Soak or shower? It’s your choice
WALK-IN bath or shower — which makes the best choice as a safer bathing solution? A walk-in bath, accessed by a door with a low step, is very relaxing to soak in, and can help to ease joint conditions such as arthritis. The latest baths will often include a heated seat to keep you warm as the tub fills or drains. And there are spacesaver types to fit small bathrooms. Choose a bath if you have issues with balance, experience joint pain and want to relax your muscles or there are children in the house who need one. For speed and ease, walk-in showers are hard to beat. Half-height doors, wider frames and low trays make them very accessible, so they are a great choice if you find it hard to get in and out of a standard bath. A shower can usually sit in the footprint of the old tub. Otherwise, the bathroom layout can be changed slightly. There is also the option of keeping your old bath, but using an inflatable bath cushion or a retractable bath belt (left) to get into it more easily. Either will lower you gently in and out of the water at the press of a button.