How Do You Use a Plastic Shower Chair with Arms?

Although showering is frequently viewed by many of us as a way to relax our tired or sore bodies and unwind before or after the day, on the other hand, elderly people may not share the same mindset.

Taking a bath or showering can be a tricky business for them due to the slipperiness of the shower or tub. Some of them would also say that they experience less mobility and flexibility because of this. In such scenarios, a plastic shower chair with arms may provide the help they are looking for. 

Defining What a Shower Chair Is All About

Some people like to call shower chairs shower seats or bath seats. It’s a seating alternative designed for people with mobility issues as well as the elderly. A good number of them may not be able to stand for a long time while taking a shower or bathing. These assistive chairs may also minimize the likelihood of accidental slips and falls during showering.

bathroom renovation

Most of the time, these assistive bath chairs for the elderly and the disabled are made of plastic materials. They come with non-rusting metal arms and legs. These parts of the chair can be made from either stainless steel or aluminum. 

These chairs come with 4 legs in all, each of which comes with a rubber cap on the foot. The rubber caps help keep the chair in the tub from slipping, skidding, or moving about, even when the bathroom floor or tub becomes wet and slippery.

The elderly can take their seat on the plastic shower chair with arms and bathe independently or with the help of another adult (adult child) or a caregiver. 

How to Use Plastic Shower Chair with Arms

If the shower chair is not in the shower cubicle or bathtub, it is useless for the elderly.

elderly woman

Position it in the shower area, and see to it that it is as stable as possible. It should not slip, lean, or wobble. Otherwise, make the necessary adjustments. 

The 4 rubberized feet need to touch the shower floor or tub. It is also important that the chair legs don’t lose their level, too. 

Ensure Your Shower Chair is Stable

To minimize the risk of the shower chair spilling or tipping the elderly onto the bathroom or shower floor, you will want to add a mat below it. 

Choose a non-slip flat mat. A non-slip mat is useful since it won’t bunch up underneath the shower chair while wet and protects the user from slipping and falling. Otherwise, the risk of tripping hazards will be ever-present. 

Take Away Obstructions

Assess your bath or shower area and look for anything that may potentially pose a hazard

Consider this as an example. Most of us would mount a shower caddy right above the shower or tub stall. You can transfer/move such an item to the opposite side instead. There is no way for us to know when the suction cups will lose their grip, and if that happens, then the entire shower caddy you have there will tumble down. 

Adjust the Chair Height as Necessary

Your plastic shower chair with arms shouldn’t be too low for the elderly or any user to rise from. It must not be too high for their feet to fully contact the floor when sitting in the chair. One way to know that the height of the chair is most suitable for their use is if they can already set their feet flat on the bathroom floor.

The key to the successful use of shower chairs is that the elderly or disabled people learn how to correctly use them. Sitting on the chair’s precipice is discouraged due to the risk of slipping right off. Instead, the chair user must see to it that they are seated in the centre of the chair and stay there until they are done showering.