Bath lift

danco

Has anyone any experience or advice regarding bath lifts?

I'm lucky enough to have both a walk-in shower and a separate bath. I have never been able to use the bath because it's too hard to get out of. I'm elderly, and broke an arm a couple of years ago - I can still use it for lots of things but it is restricted in strength and mobility. So I think I need a bath lift of some kind if I am to use the bath.

I spoke to adult social care for advice - definitely not expecting them to supply as my income is too large but hoping for advice. They weren't willing to come out and take a look at my needs, as from their point of view the fact that I can use the shower without difficulty meant that they had no concerns.

So I'm wondering what to do next. One option, perhaps the best one, is to try to find an occupational therapist who will come and give me an assessment privately. But again how best to find one.

p00hsticks

No personal experience of bath lifts, but thinking back to when parents got a stair lift, I wonder if there is a specialist mobility aids shop anywhere near you ?
I just googled 'mobility aids shop' and came up with this, which has a bathrooom section including bath lifts. You an request a brochure but I'm not sure if they would send any one out (and if they do you might need to be prepared to fend off some hard selling.
The UK Discount Mobility Aids Shop - CareCo

As I said, I've no personal experience of these and I'm sure there are other similar companies out there....

Albermarle

p00hsticks said:

No personal experience of bath lifts, but thinking back to when parents got a stair lift, I wonder if there is a specialist mobility aids shop anywhere near you ?
I just googled 'mobility aids shop' and came up with this, which has a bathrooom section including bath lifts. You an request a brochure but I'm not sure if they would send any one out (and if they do you might need to be prepared to fend off some hard selling.
The UK Discount Mobility Aids Shop - CareCo

As I said, I've no personal experience of these and I'm sure there are other similar companies out there....

Or if they have a decent size showroom, you maybe able to go and have a look at one, and someone could show you how each one works. 
Also easier to fend off any hard selling, as you can just walk out of the shop if they get too pushy.

danco

Remarkably few firms have showrooms reasonably close, but this is one of the possibilities. I'll go there some time.

pjran

I have a bath lift, it’s wonderful. Just have to remember to charge the battery. I bought it myself.

Even with a shower stool I found it difficult to wash safely.

teddysmum

I have one from the OT department. It is a free lone as it comes within the price limit of items allowed. It was not assessed on financial position, but was a special as we only have a bath, which I was unable to use for about 4 years, having to rely on strip washes.

Sunbeam2023

Bellvita bath lift from drive. Chosen by a friend because it goes really low in the bath. My bath is big so no concerns. If theres not enough charge to rise you it wont lower you and the light will turn red.Means I can get in and out safely and sit for part of my shower. Lifechanging. Easy to charge. 

Cyclamen

I tried a few styles before finally agreeing to have bath removed and wet room fitted.

Inflatable cushion style - This was my favourite inflate to get on, deflate to be able to sit in bottom of bath and inflate to lift out.  The problem for me is you need quite a lot of leg strength to remain balanced on the cushion as it comes back up.  I dont have that but other friends love theirs.  

The canvas strap - i didnt try this one but looked into it. Looks like it needs les leg strength to balance but no back support.

Plastic seat style.. a friend had one of these that came out the bath to get in, lifted her up and over and into the bath.  I tried it before my disability back in the 90's and found it not terribly comfortable .

Have a look and see if their is an independent living centre, centre for independent living near you.  Some of them have demo equipment and Occupational Therapists to advice.. with no charge and they dont sell them.  They are an information source.

After years of using mobility shops, I have come to realise that often the sales assistants dont have a great breadth of knowledge. They only know their stock and sometimes not very well.  I've been more informed than reps coming to my house and that should not be the case. 

Good luck. 

danco

Useful to know, and also have the recommendation of the Bellavita, which seems widely available. I'm not sure - it's one of the things to check - if the chair type works in my bath, as it has a non-slip surface that might cause problems with the suction pads.