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Assisted Bathing
This section is concerned with products to assist with bathing, particularly to meet the needs of the most dependent patients.
Click the links below to go
straight to more
information on:
Special bath tubs
Bath lifts and seats
Bathing hoists and transfer aids
Showering trolleys
Products for assisted bathing.
Clicking on a name will open their
showcase page in a new window:
Abacus Healthcare
Aquasoothe
Astor Bannerman
Bathtime Mobility
Gainsborough Baths manufacturer
Genie Care portable shower
system
Horcher Lifting Systems
Huntleigh Healthcare
Joerns Healthcare
Lisclare
Mangar International
Practical Bathing
WIBCO - The Walk-In Bath
Company
Special bath tubs
There
is now a wide range of bath tubs available which have been designed for
use in a care setting, with features that make them safer and more comfortable
for both carer and patient.
High low baths, for example, enable the carer to raise the bath to a suitable working height, once it has been filled with water and the patient settled in it. In some models, the base of the bath lifts up, forming a platform at the right height for a transfer, then the walls of the bath can be raised around it to contain the water at a good working height.
An adjustable length footrest will ensure that people of different heights can use the bath comfortably without slipping down. Many high low baths have access underneath for a mobile hoist, and some have their own integral hoist or chair, to make transfers easier.
This
"slide in" bath (right) with its wide opening door, is a variation
on the walk-in type, and has an integral seat at the right height to transfer
from a wheelchair. It also has an anti-bacterial agent incorporated in
the gel coat; a useful benefit in multi-user environments.
Hydrotherapy options are widely available, to maximise the therapeutic benefits of bathing.
Thermostatic and computer-controlled filling systems can prevent scalding, and some baths also feature automated cleaning and disinfection systems, to guard against cross-infection.
For walk-in baths, please visit the Independent Living bathing section.
Bath lifts and seats
For
users who don't require assistance once they are in the bath, a fixed
height tub with a bathlift or seat may be a practical solution.
The seat may be an integral part of the bath, as with the system shown on the right, where the seat is also water powered, or it may be a separate unit which is either installed or simply rests in the bottom of the bath.
Installed systems include supportive floor-mounted chair lifts, which allow the user to remain seated as they are swivelled into the bath and then lowered into the water. For people who have difficulty raising their legs, some floor-mounted lifts will raise the user sufficiently high to clear the edge of the bath with minimal leg movement, and there are also models with an integral leglifter. The belt-style lifts which are fixed to the wall next to the bath, don't have any back support and are only suitable for people with good balance.
Bathlifts
that sit in the bath are convenient in that they can be completely removed
when not required. Some are more supportive than others (the inflatable
type does not give such good support).
In choosing this type of lift, consider how low in the water they will go and how much support they provide. Also, find out how much the component pieces weigh: portability can be relative!
There are manual types, which are activated hydraulically using the body weight of the user, and electrically powered ones. The manual lifts may not be convenient for multiple users, as they may need adjusting to function correctly with users of differing body mass. Powered lifts can be either mains-powered with a step-down transformer, or more usually have a rechargeable battery. Safety features should ensure that the lift will not lower somebody into the water unless there is sufficient power to lift them back up again.
Bathing hoists and transfer aids
There
are many multi-purpose mobile hoists and ceiling track hoists, which you
can read about in our general hoisting section.
You can also obtain hoists and lifters designed particularly for use in bathing and toileting routines, such as the one shown on the right, which is compact enough to be manoeuvrable in the bathroom, and has a rotating seat on which the client can be lowered into the tub. The powered height adjustment is easily controlled using a hand unit, and adjustable armrests make it adaptable to different users.
Showering trolleys
For
bathing immobile patients safely and easily, a high/low shower trolley
minimises the number of transfers required and can be adjusted to provide
a good working height for the carer. The safety sides drop down to facilitate
the transfer of the patient from their bed.
This trolley also has a foot-operated mechanism to turn the patient on their side, so that one carer can complete the washing routine unaided.
There are hydraulic and electrically operated versions available.
This type of trolley is convenient for wound care, as well as bathing.
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