I am disabled and unable to get in the tub. I’m looking for some device to help raise and lower me into the tub. Is there such a thing? This is becoming a real problem. Can’t take a shower either. Any solutions?
After reading your message to me the best option for you would be a Hoyer Lift. The mesh sling can be lowered into the water and it dries pretty quickly. I am assuming that you have help and the Hoyer is pretty easy to use.
Once lifted out of the water I would begin drying my Husband and would finish drying once I got him back on the bed. A clean dry split leg sling would be on the bed. I would dress him and reattach the sling to the Hoyer and transfer him to his wheelchair.
I have a walk in shower with built in bench , hand grips to help with balance getting in and out. i have a walk in tub as well; only draw back to tub is sitting there naked waiting for it to fill up. If you consider a walk in tub be sure you get the fast fill up and fast drain feature. I had one of the original slow ones. When we remodeled our bathroom we got the newer fast fill one. Much nicer.
There is a product called a “bath lift chair” that is powered. Many different brands. I have seen one demonstrated at a medical supply store, and it looked very good, but have not used one. If you search for it, on Amazon or elsewhere, you can see them, including some videos showing how they work.
One of the "Walk in tubs" would be nice. cost is about the same as a new car though! I would think a shower bench or Shower seat and using a hand help shower head/wand would work.
I suggested a walk in shower because there are wheelchairs that can be taken into showers. Put "wheelchairs for showering" in your search and you will see all kinds of things.
This article says Medicare Advantages may pay for walk in tubs. Straight Medicare won't but may if the prescription says its medically needed and why. Medicaid maybe, too.
Several of my dad’s friends got a walk in tub and all regretted it. They’d have to get in it unclothed, wait for it to fill, bathe, and then wait for it to drain before getting out. They were so cold during all this it was miserable. I’d be scared of a Hoyer lift in a wet area. If showering isn’t an option, you may need to go with cleansing bath cloths from medical supply
I haven't 'tub bathed' in years. Showers are more refreshing (to me, anyway) and seem so much cleaner. Now, nursing a broken ankle surgery, showers are the only way to go, safely.
If you are set on tub bathing, you need to hire in home help for 2+ sessions per week. Maybe you can dovetail those times with CG's who will do other things to help--light cleaning, laundry, shopping? Most agencies will not bill less than 4 hrs no matter how long the CG stays.
The cost of a walk in tub is pretty steep, and do not add to the resale value of a home. Just an FYI.
Try the handheld shower and shower chair and make sure you have grab bars. If that doesn't satisfy you--look into regular CG's for help.
A hoyer lift may not fit in a bathroom. It wouldn't mine. And doesn't that need a 2 person assist?
Yes, I am also curious why you can't take a shower? Maybe a slight remodel may make that possible. As, take the tub out and put just a shower in. They make them without any lip so every easy to get into.
Shower chair or bench should make it easier. Hand held shower wand. If you are looking for equipment that will make it easier a Hoyer Lift would work well. Using a walk in shower would be easier. A shower bench or chair. The same hand held shower head. And a Sit to stand could be used to help you get placed on the bench or chair. The benches can have backs on them so you would have support.
the other option might be to get one of the "walk in tubs" they cost a fortune but it might be worth it.
Sounds like you might need to change your expectations for your cleanup routine. Don't understand why you couldn't take a shower with a shower chair. Maybe you could explain your situation a bit further to get more relevant advice.
Shower chair and hand-held shower would be the easiest. Hand-held shower head is easy to install in place of the fixed one. (These can be used both as hand-held or mounted as a regular shower head.) Shower heads are available at any of the big box stores (Home Depot, Lowe's, etc.), many large hardware stores, online, e.g. Amazon. It's a do it yourself project for anyone who's handy. Ours is like this but in brushed nickel color: https://www.amazon.com/Banbury-5-Spray-Handshower-Glacier-White/dp/B01BSFH88M/
For the chair, get one that extends outside the tub. Those are sometimes called a tub transfer bench. You can sit down on it, then swing your legs in and slide over. We have one something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Carex-Tub-Transfer-Bench-Convertible/dp/B00OSENKZG/
Make sure to have grab bars installed. My husband has this arrangement (chair and hand-held shower head) and it works very well. He can do most of the shower himself, and then stands in the tub holding the grab bars so someone can help wash his back and underside.
The mesh sling can be lowered into the water and it dries pretty quickly.
I am assuming that you have help and the Hoyer is pretty easy to use.
Once lifted out of the water I would begin drying my Husband and would finish drying once I got him back on the bed. A clean dry split leg sling would be on the bed. I would dress him and reattach the sling to the Hoyer and transfer him to his wheelchair.
I would think a shower bench or Shower seat and using a hand help shower head/wand would work.
More info will get you better answers.
https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/financial-assistance/walk-in-bathtubs-medicare#Medicare8217s_Policy_on_Walk_In_Bathtubs
This article says Medicare Advantages may pay for walk in tubs. Straight Medicare won't but may if the prescription says its medically needed and why. Medicaid maybe, too.
If you are set on tub bathing, you need to hire in home help for 2+ sessions per week. Maybe you can dovetail those times with CG's who will do other things to help--light cleaning, laundry, shopping? Most agencies will not bill less than 4 hrs no matter how long the CG stays.
The cost of a walk in tub is pretty steep, and do not add to the resale value of a home. Just an FYI.
Try the handheld shower and shower chair and make sure you have grab bars. If that doesn't satisfy you--look into regular CG's for help.
Yes, I am also curious why you can't take a shower? Maybe a slight remodel may make that possible. As, take the tub out and put just a shower in. They make them without any lip so every easy to get into.
Hand held shower wand.
If you are looking for equipment that will make it easier a Hoyer Lift would work well.
Using a walk in shower would be easier. A shower bench or chair. The same hand held shower head. And a Sit to stand could be used to help you get placed on the bench or chair.
The benches can have backs on them so you would have support.
the other option might be to get one of the "walk in tubs" they cost a fortune but it might be worth it.
For the chair, get one that extends outside the tub. Those are sometimes called a tub transfer bench. You can sit down on it, then swing your legs in and slide over. We have one something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Carex-Tub-Transfer-Bench-Convertible/dp/B00OSENKZG/
Make sure to have grab bars installed. My husband has this arrangement (chair and hand-held shower head) and it works very well. He can do most of the shower himself, and then stands in the tub holding the grab bars so someone can help wash his back and underside.