Bathing and showering equipment

What is it?

A shower chair is a waterproof seat designed to allow a person to sit while showering rather than standing for the whole task.

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Shower chairs have a backrest and armrests for additional support.

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Who might it help?

A shower chair may help people who:

• Feel unsteady standing in the shower

• Become tired when showering

• Have reduced strength or balance

• Experience pain or difficulty standing for longer periods

• Have reduced confidence following a fall or near miss

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What difficulties does it address?

Showering requires balance, strength, and endurance. Standing on a wet surface while washing can become challenging, especially if someone feels tired or unsteady.

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A shower chair allows the person to sit while completing personal care, reducing the physical demands of the activity and helping them conserve energy.

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Things to consider

• Is there enough space in the shower area for the chair?

• Can the person safely get on and off the chair?

• Is the chair the correct height for the person?

• Are the feet stable on the floor?

• Does the person need armrests or a backrest for additional support?

• Can the chair be moved or stored safely when not in use?

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Safety considerations

A shower chair should be stable, correctly adjusted, and suitable for the person's abilities.

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A chair that is too high or too low may make transfers more difficult.

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Some people may need more support than a simple shower chair can provide. For example, someone with significant balance difficulties may require a different option or additional adaptations.

What is it?

A shower stool is a smaller, more basic seat that allows a person to sit while showering.

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Unlike a shower chair, a shower stool usually does not have a backrest and sometimes may not have armrests, making it a more compact option for people who need some support but do not require full seating support.

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Who might it help?

A shower stool may help people who:

• Become tired when standing for a shower

• Need to take regular rests during personal care

• Have mild balance difficulties

• Experience reduced stamina or fatigue

• Feel less confident standing on a wet surface

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What difficulties does it address?

Standing for a shower requires balance, strength, and endurance. A shower stool can reduce the amount of time spent standing, helping someone manage personal care with less effort.

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It may be useful for someone who is generally steady but needs a place to sit while washing, drying, or completing parts of their routine.

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Things to consider

• Can the person safely lower themselves onto the stool and stand back up?

• Do they have enough balance without back or arm support?

• Is the stool at the correct height?

• Is there enough space in the shower area?

• Can the person reach shower controls, toiletries, and towels safely while seated?

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Safety considerations

A shower stool is not suitable for everyone.

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Because it has less support than a shower chair, it may not be appropriate for someone with significant balance problems, poor trunk control, or difficulty transferring safely.

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The stool should be stable, have secure non-slip feet, and be positioned on a suitable surface.

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A person should not rely on shower screens, towel rails, or unstable surfaces for support when using a shower stool.

What is it?

A bath board is a board that sits securely across the sides of a bath. It allows a person to sit down before moving their legs over the side of the bath, rather than having to step directly into the bath.

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Who might it help?

A bath board may help people who:

• Find stepping into the bath difficult

• Have reduced balance or confidence

• Experience weakness or pain when lifting their legs

• Are recovering from illness, injury, or surgery

• Need to sit while transferring in and out of the bath

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What difficulties does it address?

Getting into a bath requires balance, leg strength, flexibility, and confidence. Stepping over the side of a bath can be challenging, particularly if someone feels unsteady or has difficulty lifting their legs.

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A bath board can reduce the need to step over the bath edge by allowing the person to sit first and move their legs across in a more controlled way.

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Things to consider

• Is the bath suitable for a bath board?

• Is the board fitted securely at the correct width?

• Can the person safely sit down and stand up from the board?

• Do they have enough upper body strength to support themselves during the transfer?

• Is there enough space to position safely?

• Can they manage the movement of lifting their legs over the bath edge?

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Safety considerations

A bath board is not suitable for everyone.

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Although it reduces the need to step into the bath, the person still needs to complete a transfer that involves sitting, turning, and moving their legs across the bath.

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A poorly fitted bath board can move or become unstable.

The person should not rely on towel rails, shower screens, or unstable surfaces for support during the transfer.

