Walk-in tubs are being installed in homes around the country to help people avoid injuries from slipping and falling.
For seniors, in particular, bathrooms can be dangerous. Wet, slippery floors can cause seniors to fall. This can lead to broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries.
According to the CDC, more than one out of four seniors fall each year. One out of five of these falls leads to serious injuries, including broken bones and head injuries¹.
This can be due to lower body weakness, vision problems, vitamin D deficiency, foot pain, or other causes.
Whatever the case may be, it’s important to take preventative measures in order to reduce your risk of getting hurt.
Walk-in tubs are a great solution to help seniors avoid serious injuries from falling in the bathroom.
Safety First
Normal tubs can present a number of safety issues.
First, regular tubs require you to step over a wall which normally sits around 20 inches off of the ground. This can be difficult to do once you’ve lost your mobility.
Regular tubs also don’t include useful safety features, like seats, grab bars, and more.
Walk-in tubs, on the other hand, make entering and exiting the tub easy while offering a number of comfort and safety features.
Features
Every walk-in tub is different. It’s important to identify exactly what your needs are so that you can find the right solution.
Walk-in tubs can come with a number of important safety features, including:
- Easy-to-reach controls
- Lower walls
- Grab bars
- Seating
- Fast draining
- Hydrotherapy
- And more
Features like these can help significantly reduce your injury risk and allow you to live safely and comfortably.
It’s important to consider which features you need in your walk-in tub as additional features will always increase your costs.
How Much Do Walk-In Tubs Cost?
Walk-in tubs vary in price. The cost is determined primarily by the additional features you choose to add.
Additionally, larger tubs will always cost more. You also have to consider how a larger tub might affect your water, gas, and/or electricity bills.
According to RetirementLiving, the average cost of a walk-in tub with professional installation ranges from $5,000 to $7,000. A Walk-in tub with standard features tends to cost anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000².
While most tubs do include professional installation, some do not. If yours doesn’t, you should plan to spend around $45 to $65 per hour for a total of six to eight hours. This could be even more if your walk-in tub has advanced features.
Considering how often you will use your walk-in tub and how much it will reduce your risk of injury, these tubs are often well worth the cost.
Keep in mind that Medicare typically doesn’t cover the cost for walk-in tubs, so you may have to cover this expense on your own.
Find Walk-In Tubs Online
Walk-in tubs are a fantastic resource that helps seniors maintain their comfort and independence.
Replacing your old bath with a walk-in tub can greatly reduce your risk of injury while being affordable and easy to install.
By doing a quick online search, and comparing several different options, you can find the perfect, affordable walk-in tub for your needs.
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html
[2] https://www.retirementliving.com/how-much-do-walk-in-tubs-cost