Safety Benefits of Walk-In Tubs

Bathrooms can be a major source of anxiety for seniors. Falls are often accompanied by a hospital admission, according to the National Council on Aging, making it important for seniors to have access to safe accommodations — including in the bathroom. Walk-in tubs have several benefits and built-in safety features that make them an upgrade to traditional bathing facilities. Here are a few of the features that make walk-in tubs a popular home modification for seniors who prefer to age in place.

1. Grab Bars

Grab bars make moving around a bathroom a safer experience. While it’s possible to install grab bars in virtually any area of the bathroom, and putting one in next to the toilet is a good idea, adding them to tubs and showers is a little more complicated. If the existing stall doesn’t have the right support behind the wall, grab bars may not be safe to install without extensive remodeling. In a walk-in tub, the grab bars are already installed and typically mounted directly to the steel frame. Grab bars let seniors more easily enter and exit the walk-in tub.

2. Low Entry Step

With a standard tub, getting into the water requires taking a large step over the side of the fixture. A walk-in tub gets rid of the step, often reducing the entry point to 6 inches or less. Some walk-in tubs are wheelchair accessible, allowing seniors to slide directly from one chair to another. Specifically, walk-in tubs with outward opening doors tend to be best for those who routinely use mobility assistance devices.

3. Slip-Resistant Surfaces

Many traditional tubs have ceramic surfaces that get slick when wet or covered with soap residue. In walk-in tubs, the bottoms are covered with anti-slip materials that give seniors a solid place to plant their feet when standing. The slip-resistant coating also covers any handholds on the tub, so seniors have secure places to grab when standing or sitting.

4. Anti-Scald Technology

While a hot soak is a great way to relax and minimize the pain from aching joints, some bathers habitually turn on the hot water to fill a tub and then add cold to bring it to a comfortable temperature. Since the bather has to sit in a walk-in tub before filling it, turning on just the hot water can result in scalded skin, especially if the water heater temperature is turned up high. Many walk-in tubs provide automatic protection against possible burns with an anti-scald valve that automatically blends in some cool water during filling.

5. Fast Fill and Draining

Sitting in a bathtub waiting for the water to fill or drain can leave a senior exposed to cold air and discomfort. A fast-filling tub reduces the amount of time it takes to enjoy a hot soak. Once seniors finish taking a bath, the water must drain below the low-entry point before they can leave the tub. Many walk-in tubs have greater water capacity than traditional tubs, so they can take several minutes to drain. In models with rapid-drain technology, the entire tub can empty in less than a minute, allowing a senior to make a quick exit.