Factors To Consider Before Buying Disabled Baths
Bathing is a luxury that many people miss when they can no longer access the bath in their home, but there are many ways around the problem, including disabled baths and other equipment.
Many people choose to install stair lifts, as installing disabled baths downstairs can cause upheaval, whereas it's often the stairs and not the bath itself which are difficult to access.
When planning to replace a bath, there are a few points to consider carefully, such as the long term suitability of the new equipment. Is the user's ability to bathe in it likely to deteriorate? If so, perhaps it would be better to have a level-access shower installed instead to avoid further costs down the line.
Some disabled baths require a larger volume of water compared with standard baths. You need to consider whether the hot water tank has the capacity to fill the potential new bath (shouldn't be a problem if there is a combi boiler).
You also need to consider the space available in the bathroom, and the amount of disruption installation of the bath would cause. How long would the bathroom be unavailable for, and can alternative arrangements for usage be arranged?
It's also best to take into consideration the need of others in the household or regular visitors.
It may be possible to secure a disabled facilities grant for any structural work that is required to allow for disabled facilities installations such as showers, stair lifts and fixed hoists.
You should make applications for grants of this type to the local council's Environmental Health Department or, if the property is council-owned, the local Housing Department. A local occupational therapist will asses the needs of a resident first.
Since 2002, local authorities have been able to help with housing adaptations by offering loans in addition to grants.
There are many disabled baths on the market today, but you may decide that it will be sufficient to make adaptations to an existing bath and bathroom.
A bath board wedges between the bath's rims, giving a seated area over the water for a person unable to sit down in a bath. They can then either move from the board on to a bath seat, or stay on the board and wash with a hand-held shower.
Swivel seats are preferred by some people as they provide more support, like a chair. These rest on the bath rims and can swivel to the left and right.
Combination bath boards and seats are available and are more secure than the two units separately, but can prove bulky and cumbersome to move.
Often installing a set of smaller changes, such a combination of grab rails, a bath board, and a slip-resistant mat is all that's needed to make bathing easy again relatively cheaply. However, disabled baths are a great option for those with sufficient budget and time to make the conversion.
Many people choose to install stair lifts, as installing disabled baths downstairs can cause upheaval, whereas it's often the stairs and not the bath itself which are difficult to access.
When planning to replace a bath, there are a few points to consider carefully, such as the long term suitability of the new equipment. Is the user's ability to bathe in it likely to deteriorate? If so, perhaps it would be better to have a level-access shower installed instead to avoid further costs down the line.
Some disabled baths require a larger volume of water compared with standard baths. You need to consider whether the hot water tank has the capacity to fill the potential new bath (shouldn't be a problem if there is a combi boiler).
You also need to consider the space available in the bathroom, and the amount of disruption installation of the bath would cause. How long would the bathroom be unavailable for, and can alternative arrangements for usage be arranged?
It's also best to take into consideration the need of others in the household or regular visitors.
It may be possible to secure a disabled facilities grant for any structural work that is required to allow for disabled facilities installations such as showers, stair lifts and fixed hoists.
You should make applications for grants of this type to the local council's Environmental Health Department or, if the property is council-owned, the local Housing Department. A local occupational therapist will asses the needs of a resident first.
Since 2002, local authorities have been able to help with housing adaptations by offering loans in addition to grants.
There are many disabled baths on the market today, but you may decide that it will be sufficient to make adaptations to an existing bath and bathroom.
A bath board wedges between the bath's rims, giving a seated area over the water for a person unable to sit down in a bath. They can then either move from the board on to a bath seat, or stay on the board and wash with a hand-held shower.
Swivel seats are preferred by some people as they provide more support, like a chair. These rest on the bath rims and can swivel to the left and right.
Combination bath boards and seats are available and are more secure than the two units separately, but can prove bulky and cumbersome to move.
Often installing a set of smaller changes, such a combination of grab rails, a bath board, and a slip-resistant mat is all that's needed to make bathing easy again relatively cheaply. However, disabled baths are a great option for those with sufficient budget and time to make the conversion.
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