The Tub King Blog - Tub Talk: Safety Shower Suite

Showing posts with label Safety Shower Suite. Show all posts

The Hottest New Innovations in the Bathroom

By Kerry Knight

Photo Credit: houzz.com

There is a host of new innovations in the bathroom that are catching the watchful eye. As new technology affects the way we live, it has also found its way into the home. Here are just a few:

Communication technology would include telephones for the bathtub and the toilet
Flat screen TV on the wall
Sophisticated sound systems
Infrared lighting spas for removing toxins from the body
Steam rooms
Japanese Soaking Tubs
Radiant heating for towels, the floor, and the tub area, with a less utilitarian look and more of a sculptured appeal

Introducing Safety Suite Showers

Photo Credit: tubking.com

While these new ideas are catchy, there are a couple of new concepts that are far more practical. The most popular, in addition to bathtub technology, is the new walk-in shower with low or zero thresholds. It eliminates “enclosures” all together and the shower becomes an integral part of the bathroom. A good example is Tub King’s Safety Suite Showers.

Alan Knight, president of the company, remarks, “Our Safety Suite Showers accomplishes something where others fail. It can come with a zero threshold configuration, which means those who are wheelchair-dependent can become totally independent in taking a shower by themselves. The wheelchair can roll right into the edge outer edge of the shower, then allow the person to stand up using the many safety bars that are installed on the walls makes it easy to maneuver around the shower opening. The drop-down or built-in shower seat is also a great advantage in design. No longer do those who consider themselves physically challenged need to feel they cannot take a shower safely. Plus the independence is a great morale booster.”

The great thing about the USA-made Safety Suite Shower is that it comes with so many options to choose from.

Photo Credit: tubking.com

Size. Regardless of your bathroom size, there is a Safety Suite Shower configuration that will fit your space and personal needs. If you are removing an existing, standard-size bathtub (routinely 60 x 30 inches) then the best choice for your Safety Suite Shower is the 54 x 30 x 78-inch model or the 48 x 36 x 78-inch model. If greater width is desired, there is also a 60 x 33-inch model. If you are into doing new construction, you can go a little larger with the 61 x 31 x 78-inch version.

Options. The options are endless. For example, the plumbing fixtures can come in different finishes to match your bathroom’s décor. That would include the popular chrome or beautiful brushed nickel. There is also a very unique faucet available that has a circular safety bar that encircles the faucet. “This is an extremely fine addition that adds so much more to the safety aspect of the shower ... to be able to have something to hold to while adjusting the water volume and temperature,” says Alan Knight. Each Safety Suite Shower comes either with a built-in, custom-molded seat or even better, a drop-down seat. There are many other wall mount options that can be offered for both convenience and safety. And by the way, there is also another version of the Safety Suite that offers a low, four-inch threshold for those who are not wheelchair bound.

Ease of installation. The safety bath suites come in either three- or five-piece variations, and installation is simple. Furthermore, the Safety Suite Showers are packaged in moduled components in either three or five pieces, so in most cases, having to expand a doorway to get the shower components into the bathroom isn’t necessary, as it sometimes in with a new bathtub. A modest goal for installation time would be two days. Many homeowners find that they can actually install the units themselves with a little help from family, friends or neighbors. If more professional help is needed, most local handymen or plumbers can do the work. The complete units are priced modestly and can save the homeowner considerably more than doing a complete build-out offered by many remodelers. The savings can go as high as 50%.

Photo Credit: tubking.com

There is one thing that I have not mentioned about the new Safety Suite Showers, and that is just how attractive they are. You can choose from a wide variety of colors and tile configurations such the now-popular neutral colors of Beige, Bone or Biscuit. Or, if having something more colorful is your fancy, there are configurations such as Almond Granite, Coco, Dune, Mink, Ashley, Violet and others. Furthermore, you can have the seat top and back be configured in a veneer of handsome, waterproof Brazilian Walnut.

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention you can also order matching safety-designed toilet paper roll, towel rack and shelves, all of which come with a built-in, sturdy grab bar.

More and more people are looking to the future. Couples and individuals are considering what their lifestyle will be in 10 or 20 years. Hopefully they will be just as active and robust as ever. But what if there are some medical challenges or mobility issues? These pre-retirement folks are considering designing their homes for the future. And yet, at the same time, they don't want to design a home that looks like a hospital room. To avoid a totally utilitarian look, the Safety Suite Showers provide tremendous options. The beautiful walls and openness give it not only an inviting look, but provide additional spaciousness to the bathroom, actually integrating the shower with the bathroom room itself.

