Is it Time to Install a Walk-In Tub?

Updating your bathroom with a new walk-in tub can be a very important decision to make. The right tub can add value to your home and offer newfound pleasure and relaxation in your bathroom. Should you update your bathtub with a traditional bathtub, a shower, or a walk-in bathtub? You need your new tub to offer you beauty, comfort, functionality and safety.

Wondering if it’s the right time to install a walk-in tub?, here are 7 reasons to consider that will help make the decision easier for you.

1. You want to remain in your home as long as possible as you get older. Many seniors are faced with the decision as we get older about where we’ll live during our later years. Do we stay in our own homes, or do we relocate to an assisted living community or nursing home? If remaining in your own home is important to you, and if you’re fortunate enough to maintain relatively good health, aging-in-place is a realistic possibility. However, adapting the bathroom to make it more accessible as you age is a necessity if you’d like to remain in your own home as long as possible.
2. You have difficulty lifting your legs. Are you finding difficulty navigating steps and sidewalk curbs or stepping over objects in front of you? Do these types of movements cause you angst and fear about falling? Traditional bathtubs have an apron that ranges 30”-32” high typically. If you find yourself having difficulty lifting your legs in a variety of circumstances, you may want to consider a walk-in bathtub for your update. With a low-clearance threshold, you can easily get into and out of a walk-in tub without fear of falling.
3. Standing for extended periods of time is becoming difficult for you. As we age, standing upright can become strenuous on the back and legs due to muscle loss or weakness. Although traditional shower stalls typically have a low-clearance entrance, they usually require you to stand upright for the duration of the shower. Showers with custom benches installed can take up significant space and can become rather costly. Walk-in tubs feature a variety of seating options to make your bathing experience comfortable and stress-free.
4. You’re experiencing limited mobility due to a disability or physical health impairment. Have you recently experienced a stroke or been diagnosed with a neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disorder like muscular dystrophy or multiple sclerosis? Have you experienced a severe fall and required a hip or knee replacement as a result? There are a number of conditions that would might cause someone to experience limited mobility. Bathing can become burdensome and frustrating as a result. However, a walk-in bathtub offers many conveniences and benefits for individuals living with limited mobility.
5. Bathing has become an unpleasant hassle that you try to avoid. An inability to bathe oneself is often a frustrating matter for those seeking to hold on to their independence for as long as possible. When this happens, personal hygiene can sometimes be avoided in an effort to maintain a feeling of privacy or dignity. Being able to bathe independently with ease and comfort promotes good hygiene, strong mental health and a personal sense of pride. A walk-in tub will typically address many of the concerns that people have regarding self-bathing in their senior years. It is a practical, affordable, and enjoyable solution to consider.
6. You’d like to experience a relaxing bubble bath once again. As we get older, taking a bath can become nearly impossible. Safely getting down into a comfortable, outstretched position in a bathtub can be extremely difficult for someone with limited mobility. And getting up out of the tub can be even more difficult. Fortunately, a walk-in tub can allow you the opportunity to once again safely enjoy a relaxing bubble bath. A walk-in tub will conveniently feature a built-in seat or bench to offer comfortable support while bathing. The water will fill up to chest level, and the bathtub features a comfortable headrest as you soak up the therapeutic benefits of the walk-in bathtub. It’s walls and door are waterproof, allowing you to fill up the tub with water without worrying about it splashing over the side. Grab bars strategically placed offer added support and assistance for standing up and sitting down.
7. You’re tired of dripping water all over the bathroom floor. Bathrooms can be extremely dangerous due to excessive water spilling or dripping on the floor during and after a bath. This leads to trips, slips and falls. However, a walk-in tub offers a simple solution to this common problem. The walls of a walk-in tub are high enough to prevent water from spilling over the edge easily, and the door expertly seals to create a waterproof barrier. Tubs can feature a convenient towel bar attached to the outside wall to allow easy access to a dry towel and the water quickly drains from the tub. And, anther common feature of walk-in tubs is an anti-slip surface to provide added safety entering and leaving the tub.

Are you convinced yet that a walk-in bathtub is right choice for your bathtub update? At Canadian Safe Step Tubs, our experts have been providing independence and relaxation to thousands of satisfied customers across Canada for years. Whether you’re a senior looking for ease of movement in your bathtub or are living with a disability, we can help you discover the many benefits of a walk-in tub. Contact us today to learn how.