Handicap Bathtub Adaptations
- You need extra blocking around your bathtub as the first priority to increasing accessiblity. This structural reinforcement is standard in some new constructions and may be added within the walls of older homes. Blocking is essential for the installation of grab bars--a crucial component of bathtub accessibility. While some bars may be affixed to studs alone, extra blocking that runs the length of your bathtub will enable you to position the bars where you need them most.
- The grab bar helps you get in and out of the tub safely.Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
Install grab bars to enable disabled individuals to get in and out of the bathtub safely. Place the grab bar diagonally or horizontally parallel to the edge of your bathtub and at a comfortable height to reach from the sitting position. Keep in mind that grab bars attached to the wall and reinforced by sufficient blocking are much more stable than the suction cup or clamp varieties available. - A sturdy bath stool will provide stability for a disabled bather.Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
Purchase a bathtub stool or chair if the disabled individual cannot lower himself all the way down into the tub safely. An adjustable height safety stool with sturdy metal legs and no-slip rubberized tips will allow a handicapped person to sit inside the tub enclosure to wash without having to worry about being able to raise up from the recumbent position. Place the removable stool or chair beside the grab bar for added security. - Install a handheld shower head for maximum convenience.Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images
Add a handheld shower nozzle to your bathtub to make bathing and rinsing off more convenient for the disabled, especially those who use a bath stool and find the faucet difficult to reach. A plastic shower head attached to a rubberized tube can be placed over the faucet for use during the bath and removed afterward, if you do not wish to have a plumber install a telescoping shower head.
