My mom died in a nursing home after falling in her bathtub and breaking her hip. The experience was emotionally and financially devastating for my family. A quality walk-in bathtub could have avoid all this, and saved her life. Let's take a realistic look at the impact traditional bathtubs have on seniors and the mobility challenged.



Reality #1 - Your bathroom is the most dangerous room in your home! Currently, 80% of all people in nursing homes are there due to complications from fall related injuries. Falls, sprains and scalds in traditional bathrooms account for the vast majority of these injuries. Had my mom not had that fall, I honestly believe she would still be here today.

Solution - Walk-in bathtub and safety tubs have high side walls and a low threshold door that permits bathers to enter without needing to lift their feet more than a few inches. Appropriately placed ADA grab bars provide personalized stabilization throughout this process. Once in, the bather can lower onto a raised integral seat - AND RELAX! There is no risk of slipping, falling, or trying to get up or down from floor level. Anti-scald valves, drains and accessories are within easy reach.

Reality #2 - Every injury or illness can financially devastate a senior's savings and financial stability. Healthcare costs are soaring. Many long-term care insurance companies are going under. Just one visit to the ER or ICU can cost over $30,000 in uninsured medical expenses, and, Nursing homes and assisted living facilities can average $8,000 or more, each and every month. Few seniors or mobility challenged individuals can afford this. Mom's injury and recovery process nearly bankrupted my parents!

Solution - Investing in preventative walk-in tubs and accessible bathing safety products saves money and pays for itself. Even the most expensive walk-in bathing solution can cost far less than a nursing home stay. The investment in prevention and health is crucial to thriving into older age, independent living and preserving your cherished financial resources. Think of it this way, if someone is barely getting by financially,... they cannot afford to NOT invest in a walk-in tub or appropriate handicapped bathtub! As with my Mom, once an accident occurs, it is often too late.

Reality #3 - Few mobility challenged have sufficient access to healthy, non-aggressive, whole-body exercise. Most diseases, like arthritis, diabetes, MS, joint problems, cancer and many others, are due to long term, low grade inflammations. Unresolved, these conditions worsen and can shorten life. Certainly, pain and discomfort become more problematic. As we age, we often don't have any way to exercise, and stimulate our body to help cleanse the toxins and contaminants that lead to inflammation, pain and debilitating degenerative conditions. My mom was relatively healthy when she fell. Hydrotherapy would have allowed her to manage her pain and maintain her health as long as possible.

Solution - Medical Hydrotherapy? installed in a walk-in tub or other accessible bathtub delivers sanitary, gentle whole-body massage, and can have truly life altering impact on a senior's health, relaxation and sense of well being. High quality walk-in bathtubs offer the option of hydrotherapy(not dangerous jetted "hot tubs"). Art Linkletter (currently 95) once told me: "Some people are more afraid of being old than they are of dying,.. The important is to have a positive attitude and exercise." Every single client I have raves about the relaxation, pain reduction and invigorating benefits they receive from hydrotherapy. Many report they are able to reduce expensive, harmful medications.

If you (or a loved one) is living independently in the home you hope to stay in for life, a quality walk-in tub or handicapped bathtub will