Shower stools, seats and fold-down seats
A shower seat lets someone wash sitting down, which can make a shower feel steadier. Whether a stool, a chair or a fold-down seat suits depends on the person and on the wall and floor.1
Updated , by Bathroom Safety in Pictures
What is a wheeled shower chair for?
It lets a carer wheel someone from room to shower without a transfer in between. Age UK lists a wheeled shower chair among equipment that may be supplied.1 Check wheels have brakes and that a floor can take a chair rolling over it; a lip, a mat or a rough floor will stop it.
The chair stands on a dry vinyl floor here, not in a wet room, so it tells you little about the bathroom. A level-access floor is needed for it to roll in. See level-access showers for how that looks.
What does an institutional set-up add?
A mobile chair over the toilet, rails on both sides and a red emergency cord within reach. In a care home the room is planned around staff. At home, the useful ideas are a way to call for help from low down, and rails sized to the chair.
A pull cord needs wiring by a registered electrician. Rather than copying all of this, ask an occupational therapist which parts matter for the person. Equipment can often be tried before buying; the NHS notes it can be hired.2
Can any shower wall take a fold-down seat?
No. A fold-down seat puts someone's weight on two or three points of the wall, and the tile and board behind must carry it. In England, guidance for new homes built to the accessible M4(2) category asks for walls strong enough to support seats, with local strengthening where needed. Existing homes are not covered.3
Have the wall judged by a competent fitter, and read wall fixings first. Built-in shower seats can qualify for the reduced VAT rate for over-60s, per Age UK.1
Are shower stools safe on a wet floor?
They can be, if all four rubber tips stay in contact and the floor is level and clean. Check the tips for wear, and see whether the stool rocks when you push a corner. A stool on a sloped floor can tilt.
Look at the seat height against the person: feet should reach the floor. A stool has no back or arms, so it suits someone who can sit down and stand up unaided. Someone who cannot may need a chair with arms, or a rail within reach. Follow the maker's weight limit.
Follow the maker's weight limit and fitting instructions on every seat. A seat that wobbles, tilts or comes off the wall should not be used.
Do it yourself or get it fitted
What you can do
A short film from Nottinghamshire County Council, 2 min 18 sec. Press play to load it from YouTube; until then, nothing is requested from there.
Also asked
Can you fit a fold-down seat to any shower wall?
No. The wall and fixings must carry the person's weight, and some walls need strengthening first. English guidance for homes built to the accessible category asks for walls that support seats, with extra strengthening where needed.3 Ask a competent fitter to judge your wall.
Are shower stools safe on a wet floor?
They can be, when the rubber tips are intact, the floor is level and the person can sit and stand unaided. A stool has no back or arms, so ask an occupational therapist if you are unsure it suits.1 Check the maker's weight limit.