Bath & Shower Safety

Choose by the moment that is hardest

Most bathroom difficulty comes from a few movements: stepping over the side of the tub, standing long enough to wash, lowering onto a seat and getting back up. Pick equipment for the movement that is hardest today, then add to it. Every product page lists its weight rating; choose one at or above the user's weight. Our bathroom safety guide walks through the whole room, including where to fit grab bars.

Getting in and out of the bathtub

• Something to hold on the tub wall: the clamp-on bathtub safety rail fixes to the tub wall without drilling; the tub-to-floor rail carries the load down to the floor instead of relying on the tub wall.
• A pole beside the tub: the Wonder Bathtub Pole Premium (300 lb) is a tension pole with a handle at the tub edge, useful in rentals where you cannot drill into tile.
• Sit down, then swing your legs over: a tub transfer bench straddles the tub wall. The transfer bench with curtain guard is rated for 400 lb; the Snap-N-Save sliding bench (350 lb) adds a sliding, swivelling seat so you glide across rather than shuffle.

Sitting to wash

• Standard round bath stool: 4 lb, 250 lb, seat 13.5 to 17.5 in. high; fits a small shower.
• Deluxe stationary shower chair: 7 lb, 350 lb, seat 14 to 19 in., assembles without tools.
• Lumex bath seat with back and arms: 350 lb, seat 17 to 20 in.; the armrests give you something to push up from.

When a caregiver helps, or standing is not possible

• Sliding transfer chairs: the ShowerGlyde SG1, SG2 and SG3 (330 lb) roll to the tub like a chair, then slide the seated user along rails over the tub wall. They need clear floor space beside the tub.
• Roll-in shower and commode chairs: the ShowerBuddy Lite and Roll-In Buddy Solo (300 lb) roll over a standard toilet and into a curbless shower; the Solo has 24 in. wheels so the user can propel it. The Eco Travel SB7 (265 lb) is the portable version for trips.
• Tub transfer systems: the TubBuddy with Tilt (350 lb) combines a rolling chair, a bridge and a tub base, so the user moves from bedroom to bathtub without standing transfers.
• A seat that lowers into the water: the battery-operated BathLyft (300 lb) lowers the user into the bath and lifts them out.

Floor-to-ceiling poles and grab bars

A wall grab bar such as the Lumex knurled chrome grab bar (250 lb, five lengths) must be screwed into studs or blocking; suction bars are not made to hold a person's weight. Where drilling is not possible, a tension pole gives a fixed handhold between floor and ceiling: the Stander Double Handle pole and Sure Stand Security Pole are rated for 300 lb and the Wonder Pole HD for 400 lb. See all support poles and grab bars, bath and shower chairs and bathtub safety rails.