Handicap Bathtubs

A large variety of handicap bathtubs exists in the market today. There are bathtubs suited to accommodate just about anyone regardless of the handicap. With all the choices available and accommodations made, there's no reason that anyone shouldn't be able to enjoy a relaxing, soothing hot bath in their own home.

Walk In Bathtubs

For those with a handicap that may prevent them from being able to climb over the high walls of a standard tub, a walk in tub may be the best choice. These handicap bathtubs feature a door that swings open to permit the person to simply walk in. The door is fashioned in a way to make it water tight, to prevent water leakage during bathing.

The door of most walk in bathtubs swings inwards and latches securely enabling the user to easily get into the tub without stepping over the rim and prevents health care providers from having a lot of heavy lifting.

Wheelchair Accessible Bathtubs

For wheelchair accessible bathtubs, there are models that are similar to the walk in bathtubs except that they are raised up off the ground and have a large sliding door. The door simply slides to the side to open, and the individual is able to slide from the wheel chair into the tub. These are standard sized soaker bathtubs; they've just got these extra added features to make them handicap accessible. These are also great bathtubs for those with walkers, as it prevents bending down to a tub that is sits on the floor.

There are also wheelchair accessible non-soaker bathtubs that feature the same basic design of the walk in bathtubs. These styles have a built in bench, level with a typical wheel chair so it is easier to move from the chair to the bench. Grab bars are almost always provided with handicap bathtubs.

Many handicap bathtubs are available as both built-ins and freestanding tubs. Typically they are available only in the color white but can include some extra features such as additional grab bars, bench seating and wider doors. Some may even feature whirlpool jets and the tools for keeping the water temperature controlled.

Shower attachments might be an option with some models. Most feature a hand held shower attachment to be used while the individual remains seated on the bathtub bench. There are also some handicap bathtubs that are installed in the space of a traditional bathtub that utilizes the current shower system that is already installed.

Cost Of Handicap Bathtubs

Handicap bathtubs are more expensive than standard bathtubs, but not as much as some of the higher end tubs. In fact, some health insurance companies or Medicare will pay all or a portion of the total amount of purchasing and installing a handicap bathtub.

Handicap accessible bathtubs are a great way for one to be as independent as possible in their own home. As these bathtubs eliminate the need for heavy lifting, care givers will benefit from these handicap bathtubs as well. These are created to be easy to use and easy to care for. They utilize the most strict safety precautions as possible to help ensure the protection of those using the bathtub.