Choosing the right assisted bath for care environments

In a professional care setting, you’ll expect to find that assisted baths tend to be quite large in size, clinical in appearance and very technical in their operation. Their goal is to help ensure that assisted bathing is as safe and comfortable as possible for the individual and carer.

However, finding the right assisted bath to meet your patient’s needs can be a tough task.

From options regarding wellness, height adjustment and infection prevention, it can be tricky to work out which type of bath is best suited to meet different conditions and care requirements.

To help make the decision making process a little easier, Future HealthSpaces partner, Innova Care Concepts, have put together a guide on which types of assisted baths are best suited for multi-user care environments, and how trends are changing for baths to deliver a more therapeutic experience.

Types of Assisted Baths for Multi-User Care Spaces;

Hospitals, hospices, care homes and rehabilitation centres will often look at assisted baths that are height-adjustable, have a cocoon or keyhole design and enable walk-in access. The reason for this? By having a wider design, these tubs deliver more space for an individual in the tub, delivering greater support with the bath contours.

The extra space provided makes them perfect for multi-user environments, enabling flexibility to suit different users and allow an individual to immerse deeper into the bath.

Not only does this provide a more comfortable experience, it also gives more working space for care providers.

These baths are designed with safety in mind. You can expect to see options for autofill, cleaning cycles and a digital thermometer to ensure the water in the bath meets guidelines for cleanliness, depth and temperature.

Care providers are also thinking about how their equipment can enhance wellness. Whether you look at a walk-in tub or a keyhole design, tubs that include features such as LED lights, water jets and speakers are becoming more popular, helping to deliver a greater sensory experience.

Let’s take a closer look at two of the most popular types of assisted baths for multi-user care environments.

Height-Adjustable Keyhole Bath;

Assisted bathing in a multi-user care environment needs to be as relaxing as possible.

A keyhole assisted bath like a TR 900, has the space and panel design features to help make assisted bathing stress-free for caregivers and patients.

Its extra width at the head end of the bathtub, creates more space for arms and shoulders, making it easier to bath a patient. It also includes specialist features like a digital LED thermometer, displaying the shower and bathtub filling and still water temperature, helping prevent the risk of scalding.

As mentioned earlier in the blog, these types of baths now accommodate features to enhance wellbeing and sensory development. For instance, a TR 900 assisted bath allows carers to control the air jet direction and the quantity of air that comes out, tailoring it to suit a patient’s comfort levels.

Infection prevention is a also major consideration for any care provider who facilitates assisted bathing.

You’ll often find with keyhole baths options to have different tub materials like stainless steel. Not only does this make the tub very easy to clean, it also prevents any bacteria from harbouring in any cracks, which tend to appear in fiberglass tubs over time.

Walk-In Assisted Baths;

To support those with limited mobility, walk-in baths are a popular choice for care environments.

Helping facilitate easier patient transfers, walk-in baths usually feature a distinctive swinging door, providing a great alternative for care spaces that need a functional bath without it looking too clinical.

Just like the keyhole baths, walk-in baths offer an array of features to support patient comfort, dignity and comfort.

Take the TR Swing as an example. This reclining and height adjustable bathtub includes tilting functions for patients to go from sitting to a reclining position. It also features options such as LED lights, air jets and speakers to create a calming and relaxing atmosphere to make assisted bathing more therapeutic.

Summary;

Finding the right easy access bath for different care needs isn’t the easiest of jobs. Whether you are trying to provide inclusive bathing solutions that are suitable for a care home or a hospital, it is important to think about what is required for both the individual who uses the equipment, and the caregiver.

In this blog, we’ve looked at the main types of baths that professional care spaces are utilising. From keyhole bathtubs to walk-in tubs, we are seeing developing trends where care environments are opting for equipment that are not only functional, but also improve patient wellbeing.