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Alternatives to Walk-in Tubs
Written by Kristen Hicks
about the author
4 minute readLast updated April 21, 2023
Most seniors are hoping to stay in their homes as they age, but that often presents some complications. Most homes are built for the young, with features and designs that make everyday use difficult as you age and moving through the world becomes more physically difficult. In order to age in place safely, home modifications are generally necessary. One of the most expensive home modifications people consider is for one of the most fraught day to day experiences aging seniors face: getting in and out of the tub.
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Affordable alternatives to walk-in tubs
Bathtubs quickly become one of the most dangerous spots in a house as adults age, with people over age 85 frequently facing injury and hospitalization due to falls that occur while bathing or showering. A walk-in tub can definitely make a difference for seniors wanting to avoid that fate – but they’re not a perfect solution. For one thing, they’re expensive. Even the cheaper models usually cost at least $2,000 for the tub itself and $1,000 or more for installation. And this isn’t an expense Medicare will help with. For many consumers, the idea of spending all that money on something that may well cause problems down the line is a hard sell. But if your parent does need a way to make bathing more accessible, you have to figure something out. Luckily, there are a few alternatives worth considering. If price is one of their main concerns in deciding whether or not to buy a walk-in tub, there are a number of more affordable options to consider. Bathtub transfer benches are affordable, ranging from about $40 to $200. There’s a variety of styles and types to consider – some that make it easy to slide down the bench, some that offer padding, others that are designed to take up less space outside of the bath for small bathrooms. For a lot of consumers, this option will suffice and set you back way less than something like a walk-in tub. One potential downside though is that they don’t allow adults to be submerged in a bath. For those who like the experience of soaking in a bath, this may feel like a disappointing compromise.
Bathtub transfer bench
A bathtub transfer bench is a simple, practical solution that can be easily placed over the tub, so all you have to do is sit down on one end of the bench, lift your legs over the step while sitting and scoot (or slide) down to the other end of the bench that’s located in the tub itself. Once you’re in place, you can shower while remaining seated which makes the process much easier on many seniors.
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Bathtub chairs
Bathtub chairs work on a similar principle to bathtub transfer benches, but they’re smaller and contained within the bath itself. Most are designed so you can still sit down before getting into the bath and lift each leg over while sitting, but they can be a little trickier to get into since you can’t sit on something that’s directly beneath you – you have to angle yourself toward the tub first. For that reason, these won’t be a good fit for everyone, as they do increase the likelihood of a fall. But some come with a handy swivel feature that makes the process easier.Bath chairlift
If your loved one wants a solution that still allows them to be submerged in a bath, then neither of the options above will be satisfying, but a bath chairlift should do the trick. These allow you to sit on the chairlift then be lowered into the bath. There are a few different types of bathtub chairlifts. The most common option is battery powered, you can simply press a button to power it. You can also find inflatable chairlifts that fill with air in order to reach high enough for you to sit, then deflate to lower you into the tub.
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More usable alternatives
If your loved one’s concern about a walk-in tub has less to do with cost and more to do with how accessible it will be in the long-term, then they have a couple additional options to consider that are more expensive than the other alternatives but may provide greater ease of use.
Roll-in Shower
A roll-in shower is similar to a walk-in shower (which is already more accessible than bathtubs), but provides a wider door and no barrier at the entrance so a wheelchair can roll right in. This option will cost a comparable amount to buying a walk-in tub though, including expensive installation costs, and it’s similarly permanent (or at least hard to replace with something else before a home sale).Slide-in Tub
A slide-in tub is a lot like a walk-in tub, but designed so you can open the tub door, sit down, and move your legs into the tub while sitting before closing the door and starting to fill the tub up. As with a roll-in shower or walk-in tub, you’re looking at a big expense here both for the tub itself and for the installation costs, but it’s likely to be accessible to you for longer than a walk-in tub.The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom (of which OurParents is a trademark) and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
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