The Wonders of the Walk-in Tub

Photo Credit: tubking.com

While I am discussing new innovations in bath technology, I would be remiss without referring to the Walk-in Tub.Outside of the Safety Suite Showers, this is the best thing to come along. For those who prefer to take a soaking bath, this option offers additional benefits. First, these tubs come as independent units, free-standing, and providing a water-tight door for easy access. There is a seat inside and the height of the tub (normally 40 inches) means the user can submerge most of their body for a nice, warm, soaking experience. The real treat is the options of air jet and water jet hydrotherapy, along with the inline heater. With the touch of two controls, the user can bask in bubbles and whirling, massaging water to treat a number of personal and medical needs. The inline heater keeps the water warm for longer periods of use. There is a hand-held shower wane with a long metal-braided hose to rinse and shower while sitting. The Walk-in Tub comes with all the safety features of grab bars, slip-resistant seat and floors and a low threshold entry way. This tub also fits easily into an existing bathroom. It comes in a 48 x 28-inch version or 54 x 30-inch version. Installation can also be accomplished easily in two days.

Technology can be a wonderful thing, especially when it makes our lives safer, more enjoyable, healthier, and versatile. Tub King’s Safety Suite Showers and Walk-in Tubs fit that bill admirably.

In this article, I talked about some of the newer technologies that are being integrated in bathrooms today. I highlighted the numerous innovative designs and features of the Safety Suite Showers, explaining their various configurations and advantages. It also reviewed the benefits of the Walk-in Tub.

Learn more about Tub King's Walk-in Tubs

If you’d like to receive a FREE Walk-In Tub Buyers’ Guide, click here. Or, if you’d like to receive a FREE Clawfoot Tub Buyers’ Guide, click here.

If you have a comment, please type it in the Comment section below. Of course, I encourage you to share this article with your family, friends, and colleagues.

Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed below and I’ll personally get back to you. Thanks for reading; it’s been my pleasure to share this information with you.

Check out Tub King's Safety Suite Showers. Click here.

Kerry Knight (now retired) is the former co-owner of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida. He had many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. These companies not only provide superior products, they are also multi-award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” four years running. To contact Tub King directly, call (800)843-4231 or email alan@tubking.com.

Get Your Free GiftCard from Tub King. Click here to learn more.

Related articles

Confusion … and How Seniors Can Cope

By Kerry Knight

Photo Credit: housearrestbracelets.com

With many seniors, a state of mind termed “confusion” has become a serious safety concern. It refers to mental state wherein one losses the ability to a recognize people and places. There is typically a problem with remembering specific dates or knowing the time of day. Sometimes, it can affect a person’s ability to make decisions, even simple ones. It can be accompanied with feelings of disorientation and depression.

Confusion, as a medical condition, can sometimes begin suddenly, but more often than not, its detrimental effects manifest themselves more gradually over time. Confusion has multiple causes, including injury, medications, environmental factors, and medical conditions.

Whereas once this medical condition was referred to as “old timer’s syndrome,” further studies and advances in the neurology and imaging have now identified specific physiological conditions in the brain that cause a specific disease state.

Photo Credit: infomyhealt.com

A German woman, by the name of Auguste Deter, was the first to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 1901. The condition is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer, who treated Mrs. Deter. Her early symptoms were observed when the doctor was treating her. While she was eating lunch, the doctor asked her what she was eating. “Spinach,” she said. However, she was eating meat. He then asked her about her husband. “What is his name?” She would reply, “Auguste, I believe.” However, that was her name; not her husband’s.

Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurological disorder in which the death of brain cells induces memory loss and cognitive decline. A neurodegenerative type of dementia, the disease starts off with mild symptoms but over time, progressively worsens. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia — a group of brain disorders that results in the loss of intellectual and social skills. These changes can eventually become severe enough to interfere with day-to-day life.

The cognitive confusion Dr. Alzheimner witnessed in Mrs. Deter required him to take extra precautions to protect her safety.

A state of “confusion” in a senior doesn’t necessarily mean that person has Alzheimer’s Disease, nonetheless it does mean one should take every precaution to ensure a higher degree of safety in their living quarters.

