Shower Wheelchairs

Because it can be difficult or even impossible to move a paralyzed individual from a wheelchair into a bath or shower efficiently without spending hours in the transition, the invention of shower wheelchairs has been a blessing to the handicapped community. Now, with roll in shower wheelchairs and a wheelchair accessible shower, bathing individuals who cannot otherwise care for themselves is a much smoother, simpler process.

Shower wheelchairs are designed out of materials that are waterproof, such as steel treated with an anti-corrosive, heat cured finish and polyurethane covered with vinyl. This allows the device to be wheeled in and out of the shower and wet on a daily basis. Transferring an individual from a regular wheelchair into one of these chairs in a large, open space is much simpler than moving into a shower.

Of course, to make use of such chairs, you will need a shower stall with wheelchair access. A wheelchair accessible shower stall will need a smooth surface into which it can roll, meaning that the floor of the shower cannot be covered with traction bumps or anti-slip materials. Wheelchair accessible shower stalls also cannot have a boundary between the bathroom floor and the floor of the shower stall over which the wheelchair has to roll. This surface must be flat and even.

Wheelchair shower stalls must be large enough to easily insert and remove the chair, as well as to allow access by an individual who will assist the disabled or injured person in cleansing him- or herself. While this is not necessary in all applications, most wheel chair shower designs accommodate this, just in case.

The handicap wheelchair requirements of a shower are fairly simple to adhere to, usually having no extra necessities. Lower shelving for hygienic products, such as soap and shampoo, are sometimes important, especially if the individual is able to bathe him- or herself without the assistance of a caretaker, and it would not be wise to require these people to reach high shelving. You may also find it appropriate to use handheld showering devices, such as removable showerheads, so that these individuals can wash and rinse all areas, as the showers usually do not have excess pivot room for the wheelchairs to turn.

Using a shower wheelchair can save a lot of time and energy and make showering a simpler process for all involved. Instead of hassling with bath and shower stools, it may be worthwhile to invest in a wheelchair accessible shower and a shower wheelchair.