ricability logo

 

Bath boards and seats (1999) (view report contents)

New in 2007

The Disabled Living Foundation have a website called Bathing Made Easy which can help you find bathing products that make life easier.

The site has a range of products to assist with bathing, taking a shower, personal care, cleansing and equipment to assist with medication:

www.bathingmadeeasy.com


Introduction

Many of us find it difficult to get in and out of a bath.

Bath boards and seats can make this easier. They can be cheap and easy to install. In this report we give the findings of tests carried out by the Medical Devices Agency (now called the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) on a selection of them.

What are bath boards and seats?

A bath board is simply a board that fits across the bath. You sit on it and then lift your legs over the bath rim when getting into the bath. Some people wash themselves or shower while sitting on the board. Others lower themselves down from the board to the bottom of the bath or on to a bath seat.

Bath seats are small seats which fit in the bath. Getting on to the seat is easier than lowering yourself all the way down into the bath. Easier still is lowering yourself on to a bath seat from a bath board. You can bathe while sitting in the seat or (if someone is on hand who can take the seat out of the bath for you) lower yourself on to the floor of the bath.

Bath boards and seats are usually used together.

Are they for you?

Bath boards and seats are mainly helpful to people who are stiff, weak or a little unsteady. They are particularly useful if you find it difficult to step over the bath rim, lower yourself into the bath or get out of it again afterwards.

To use a bath board you need

  • enough balance to sit on it
  • to be able to lift each leg over the rim of the bath while sitting on the board
  • to be able to bend at the hips

To use a bath seat you need

  • enough strength in your arms to lower yourself down on to it and up again
  • to be able to bend your knees and hips (the board and seat take up room)
  • if you have had a hip joint replaced recently you may find it difficult to bend far enough.

 

Back to top


Report contents

 

Report contents

Introduction
Things to look for
Buying guide
Fitting and using a bath board or seat
Getting a board or seat
Help with money
Useful addresses
Checklist
Credits

Boards

Seats