The Tub King Blog - Tub Talk: Retirement

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Planning Ahead for a Walk-in Tub

By Kerry Knight

I’m retiring. Every time I say that it still sounds strange to me. “I can’t retire,” I think to myself. “I’m too young. I feel great.” It’s as if I’m speaking of someone else. Yet, then I realize I am at retirement age, 65-years-old.

Where have all the years gone? I think back to certain events in my life that were 20 or 30 years ago and it seems like they were just a few years ago. It can’t be that far back. But it is. So, I realize I have to accept it and move on.

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And I now have a Medicare card. I feel guilty, as if I have something that should belong to an older person. But I qualify. When I go to the movies, I qualify for the senior discount. At first I refused it, then I thought, “Why not enjoy the benefits of retirement?” In one short year, I’ll qualify for Social Security.

My wife and I are building a new home. I don’t plan to ever move again once it’s built, so we’re being careful to include everything that we could possibly want, as long as it’s affordable. In the master bath, the original plans called for a huge Garden Tub and a separate shower unit. The tub is beautiful, but here’s the caveat: it’s not right for us at this point in our lives. It’s designed for someone much younger, someone who doesn’t have to ever worry about falling or stepping over a tall ledge into a deep basin.

My wife was quick to notice how impractical that tub will be. “I want to replace it with a Walk-in Tub,” she said. At first, I was surprised. Most women would go to their grave before admitting they need a tub designed primarily for seniors with mobility issues. However, she’s the smart one in our family. In requesting a Walk-in Tub, she was being pragmatic and realistic. “The day will come when we’ll need it,” she stated matter-of-factly.

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She’s right. I can already feel a tinge of arthritis in my hips and back. It probably won’t get any better. The day will also come when getting light-headed will be more common when I get up out of bed or stand up from sitting in a chair, so even maintaining balance everyday will be a real challenge. We both know that day is coming, it’s just a matter of time.

Statistics don’t lie: most fractures among older adults are caused by falls, and the most dangerous and frequent place senior fall is in the bathroom. Most common are fractures of the hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm, and hand. Furthermore, the risk of slamming one’s head on a hard surface in the bathroom (and there are several of them) is frightening real. Twenty to 30% of people who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries. Once experiencing a fracture, it makes it much harder for seniors to get around or live independently, thus increasing the risk of early death. Many people who fall, even if they aren’t injured, subsequently develop a fear of falling. This fear may cause them to limit their physical activities, which leads to reduced mobility and loss of physical fitness, thus again increasing the actual risk of falling. In 2010, over 21,700 older adults died from unintentional fall injuries.

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My wife and I both eat right and we visit the gym almost daily. We both know the value of preventative care. We strive to live a healthy lifestyle, but eventually we will need some type of assistance. In this regard, a Walk-in Tub can be of tremendous assistance.

My mother is 83 years old. She now requires around-the-clock care. She can’t even bathe herself. In nearly 20 years, when I reach her age, I hope I can still take care of myself.

The Walk-in Tub could definitely provide a significant advantage in this regard. The Walk-in Tub is a self-contained unit. It stands about 40 inches off the floor and will hold about 50 gallons of water. You enter it by a hinged door on the side of the tub and step in. The threshold for entering and exiting is only six inches, so raising the legs and causing instability doesn’t happen due to its inherent design. Once the door is closed and locked, because of its water-tight seal, it doesn’t leak. Then you sit down in the slip-resistant, molded seat designed into the tub and soak in warm water. You can easily reach across the tub to the controls and turn on the hot or cold water, empty the drain, and utilize the hand-held shower sprayer with its four-foot, metal-braided hose. You can also control the water and/or air jets. There is a convenient grab bar on the inside for assisting with getting up and down. In other words, even if you were feeble, you could take a bath without the help of anyone. I like that. We do have our pride, you know. Independent bathing is vitally important to seniors. In requesting that the contractor switch out the Garden Tub to a state-of-the-art Walk-in Tub, my wife had looked forward 20 years and saw the eventual need.

