Making the bath safer
A bath lift is one of several ways to make bathing safer, alongside a bath board and seat, a rail to hold, or a shower instead. Which suits depends on the person and the room, so assessment comes before buying. In England, the NHS says equipment is free if you are assessed as needing it.1
Updated , by Bathroom Safety in Pictures
Three ways into a safer bath
Getting in and outBoards, seats, rails and a hand shower
Walk-in bathsA door in the side of the bathStart with the part of the bath that is hard
Climbing into a bath asks for balance, strength and a steady wet floor in one movement. Aids break that movement into smaller ones: sitting on a board, being lowered by a lift, or opening a door in the side of the tub. Each takes space and changes how the room works, so first find out which step is the real difficulty: stepping over the side, lowering down, or standing up again. If balance has changed or there has been a fall, see a GP.2 A shower may suit better than any bath aid, and an older parent's bathroom covers the council route.