Bathing bliss is easy to achieve

HECTIC days on the trail of toddlers or demanding pre-teens can leave you feeling hot and ready for a refreshing and relaxing wash. So if you’ve had enough of your old high-sided shower bath, why not set the ball rolling by ordering one of the latest walk-in showers, which look fabulously sleek and elegant, but conceal some clever safety features that will futureproof your bathing for years ahead. These include low entry, designer grab rails, drop-down seating, thermostatic controls and slip-resistant flooring. Safer for the kiddies, too! Another option is a bath lift, which will make for more confident bathing, without major alterations to your bathroom. A bath belt (pictured inset) consists of a fabric band on a roller, which retracts into a wall-fixed unit with an integral grab bar. The band pulls out and attaches to a floor-mounted bracket. Then a battery-powered motor gently rotates the roller, letting out the band and lowering you gently down. The big advantage is that it lowers you right to the bottom of the bath, giving the freedom to lie back and enjoy a relaxing soak. And when the band is withdrawn into the unit, the bath is clear of equipment and can be used by others in the household.