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But that’s not all. Just like many elderly seniors, my wife and I will probably develop a few aches and pains as we get older. Age often brings on things like psoriasis, arthritis, eczema, neuropathy, muscular aches, and joint discomfort, just to mention a few. The Walk-in Tub comes with air jet hydrotherapy where its jet ports fill the tub with thousands of therapeutic bubbles that stimulate the skin and relax the body. Just the act of sitting in warm water creates buoyancy and takes pressure off the joints, muscles and ligaments. The Walk-in Tub can also come with a water-jetted massage system with inline heater. This means you can target certain parts of the body for specific “aquatic massage” treatment. The jets are adjustable as to force and direction. It’s like having your own massage therapist around the clock.

When I was younger, and long before I was part owner in a specialty bathtub company, I dreamed of having my own portable spa in my home, where I could walk in and get the same treatment that I would get from a professional health spa. Now I can have it, and not a minute too soon.

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It really doesn’t matter if you’re retired or facing retirement, it makes sense to plan ahead. The Walk-in Tub can be enjoyed at any age. Many who have medical problems are enjoying it long before retirement. And some who are presently in very good health, who simply enjoy the pleasure of having their own year-round, private Jacuzzi, have them as well. That’s great, too.

Getting to our senior years and existing comfortably during those years when we really might need help will provide new challenges for my wife and me. Sure, having that beautiful Garden Tub in our new master bath might be tempting, but it’s not our best choice in the long term. The Walk-in Tub might cost a little more, but overall, it will be one of the best investments of our lives. We don’t want to spend our retirement years fighting pain and ailments when we can install something now that can help us later. After all, that’s what planning ahead for our golden years is all about.

In this article, I shared some of my thoughts and issues upon facing imminent retirement. I then went on to discuss how swapping out our new home’s Garden Tub with a safety-featured Walk-in Tub makes much more sense for my wife and I. Then I shared some of key benefits Walk-in Tubs can provide, such easy access and egress, water-tight door, safety bar, ergonomic controls, water and jet-therapy and more.

Customer Testimonial for a Walk-in Tub from Tub King

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Kerry Knight is a former co-owner of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida (now retired). He and his brother, Alan, 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) 843-4231 or send an email to Alan@tubking.com.

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The Top Four Needs of Seniors

By Kerry Knight

Photo Credit: inc.com

Ever wonder what your top four needs should be as you get older?

As seniors, we’ve seen a lot in our lives. As the world as it moved from the Industrial Age to the Information Age across the new millennium, we witnessed it in real-time. Both the good and the bad. Some of us were fortunate to be able to acquire valued belongings, some of us were able to travel a bit, and maybe, some of us had the chance to really enjoy our families.

As we age, our “needs” list change somewhat. For example, when we are in our late teens and early 20s, getting a good education is a vital concern. The next ten years require that we find a good-paying job or a promising career. This would also be the time for purchasing our first home. Our 30s and 40s are the earning years, when we should be putting money away and investing wisely. In our 50s, we should be thinking about retirement and putting the final touches on planning for our “Golden Years.” Then come the retirement years.

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Now, everything changes.

If you have planned well, you can enjoy some rest and relaxation. No more punching a clock or running a business. You can slow down and enjoy retirement. Obviously, with money, life always seems to be a little easier to manage. But, whether you have planned perfectly or not, there are certain needs that you’ll have as you reach the “Golden Years.”

Number one is Companionship. If you’ve been happily married for many years and still have your lifelong companion, this can be a great time. Many who are just reaching their retirement years want to travel. They want to see the world they were deprived of visiting while they were busy making a living.

However, health issues can soon slow down the travel arrangements ― any retirement plans really ― and may require rethinking how you will spend those special years. Health problems may require needed assistance from your companion.

But what if you don’t have a companion? There are in-home services that can offer help with everything from meal preparation to companionship. Usually their services are offered during regular business hours. If nighttime assistance is needed, the cost can add up. Moving in with your family may be an option, as long as there is someone in the family that has the time, willingness and/or ability to help. If not, assisted living facilities are available. They provide housing, meals, assistance with medications, transportation and companionship. These can be costly, but it’s a possible option. One of the advantages of assisted living is the ability to be with other residents, create friendships, and have projects that you can enjoy doing together.

