Wheelchairs and: bathrooms

Are you, your loved one or a client someone that lives daily life in a wheelchair?

If so, you’ll probably know about some of the challenges this can bring when it comes to the bathroom. In this guide we’ll dive into the world of self-propelled shower chairs and how they can bring a greater degree of independence in the bathroom.

What suits you?

Does a wheelchair style shower chair suit you/your client better?

A lot of shower chairs on the market, including some of Showerbuddy’s range are designed to take effort off the user when getting into, using and exiting the shower. But with millions of disabled people in wheelchairs essentially living independently, there is no reason why they should not have the option to bring this same independence into shower. 

If you or your client is looking for ways to retain as much autonomy in the bathroom as possible, we can suggest looking at a self-propelled shower chair.

MODEL SB6w :  Our wheelchair-styled design.

Look at commode integration with wheelchair style shower chairs

A wheelchair-style or ‘self-propelled’ shower chair should also offer the added bathroom capability of a commode opening. Using the toilet should be as easy as showering. Rather than make another risky transfer between a wheelchair and an installed raised toilet seat, you should choose a self-propelled system that allows clearance over a toilet. Users can literally not leave their chair and complete an entire bathroom routine safely and comfortably. 

Some users, even those with a regular carer, may prefer the wheelchair style shower chair. They may also benefit from a chair that has a built in commode bucket for use away from the bathroom should it be needed.

Having this option just helps to extend the valuable life of the chair even further, should the individual have these needs down the track.

Bathtub style showering – why transfers into a shower chair need to be straightforward

Of course, not all wheelchair users will have a bathroom with a wet room, roll-in style configuration. In this scenario, we’d recommend opting for our transfer style systems. Instead of transferring from a wheelchair, over a series of hazardous barriers and onto an in-shower seat, a transfer system will consist of a chair, bridge and shower base.

Safer transfers

The idea here is that users can be safely transferred from the wheelchair into shower chair outside the bathroom and brought into the bathroom, already safely positioned in the chair. Then, the chair is attached to a bridge which allows smooth access into the bathtub or barrier shower onto a base.

More independence

The great part about these transfer systems is that all the features that make them great for carers such as the swivel, arm and foot rests, also make the chairs ideal for a partially mobile user who wants to manage the majority of their bathing alone. 

We have many in our community who use Showerbuddy almost entirely solo, providing an important sense of freedom for those navigating a tricky rehabilitation journey or new reality living with lifelong mobility impairment.

Shower wheelchair features to look out for

If you’ve determined that a wheelchair style shower chair is right for you or your client, here’s what to look for as you research options:

• Comfort – does the chair provide a good degree of back and seat comfort over an extended bathroom visit?
• Brakes – can the chair be locked down in place to prevent tipping over?
• Compact – is the chair narrow enough to maneuver around a roll-in shower  but still big enough to support natural bathing movements?
• Good quality materials – check the quality of the parts, fixtures and overall construction. Any shortcuts here might be a sign of failure when you least need it.

Common bathroom challenges with a wheelchair + basic shower chair combination

While a basic, low cost shower chair may be tempting to try, there’s a whole bunch of reasons why it’s not a good idea:

• Transferring from a wheelchair into a basic shower stool is highly risky due to the effort clearing the edge of the shower/bath unit.
• As weight is distributed onto the shower chair, a low cost option may lack the stability to stay in place, slipping over and causing injury during transfer
• Getting out of the in-shower stool and back onto the wheelchair is even riskier, with a wet slippery environment.
• The standard wheelchair will remain in the bathroom, potentially being damaged from excessive moisture.
• You will still need to rely upon separate toilet access equipment which again creates more opportunities for hazardous manual transfers
• More carer support is needed with movements that do present injury risks.