Photo Credit: youtube.com

Let me offer some suggestions:

The senior should use sturdy canes or walkers if they’re having a problem with balance or have other physical issues that impair their ability to get around and ambulate themselves. If there are major ambulatory issues, consider getting a wheelchair.

Install a Walk-in Tub in their bath with grab bars and slip-resistant floor and seat to provide independent bathing. The Walk-in tub also has a very low access and egress threshold, which makes it easier for seniors with ambulatory issues to get in and out of the Walk-in tub. Along with its built-in safety features, you may consider adding the air-jetted hydrotherapy model, which can help relax the body. Adding water-jetted massage can also help alleviate their aches and pains. This will help keep their body comfortable, more pliable and possibly healthier, which in turn, can improve their mental state.

Photo Credit: tubking.com

Another option is installing a Safety Shower Suite. You can custom-order a Low-Threshold model, with a four-inch step over into the shower, or a No-Threshold model, which can accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. These showers can be customized to accommodate each client in terms of the type of seat included (built-in, fold-down or four-legged), seat placement, placement of the temperature control knob (with safety grab bar above it), hand-held shower, and drain. Also consider installing its safety-designed bathroom accessories. The toilet paper roll, shelf and towel rack all come equipped with sturdy grab bars.

Replace hardwood floors with padded carpeted floors to reduce injuries from falling on hard surfaces. Avoid placing throw rugs on hardwood floors as these can slip and cause someone with unsteady gate to fall. Or, at the very least, they may pull or strain a muscle as they quickly try to regain their balance.

Use hearing aids or glasses when needed and provide good lighting to diminish the negative effects of hearing loss and visual problems.

Some seniors require the use of phones with extra large numbers for them to dial easily. Or, if you can pre-program one-call buttons for their key contacts, this could make things easier.

Photo Credit: prnhealthservice.com

If your senior has the ability to participate a senior-oriented exercise class (pool-based or otherwise), enroll them in it. Regular exercise will help keep their heart, lungs, muscles, bones and joints in better shape and may help with their cognitive functioning as well.

Manage medications by taking advantage of pill boxes when keeping track of medications. Discuss with their primary care physician all the drugs different specialists may have prescribed. Sometimes the different medicines can interact negatively with each other. Minimize or delete any non-essential prescriptions (as almost all drugs can produce negative side effects).

If necessary, hire caregivers or use assistance from family members if activities in the senior’s daily life become difficult.

Consider getting your senior a self-monitoring system such Life Alert (Remember the advertisement, “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”?). The system is designed to deal with medical emergencies, fire emergencies, CO gas emergencies, intrusion emergencies; and now can provide emergency mobile phones and a specific app for cell phones.

Schedule routine sleep and wake times to improve sleep quality and daytime efficiency.

Plan regular social activities for your senior to improve social interactions.

Photo Credit: remainathomeseniorcare.com

Consider getting them a pet for them to care for. This is tricky and depends upon the physical and mental health of your senior. While caring for a loving, docile pet has proven beneficial to seniors (and humans in general), there are added costs and concerns. For example, if the animal could possibly get underfoot, causing the senior to trip, this would be a problem. Also, if they’re physically or mentally unable to care for the animal, then a pet isn’t an option.

If you’re a senior or maybe you have a senior in the family, take every precaution to keep their body and mind safe from injury (yours, too!). It will perhaps lengthen their make their “Golden Years” more productive and fulfilling.

In this article, I discussed the issue of senior “confusion” and also gave a brief history/overview of Alzheimer’s Disease. I then discussed various steps one can take to ensure their senior can It then discusses various steps one can take to ensure their senior can remain safer at home, and in particular, the bathroom, such as installing a Walk-in Tub and/or a Safety Suite Shower. If you found this article useful, please share it with your friends and co-workers.

Free Walk-in Tub Buyers' Guide

If you have a comment related to this article, leave it in the Comment section of this blog. If you’d like to receive a FREE Walk-In Tub Buyers’Guide, click here. Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the end of this article and I’ll personally get back to you. It’s been my pleasure sharing this information with you.

Thanks again for visiting with us.

Come see us at the Orlando Home Show, October 24-26 at the Orange County Convention Center.

To Obtain Your Free Giftcard, Click Here.

Alan and Kerry Knight are the owners of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida. Together they have many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. Their companies not only provide superior products, they are also award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” four years running. If you’d like to contact them, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231; or send an email to alan@tubking.com.

Check Out Our End-of-the-Year Specials. Click Here for More Information.