descend to a lying position and get up. In general, these baths can be used by a person with reduced mobility or with a motor handicap.

Wide opening bathtub

Bathtubs with a wide or full opening door have a door that occupies most of the widths to give free passage to a person in a semi-recumbent or even reclining position. These baths are more intended for people with severe disabilities requiring assistance with bathing.

There are also enclosed transfer chair bathtubs for the disabled. These tubs have a chair that can be raised and rotated to ensure the transfer. It is suitable for a person who cannot move or can ensure their transfer alone from a bed or an armchair to the transfer chair. The person can choose the sitting or lying position depending on the elevation in the bath of the submerged chair.