Bath Lifts

Many of our clients have inquired about Bath Tub Lifts so we are publishing reviews of some of the best lifts on the market. The following article comes from our friends at  www.StairLiftAnswers.com

Bath Tub Lifts - An Overview

There are many brands of bath tub lifts on the market. Lots of web sites sell bathtub lifts but few of the sales people are knowledgeable about the products. There are several factors in choosing the right bath tub lift

 

 

 

 

Costs of Bath Tub Lifts

 

 

 

Models of Bath Lifts

Minivator Bath Bliss 311

       

Model

Weight Limit

Lowest Position

Highest Position

Reclines

Available at

Price

Minivator Bath Blis 311

287

2.5"

17"

Yes

Bath Bliss

$349

Invacare Rio Bath Lift

265

2.4"

17.3"

No

Rio

$399

Bathmaster Deltis BathLift

308

2.5"

18"

Yes

Deltis

$429

Bathmaster Sonaris Bath Lift

309

3"

17.5"

No

Sonaris

$425

Bathmaster Sonaris 2 XL Bath Lift

375

2.5"

18"

No

Sonaris 2 XL

$699

Drive Whisper Auto Bath Lift

300

2.6"

18"

Yes

Whisper

$399

Drive Bellavita Auto Bath Lift

308

2.3"

18.8"

Yes

Bellavita

Call

Aquajoy Premier Bath Lift

375

3.1"

18.1"

Yes

Aquajoy

Call

Deeper Bath Lift

375

3.5"

19"

Yes

Deeper

$899

Petermann PM 48

375

3.5"

19”

Yes

Petermann 48

$899

Deepest Bath Lift

300

3.5"

23"

Yes

Deepest

$1399

Petermann 58

300

3.5"

23"

Yes

Petermann 58

$1399

 

Hydraulic or Battery powered?

Most bath lifts were originally water powered and installed by hooking a hose to the bath tub's plumbing in the same way a hand held shower is hooked up. Today, with the advancements, in technology many of the bath lifts on the market are battery powered. Although most models have been promoted as portable, there was always an issue with hooking up a water supply when away from home but with the production of battery powered units traveling with a lift is much easier. When at home or away the battery powered unit can be simply placed in the tub when needed and removed when not needed without the hassle of connecting and disconnecting water hoses.

An advantage of the water powered unit are there is no battery to recharge; as long as your house has water pressure it will work. The disadvantage of the water powered bath lift is that if the water bladder develops a leak they are generally quite expensive to replace.

Battery powered units sense the amount of power left in the battery and won't lower into the tub if there isn't enough power for the lift to lift back up again. Extra batteries can be purchased to be used as a backup so you'll always have a charged battery ready for use. Having a back up battery is a good idea in institutional settings where the lift is used multiple times a day.

Recline Feature

Most of today's bath lifts offer some type of recline feature. While sounding like a god idea they are not always as functional as on would think. When the bath lift is placed at the end of the bath tub the amount of recline is limited the angle of the end of the bath tub. If the bath lift is positioned forward to allow for more recline then leg room is sacrificed and the user ends up with their knees in the air.

 

Some Videos About Typical Bath Lifts

     

Using a bath lift

Bath lifts are pretty simple to use. When in the raised position, the seat will over lap the out side lip of the bath tub. The user simply sits on the bath lift with their legs outside the bath tub, swing their legs into the bath tub, center themselves on the seat and push a button or lever which will lower them into the water. The bath tub can be filled before (preferable for comfort) or after the lift is lowered. When the bath is finished, the user uses the button/lever to lift the bath lift to the raised position, the user swings their legs out and stands or transfers to a wheelchair.

One thing to keep in mind is the seat flaps which lay on the side of the tub are supported by the tub wall. If the lift is too high, there is a danger of the flaps breaking off during a transfer. To avoid breakage, the bath lift must be raised to the same height as the side of the bath tub and not higher during transfers.

 

Accessories/Options

Note: all accessories and options are not available for all bath lifts.

  1. Transfer Disc - for those who have trouble swinging their legs into the bath tub and centering themselves on the seat a bath lift transfer disc placed on the seat will make turning and sliding across the seat much easier.
  2. Side Wings - Side wings are supports attached to the back of the seat for people who have trouble remaining upright without leaning to the sides.
  3. Head Rest - Head rests are optional on some models of lifts for those who require head support.
  4. Chest Strap - Chest straps are used to prevent the user from leaning sideways or forward while bathing.
  5. Lap Belt - Lap belts help in keeping the user securely in place during bathing.

 

Health Benefits of a Bath
 
Relax muscles, calm your mind, detoxify, moisturize, stimulate circulation and clear your lymph system - all with a simple bath.
 
A lot of people say they aren't interested in sitting in a tub of water. However, there are many health benefits to a good, long, hot bath. The following article and bath recipe provide plenty of incentive to fill the tub and drop in for a good long, relaxing, moisturizing, detoxifying, lymph node clearing, circulation-stimulating and immune system boosting soak.
 
The deep muscle relaxation associated with a good hot bath helps to reduce cramps, tension headaches and improves muscle elasticity. The process is similar to a massage and beneficial for everyone from athletes to those who sit at a desk all day. When a hot bath is followed with gentle stretching, the benefits to the musculoskeletal system may even reduce the number of trips many people take to the chiropractor by helping to maintain muscle position and equal tension on the skeletal system.
 
The psychological benefits from the time to relax and unwind are numerous. A good book or magazine while relaxing in the bath can take your mind off financial and emotional worries and give you a clearer head when you need to address these problems at a later time. Keep your bath time a time without interruption to help give you a break from your hectic life. Be sure to relax your mind as well as your muscles.
 
Make your bath hot enough to induce a sweat. The process of perspiration removes toxins from the body. You may even notice that a regular bath routine reduces perspiration odor so you have less of a need for deodorants to control body odor. The heat of the water also kills many strains of bacteria and viruses decreasing the number of colds and infections you may get throughout the year.
 
Increased circulation of the lymph system required for the sweating process helps to clear the system of toxins and create a free-flowing system to remove toxins, bacteria and viruses from the body. The lymph system is the system responsible for stimulating immune response. Hot baths help increase lymph drainage and improve health.
 
Increased blood circulation improves all bodily systems by increasing the rate of nourishing blood cells to damaged tissue. In addition, dead cells are removed from the body more quickly, increasing the ability to stay healthy and energetic.
 
Add oils to moisturize and shed dead skin cells. Natural oils, such as coconut oil or olive oil, help to moisturize your skin and prevent future dryness. The use of a loofa or sea sponge will remove dead skin cells to improve the appearance of radiant glowing skin without harsh chemicals. A regular hot bath with a good dermal scrubbing will put an end to dry, flaky skin and the itchiness they cause.
 
Improve your immune system to help fight infection and colds. The vascular and lymph system stimulation decrease your risk of colds and infection by stimulating the immune system to improve the ability of your body to destroy the bacteria and virus cells that can make you sick. Overall, a hot bath is extremely beneficial to improving your health, naturally.
 
If you have high, or low, blood pressure, a bath that is too hot may cause problems. Always cool down slowly after a hot bath. Allow the water to cool or add cold water slowly to return your body temperature and circulation to normal before getting out of the tub. If you have any questions about the safety of a hot bath based on your medical conditions, talk to your doctor.