Bathtub Safety for Senior Family Members

Whether you or a relative is dealing with limited mobility, it’s important to maintain a level of safety and comfort in and around your bathroom. While walk in bathtubs and walk in showers offer excellent solutions, they can be costly. 

It’s understandable that many families don’t have the budget for new walk-in tubs or compact shower tubs. However, creating accessible bathrooms is essential for reducing the risk of slips and falls, especially when using a bathtub for seniors or other traditional tubs.

So, if you’re looking for a way to improve accessibility within your bathroom without breaking the bank, here are a few senior bathing solutions to consider:

1. Improve Balance and Stability

Simple yet effective safety features, such as grab bars and tension poles, can help reduce the risk of slips and falls. These additions improve balance and security when entering or exiting the tub, and improve the bath experience.

Elders with good upper-body strength can benefit from grab bars to help them move in and out of the bathtub, but be sure to choose grab bars with good grip support and install them within easy, natural reach.

2. Shower Chairs and Bath Benches

For those who have difficulty getting up from a prone position but cannot stand in a shower without support may benefit from a shower chair with non-slip feet.

Paired with a handheld showerhead, it creates an accessible bathroom setup with  and great for stability. If the person has trouble getting their legs up and over the bathtub, a bath bench placed at the edge of the tub may help them transfer in and out.

3. Update or Repair the Bathtub Surface

Many older bathtubs have had new liners or inserts added at some point if not a complete refinishing of the bathtub’s surface.

Refinishing your bathtub for seniors eliminates slippery or rough surfaces and improves hygiene—ideal for maintaining a safe environment for aging family members.

Contact Seattle Bathtub Guy for Senior-Safe Solutions

For seniors with more advanced limited mobility, you might also explore walk in bathtubs or walk in showers. These installations feature safety features like built-in seating, low-threshold entries, and watertight tub doors, making them a top-tier option for safer, more independent bathing.

Interested to take a look at our work? You can also check our FAQ page for any questions! To restore your bathtub to safe, comfortable state for yourself or an elderly loved one contact Seattle Bathtub Guy today.