What is it?

A bath transfer bench is a seat that extends across the side of the bath, allowing a person to sit down outside the bath and then slide or move across into the bathing area.​

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Who might it help?

A bath transfer bench may help people who:

• Find stepping into a bath unsafe or difficult

• Have reduced balance or confidence

• Have difficulty standing for showering

• Have weakness affecting transfers

• Need more support than a bath board can provide

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What difficulties does it address?

Getting into a bath can be challenging because it requires standing balance, leg strength, flexibility, and confidence.

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A bath transfer bench reduces the need to step over the side of the bath by allowing the person to sit first and move across in a more controlled way.

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It can provide greater stability than a bath board for people who need more support during the transfer.

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Things to consider

• Is there enough space around the bath for the bench?

• Does the bathroom layout allow safe positioning?

• Can the person safely transfer onto and off the bench?

• Can their legs be moved over the bath edge?

• Is the bench suitable for the person's height, weight, and mobility needs?

• Will the person be able to use it independently, or will they require assistance?

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Safety considerations

A bath transfer bench still requires the person to complete a transfer, and it is not suitable for everyone.

The bench must be correctly fitted and stable before use.

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Consideration should be given to:

• The height of the bench compared with the bath

• Whether the person's feet are supported

• Whether they can maintain balance while moving across

• Whether the bathroom space allows safe use

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A person with significant weakness, poor balance, or difficulty following instructions may require a different solution.

What is it?

A swivel bather is a bath seat that rotates to help a person turn into and out of the bath while seated.

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The seat swivels over the edge of the bath, allowing the person to sit down first before moving their legs into the bath.

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Who might it help?

A swivel bather may help people who:

• Find stepping into the bath difficult

• Have reduced balance or confidence

• Have difficulty lifting their legs over the bath edge

• Need more support than a standard bath board

• Are unable to safely lower themselves into the bath

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What difficulties does it address?

Getting into and out of a bath requires balance, leg strength, flexibility, and controlled movement.

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A swivel bather reduces the need for the person to twist their body or step over the bath side while standing. By allowing the person to sit first and rotate into position, it can make the transfer more manageable.

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Things to consider

• Can the person safely sit down and stand up from the seat?

• Do they have enough upper body strength to assist with positioning?

• Can they follow the steps involved in using the swivel mechanism?

• Is the bath suitable for the equipment?

• Is there enough space around the bath?

• Will the person be able to use it independently or will assistance be required?

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Safety considerations

A swivel bather is not suitable for everyone.

The person needs enough balance, coordination, and understanding to use the turning mechanism safely.

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Potential concerns include:

• Difficulty controlling the swivel movement

• Sliding or poor positioning during the transfer

• Reduced ability to move legs into the bath

• Confusion about how to operate the equipment

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The swivel mechanism should be checked regularly to ensure it remains secure and works correctly.

What is it?

A grab rail is a fixed support rail that provides a secure handhold to help with specific movements around the home.

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They are commonly used in bathrooms, beside toilets, on stairs, and at entrances.

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Who might it help?

Grab rails may help people who:

• Feel unsteady when moving around the home

• Need support getting on or off the toilet

• Find stepping into a shower or bath difficult

• Have reduced balance or confidence

• Need extra support on steps or stairs

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What difficulties does it address?

Some everyday movements require a combination of strength, balance, and confidence.

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A correctly positioned grab rail can provide support during these moments, helping a person complete tasks more safely and with less effort.

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Things to consider

• The rail needs to be positioned where the person actually needs support

• The height and direction of the rail should suit the movement being completed

• It must be securely fixed to a suitable surface

• A towel rail or shower screen should never be used as a grab rail

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Safety considerations

Not all grab rails provide the same level of support.

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Suction grab rails may appear convenient, but they should not be relied upon for taking significant body weight, as suction can reduce unexpectedly depending on the surface, moisture, or installation.

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A poorly positioned or unsecured grab rail may not improve safety and could increase risk.