Posts Tagged ‘lift’
Using a Bath Lift Safely
Bath lifts are designed to aid people with mobility restrictions in enjoying a bath. They are installed on the side of the bathtub, and the user simply sits in the seat and is lowered into the tub. When the bath is finished, the seat then returns the user to the side of the tub.
These are wonderful devices for people who can not step into or out of a bathtub, however, knowing exactly which one you need can mean the difference between a nice bath, and a possibly dangerous situation.
A powered bath lift can be used without any help from outside caregivers. The user simply sits in the seat, which is situation outside the tub, and is “swiveled” into the tub and then lowered into the water. Once again, when the bath is complete, the user is raised out of the water, and again returned to the side of the tub above the floor. This is the best choice for someone with serious mobility restrictions.
Other types of bath lifts, however, can be used by people with less restriction in movement, but may prove harmful to those who can not support any weight on their legs. There are models that simply sit in the tub and then lower the user to the water. If someone who has no, or little, use of their legs were to use one of these lifts, they would have trouble getting up from the seat, and could very easily fall and hurt themselves.