How to Choose a Handicap Bathtub for your Home

The handicap bath tub has become a popular option for the elderly and those with certain disabilities. Over the past few years there has been a drastic increase in the number of these tubs on the market and the number of safety features that they offer. If you or someone in your family has difficulty moving or has gotten older and is at a greater risk of bone injury, this could be one of the most important purchases that you will ever make. The following will seek to make your purchase easy by introducing you to the many different types of handicap bath tub that are currently on the market.

By purchasing a handicap bath tub you will be greatly reducing the risk of bathroom injury and providing yourself, or a handicapped member of your family, with renewed independence and privacy. Probably the most popular type out there these days is the walk in bathtub. This model prevents the need for stepping over top of the edge of the tub by having a built in door which can simply be opened and walked through. Other conveniences that are typically offered by this type of tub include railing to hold onto and built in seats. This prevents you from having to sit all the way down onto the floor of the bath.

The walk in bathtub does not leak due to a powerful seal that is built into the door. Once you shut it and turn the knob it will keep the water safe and secure inside of the tub. The only drawback of this type of model is that you will have to enter the bathtub before turning on the water and once you have finished with your bath you must allow it to drain before opening the door once again.

There are, of course, many other different types of handicap bathtub for you to choose from, as well as several other special features such as hydrotherapy, temperature control, and even self drying capabilities. For users who must use a wheelchair due to paralysis or lack of mobility, there are even tubs that are built with extra wide doors to make getting in and out easy.

One drawback of these specialty tubs is that they are usually more expensive than the standard bathtub, and as a result most people who need them cannot afford them. If this is the case with you, sometimes you can apply to be compensated for them from your medical insurance or Medicaid. Another thing you can try is to simply make changes to the bathtub fixtures that you already have in order to make them friendlier to the elderly and otherwise disabled. However, whenever possible it is in your best interest to invest in handicap bath tubs when you need to increase the safety of your bathroom.