Shower chairs

Are Shower Seats Safe?

Have you ever wondered, are shower seats safe? Shower seats for the elderly are often incredibly popular, but in many cases, it’s not necessarily clear whether or not they’re a safe option to choose for your loved one. With this thought in mind, today, we are looking at some of the key things you need to know about a top-quality shower stool for the elderly and how this might impact your decision.

Are Shower Seats for the Elderly Safe?

Before you begin investing in wet room seats for the disabled, it’s well worth considering whether this is safe. After all, wet rooms can easily get slippery, and without the right equipment and care, a wet room could be more of a hazard than appears at the outset.

So, are shower seats for the elderly safe? Well, so long as they are used properly, yes! Shower seats for the elderly are generally very safe options to consider, but you’ll need to keep a few things in mind to check that using disability shower seats doesn’t put anyone at risk.

We strongly recommend that shower stools are only used when the user struggles to stand or balance in the shower, as they may potentially complicate normal washing routines if used by someone who doesn’t actually need them.

For unstable users, having someone else to hand who can help with the showering process will often prove important. This helps ensure the user remains safe at all times; using a shower seat alone may not always be a safe option for people who struggle with balancing. It’s also worth remembering that the shower seat should be positioned in such a location that makes access to the shower’s controls easier to reduce the risk of the user getting injured during use.

Key Things to Consider When Purchasing Disability Shower Seats

If you think that investing in a high-quality shower seat might be a worthwhile option for your needs, it’s well worth considering that not every shower seat is necessarily the same. Indeed, while many shower seats are made with quality and safety in

Portability

One of the first things you should consider regarding the safety of shower seats is whether they are stable or portable. Of course, a portable shower seat may have more chance of moving during use, so this is important to keep in mind; all portable shower seats should be secured well before turning on the shower!

However, a non-portable shower seat may be harder for an elderly or disabled user to access; if your loved one’s mobility is severely hampered, a portable shower seat may be safer than trying to move them from a wheelchair to the shower seat and back constantly.

Materials

Not all shower seats are necessarily created equally. A high-quality, safe shower seat should be made from waterproof but slip-resistant materials to ensure your loved one doesn’t accidentally slip from the seat during use. After all, water can be slippery enough as standard, let alone when you begin adding soap and shampoo to the mix.

Slip-Resistant Feet

If your shower chair is portable rather than secured to the floor, you’ll want to ensure it has suitable non-skid, slip­-resistant feet that help prevent the chair from moving during use. This, in turn, can help ensure that your shower seat doesn’t end up slipping, which could risk the chair falling backward and causing significant injury to the user.

Weight Capacity

Not every shower seat is designed to hold the same weight. As such, before you begin using a shower seat for your loved one, you should make sure you know a roughly accurate weight. This will allow you to ensure your chosen shower seat is the right weight capacity for the user, ensuring that it doesn’t end up buckling or breaking during use.

Generally speaking, most shower seats will be able to support between 200 and 400 pounds in weight. However, if your loved one weighs more than this, it’s worth considering that there are some specialist shower seats that will be able to cope with a slightly higher weight capacity.

Security

In some cases, disabled users may struggle to maintain their own balance in the shower seat. If this is the case for your loved one or partner, you may need to check that the shower chair has straps or systems in place to reduce the risk of the user slipping out or getting injured during use. Generally, a single rail or strap should be enough to keep a user secure, but you should always check that this won’t rub or cause injury to the user during the use of the shower seat.

Dimensions

One factor that often surprises many when investing in a brand new shower seat is that not every shower seat is necessarily made to the same dimensions. In fact, shower seats often come in very different heights, widths, and the like, which will influence the right choice of shower seat for your needs.

Of course, it’s well worth considering here that the ideal shower seat should always be one that’s tall enough for your loved one to sit comfortably; it should always be wide enough to allow them to fit in the chair comfortably but without too much free movement that could risk them falling out!

Luckily, some shower seats actually come in adjustable heights and widths. Still, it’s worth considering which chair height is most comfortable for your loved one to help them use their new shower stool with dignity.

If you have been looking to create a wet room, having the right shower seats for the disabled and elderly is vital.

Fortunately, with a little care so as to prevent slipping, a wet room can be very safe and allow your elderly or disabled loved one to remain comfortable and hygienic, no matter what. So, why not give it a try; if you need any further support regarding the best portable shower seats, don’t be afraid to contact our friendly team today.

Shower stool suggestions:

mobility shower stools

shower chairs for the disabled

shower chairs for elderly uk