Tub transfer bench provides safety

Tub transfer bench provides safety

Health

beingwell magazine Spring 2008

Occupational Therapy assists in working through problems that interfere with your ability to do things that are important to you. Occupational Therapists are specially trained to look at problems in function across many different areas, such as looking after oneself (self-care), enjoying life (leisure), and participating in paid/unpaid work activities (productivity). For example, an injury, illness or disability may impact your ability to get dressed, cook a meal, wash a car, or complete a banking transaction. Therapists can teach you new ways to do things or recommend equipment that can allow you to maintain your independence.
 
    This series of articles will highlight assistive devices that are commonly recommended by therapists in the areas of bathroom aids and activities of daily living.
 
    Bathroom safety is important because of the increased chance of falling on slippery surfaces. Potential hazards can be properly addressed through education and appropriately installed equipment.
 
    There are many pieces of adaptive equipment available to enable people to use the bathroom safely. A tub transfer bench is a rectangular bench with four legs. Two legs sit in the bathtub and two legs sit just outside the tub. The bench eliminates the need to step over the edge of the bathtub while getting in or out and provides a secure place to sit down. Typically, a person would sit on the bench and, once seated, gently swing his or her legs over the edge and into the tub. The risk of falling is reduced because a person never has to stand on just one leg while getting in or out of the tub. This bench is often used with a hand held showerhead so that a person can remain seated during the showering process. Sitting helps to save energy.  Therapists will sometimes recommend this piece of equipment to individuals who have fallen in the past, tire easily, have poor balance or who have an injury or condition affecting their lower body.


   For specific recommendations, contact a therapist or one of your local home medical suppliers. Watch for upcoming articles on assistive devices in the coming months showcasing raised toilet seats, reachers and sock aids.
 

Pam Rantz and Jen Appelton are occupational therapists working on in-patient floors at Southlake Regional Health Centre.

All content contained in this or any other yorkregion.com website including but not limited to textual, audio, video and any graphics are copyright 2000-2008 Metroland Media Group Ltd. and can not be used in any part without expressed written permission, with the exception of content in the yorkregion.com Pen & Pixel section, which requires the written consent of the authors.