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The second need that seniors will require is Transportation. If you’ve reached a point where you can no longer drive, transportation becomes critical. Crucial errands such going to the grocery store and pharmacy suddenly become a real challenge. Same with going to scheduled doctors’ appointments or other health-oriented events (exercise sessions at the gym, etc.). Who can help with that? There are some stores that offer free delivery. If not, some non-profit groups offer transportation. If you have some form of assisted living, they can also take care of transportation needs. In many cases, family or friends can help with this, too. However, some transportation issues are more oriented towards rest and relaxation. It may be that you just need to get out of the house to take a drive, for your own mental well-being.

The third need is a New Challenge. Whether we are eight or 80, we never outgrow our need for a new challenge. Even in our retirement years, we need to seek out challenges for our mind and body. It might be starting some fitness program, developing a new hobby, or getting more into reading. Keeping the mind challenged and busy is another way to ward off things like dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. Challenge yourself!

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Number four is Making Your Environment Safe to Live in. Whether you live in your own home or an assisted living facility, making your location safer becomes more and more important as you age. One third of those aged 65 or older will fall each year. At age 80, that percentage increases to 50% of us. And of that number, once having fallen, these people are two to three times more likely to fall again. Falling is significant because it almost always leads to broken bones, such as fractured hips, which could reduce mobility and permanently hamper one’s lifestyle. Worse yet, a head injury can lead to more serious problems such as brain trauma or even death (read our previous blogs, “The Danger of Bathtubs – Falling is a Family Matter,” and “How Seniors Can Protect Themselves from Falling.”)

Why are seniors prone to falling? There are several reasons. It may be because of prescribed medications. It could be because of loss of balance due to lightheadedness. It can also stem from being unfit. This is why exercise, even in our senior years, is so important. Falls can also occur simply because precautions have not been taken to make the house safe. Slippery floors, thrown rugs and clutter doesn’t help.

One area that requires special attention is the bathroom. It’s is the number one area where harmful falls can take place. Why not add several grab bars in the bathroom, especially around the toilet and the tub?

Many seniors (and/or their caring families) are seeing the need for a Walk-in Tub. These specialized bathtubs offer a soaking and sit down shower option that’s free of the risks taken with normal bathing. They fit in the spot where a normal bathtub is located. They offer a water-tight door that can be easily opened and closed by the occupant. The door’s low threshold makes entering and exiting the tub easy. Once the door is closed and locked, the tub can be filled with warm water that covers the back. A hand-held shower wane allows them to shower while sitting. Therapeutic air and water jets can be added to relax the body and help heal problem areas.

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Another great thing about Walk-in Tubs is they this allow the senior to bathe independently and in private. This is tremendous for one’s self-esteem. And all this is done without the fear or risk of falling. Not surprisingly, many who have just reached retirement age and are still in good health are installing Walk-in Tubs as they plan for the future.

Another option for seniors is the Safety Suite Shower. These can be configured as Low-Threshold or Zero-Threshold designs. Each model has a built-in seat, in a variety of different configurations (i.e., fold-down, built-in, etc.), which can be topped with slip-resistant acrylic surface or a Brazilian Walnut seat top.

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These handsome showers can be customized to meet each individual’s situation. For example, in the Zero-Threshold models, the shower can be right- or left-side oriented (in terms of where the seat and hand-held water sprayer are configured). In the Zero-Threshold models, the hand-held shower wand and controls can be situated on the left, center or right. Even the drain can be placed in different locations to facilitate installation and plumbing issues. Both designs feature safety wall grips and handrails, even atop the temperature control. Optional accessories include a bathroom paper roll, towel rack and shelf, all of which have built-in safety grips.

Whatever your age, it’s not too early to think about what lies ahead. Planning and preparation will make life a little easier down the road. Take the time to think about these four needs. Set aside some time to discuss these issues with family and friends. Once you have determined what your needs and goals, put your plan in writing and then begin implementing your plan one item at a time.

In this article, I discussed the top four needs of seniors, especially as they reach retirement. I outlined the details on each need and discussed how seniors can pragmatically address and accommodate these needs. If you found this article useful, please share it with your friends and co-workers. If you have a comment related to this article, leave it in the Comment section of this blog.

Testimonial for Walk-in Tub

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.

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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.

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