Shower Wheelchairs
The Safe Way To Shower
 If you depend upon a wheel chair for mobility, a
shower wheelchair can
be a big help. It will allow you to independently shower and keep up with your personal hygiene.
If you are a caregiver, shower
wheelchairs can make it much safer for you to bathe and transport the person in your care, even if they don't
normally use a wheelchair at other times.
Shower wheelchairs are similar to traditional manual
wheelchairs but have a few differences. For one, they are water resistant so they stand up to getting wet on a
daily basis. They resist rust and drain water rather than collect it in the seat
padding and hinges like many wheelchairs do. The seats are also constructed differently. They have a portion
cut away from the seat so the peri area can be washed while the person is seated.
Shower wheelchairs often have a removable commode pan
under the seat so the wheelchair can double as a bedside commode when needed.
The arms usually drop or swing away so you have plenty
of room to move around while seated under the shower. The footrests can be removed as well, and some of the shower
wheelchairs have seats that tilt or recline.
Shower wheelchairs come in the rigid style or they can fold. Folding wheelchairs are
convenient since they can be stowed away more easily. These come in various sizes, special ones can be ordered for
people weighing 650 pounds or more. The wheels on shower wheelchairs vary as well. They can have four small wheels
or have two small ones and two large ones like traditional wheelchairs have. The models with four small wheels are
narrower and more suited to small shower areas and tight spaces.
Shower wheelchairs are ideal for the elderly and people who are ill or injured. They
minimize the risk of falling while in the bathroom because of weakness or wet floors. Caregivers can concentrate on
cleaning and grooming rather than holding the person steady. Although they are ideal for bathroom and shower use,
they shouldn't be used for long term sitting due to the design of the seat bottom that offers very little support.
They are not appropriate for use outside the shower.
Traditional wheelchairs are not intended to be used in the shower because they do not
withstand getting wet. When they do get wet, they take a long time to drain and dry out. Plus there is a danger of
rust developing. Not only that but the design of a traditional wheelchair makes it inconvenient to try and reach
all parts of the body and change clothes while seated in it.
Therefore shower wheelchairs serve a useful purpose and are recommended for
wheelchair bound or weak individuals to use as long as they are able to withstand taking a shower while
seated.
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Shower Wheelchairs To Wheelchairs
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