If you are investing in a shower chair, then you need to briefly know the different types of shower chairs. You need to know what are the pros and cons of each type of shower chair. Because it becomes a necessity for the elderly after a point.
A shower chair is a four-legged chair used to provide additional support, especially to the elderly while taking a bath or a shower. It has rubberized feet to have a proper grip, and aluminum legs to make its weight lighter. It comes with durable plastic seats and helps people having mobility issues while using the bathroom.
Just like a coin has two sides, similarly, there are pros and cons to every product. The same goes with different types of shower chairs as well. Read further to explore more.
Transfer Bench:
Transfer bench helps with balancing for those with weak legs and for those seniors with a high risk of slipping and falling.
Pros:
This shower bench provides additional support to the body while entering and exiting the tub. It offers a secure place for them to sit and have their shower or bath. The best thing about this bench is that it is removable.
Cons:
This bench takes up more space in the bathroom than any other accessory. And it is difficult to set up initially.
Shower Chair With Arms:
Shower chairs with arms are the most commonly used type of shower chair. It decreases the chances of falling by providing a secure area in a place like a bathroom with wet floors which are most prone to falling.
Pros:
It is convenient to use as it is easy to transfer the elderly from a wheelchair to a shower chair. Since it has removable arms, it becomes easy to customize it into a stool.
Cons:
If the elderly have proper mobility, then the armrest becomes an issue as it gets in the way to sit or stand. Shower chair with arms makes it difficult for the elderly to sit as the area of sitting reduces. Also, it becomes difficult to get in and out of the chair for people with a high body mass. It increases the chances of getting stuck in a shower chair which is dangerous. It can lead to a bad fall, while struggling to get out of the chair, causing injury.
Shower Chair With Back:
A shower chair with a back provides extra stability, protecting the person from falling backward. It comes with removable armrests and a grip handle on the back.
Pros:
It comes with attached shower seats to make the elders feel comfortable while sitting. It helps them take care of their own personal bathing and instills a sense of independence in them. It provides additional support on the back to the people with balance and stability issues. Also, the best part is that it is adjustable so, you have an option to raise or lower the height of the backrest as in when you need it.
Cons:
Backrests add extra weight to the light shower chair which makes it difficult to place it correctly in the bathroom, so it requires the proper assistance of a caregiver or a family member.
Shower Chair Without Back:
A shower chair without a back is a stool that is less cumbersome and provides a wide and open bathing experience.
Pros:
It is cost effective and a basic model with an attached shower seat that provides more space for movement while bathing. And it becomes easier to sit and stand out of such shower chair, as it is not restricted by the backrest support.
Cons:
Most elderly people require back support because of their body weight, it becomes difficult to withstand the upper body weight on slippery floors.
Shower Stool:
Stools are just shower seats attached to aluminium legs. It provides a more compact space for sitting and does not have a back rest either. The best part of this stool is that we can position it according to our needs and move it.
Pros:
It is light in weight and easy to place and handle it. It is easily removable when not in use and also helps provide open ends while transferring.
Cons:
It does not have any arm rest, back support, or grip to hold on to. So, by any chance if it shifts because of its light weight then you have nothing to hold on to.
Conclusion:
While taking a shower chair, you need to consider a lot of options. It includes the type of shower seats, arm rests, backrests, the shape and size of the chair, water drainage holes, the material of the shower chair or bench and many more. But before buying, you need to know about the different options that are available to you. You need to know its pros and cons before buying it so that you can choose the best one that is needed by your elderly.
