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As we grow older, most things we used to do become more challenging, and one of those activities is taking a shower or a bath. The elderly especially can injure themselves or even break an arm or a leg trying to take a quick shower. So, which is better for the elderly: shower or bath?
Taking a shower is much better for the elderly because getting into a bathtub can be quite challenging. However, you should always adjust a shower for the elderly’s safe use. You can do this by installing handrails and a stool so the elderly can sit while showering.
In this article, I’ll explain why showers are better than baths for the elderly and what you can do to make a shower a safe spot for them. Don’t worry, I’ll also discuss what you can do in case you only have a bathtub.
Shower Is Better for the Elderly: Here’s When and Why
If you have an elderly parent, you’re probably very familiar with a few of these scenarios. First, even though your elderly parents obviously have difficulty walking and balancing themselves, they’re still adamant about their wish to shower or bathe alone. They’re constantly convincing you they’re “just fine” or that they’re not small children.
In addition to that, they’re claiming they’re independent and can take care of themselves. So, after a fall somewhere in the house, you suggest they should go to a nursing home or have some help around their place, but they’ll hear none of it. So, you have no choice but to adjust the entire home based on their needs–and a shower or bath is the first thing you turn to.
Don’t get me wrong, both showers and bathtubs have their own positive and negative sides, and not all elderly have trouble walking. However, when you “do the math,” it just makes more sense to have a shower (unless you opt for one of the two bathtub options I discuss later in the article).
Be careful, though – showers may be just as unsafe as some bathtubs, but they have fewer cons. So, let me give you some reasons why showers are better than baths first.
- Easier to get in and out of. The elderly can have a hard time stepping into a bathtub because of its height. Showers, on the other hand, require minimal effort to get in and out of.
- Takes less time. Showering generally lasts around 15 to 20 minutes which is plenty of time for the elderly. Baths generally last longer and require somebody to prepare the bath and clean the tub after bathing.
- Healthier. Because showers have constant running water, various bacteria can’t remain in the shower for a long time. In the bath, however, even once the water is gone, bacteria can find suitable breeding grounds almost everywhere in the tub.
The Cons of Showers
It would be foolish of me to suggest that showers are absolutely perfect and don’t have any negative sides to them for the elderly. The truth is that our “normal” showers meant for everyday use can be unsafe for our frail parents or other family members.
Some of the cons of showers, when used by the elderly, are that:
- They tend to be very slippery when wet.
- They don’t have any rails that the elderly might hold onto.
- Sliding doors can be quite dangerous.
- The elderly have to stand in most showers.
Ways To Adapt Showers for the Elderly
Luckily, many of the cons present with showers can be mended either by simple products you can order or by changing some parts of a shower. Of course, if you’re looking for a good shower just now, it gives you more opportunities since you won’t have to change anything. That way, you’ll save plenty of money and time.
Get Bathroom Safety Handrails Installed
One of the biggest problems with both showers and bathtubs is that they don’t have some safety handrail installed that would make it much easier for the elderly to get in and out of them. Plus, with showers, you kind of have to spend the entire time standing, and that’s really asking a lot from the elderly.
So, installing a safety handrail inside a shower is an absolute must if an older person’s using that shower. I really recommend Lonvichtt’s Anti-Slip Bathroom Grab Bar from Amazon.com. First of all, this grab bar is 16 inches (40 cm) long, so It’ll cover a nice area in the shower. Also, it comes with a knurled pattern, making it non-slippery. How to Install a Grab Bar in a Marble Shower
Install a Level Shower
There are some older showers that are installed a few inches above the bathroom floor, which means they have a step that is there to keep the running water inside the shower. However, this can prove to be somewhat challenging for some elderly who have trouble moving or lifting their legs.
Therefore, if you haven’t started building a shower yet or are planning on upgrading your old one, you might consider building a level shower that’s the same height as your bathroom floor. This ultimately means the elderly won’t have to lift their legs to get into the shower; they’ll just walk in and slide the shower door.
Be Careful About the Glass Door
Many modern showers come with glass doors instead of traditional plastic ones. Although glass doors look stunning, they’re not the safest option for showers used by the elderly. What usually happens is that the elderly lean against or hold onto the shower glass door (because there are no handrails).
The problem with that is that the glass is simply not strong enough to withhold all that weight, and, over time, it can break. What also happens is that the elderly lean against sliding glass doors which, because of how they’re designed, just slide away, causing potentially serious injury to an older person.
Watch for the Tiles
Many falls for the elderly happen in the bathroom, and that usually happens because of the tiled floor, which becomes a death trap when wet. Add to that the fact that most showers nowadays are tiled, and you have a recipe for a catastrophe.
Now, I’m not saying go and destroy your tiled floor; there are some products that can help you with a slippery floor. I recommend Gorilla Grip Shower and Bath Mat from Amazon.com. This mat is great for the elderly because it’s soft on the feet. Also, you can wash it in a machine.
Install a Seat in Your Shower
If you ask any older person what’s the one thing they hate about showers, chances are many of them will tell you there’s no seat, and they simply can’t stand all that time in a shower.
Of course, you can always build a seat into your shower design, but if you’ve already built a shower, nothing’s lost yet. You can try Autumn Lane Folding Shower Seat from Amazon.com. It can carry a weight of 350 lbs (150 kg) which is plenty. All you need to do is mount it to the shower wall, and when you’re ready to use it, just fold it down, and voila.
If the tub in your shower is narrow, you can still install a shower tub. I’ve listed the best chairs for narrow tubs in another guide. 5 Best Shower Chairs for Narrow Tubs (Buyer’s Guide)
When Baths Are Better Than a Shower
Don’t worry, I’m not on a secret mission to get rid of all the baths and tubs. It’s true, in some instances, baths can be better than a shower – the main issue’s just that having a bath is generally harder for the elderly than having a shower.
In most situations, it’s almost impossible for many elderly to get into a bathtub, and once they’re in, it’s a struggle to keep their balance before they can lie in the tub. Then there’s the whole business of getting out and stepping on that tiled floor with their wet feet.
Here are some reasons why baths are good for the elderly:
- Baths relax muscles and joints.
- Baths are good for hemorrhoids (sitz bath).
- Baths moisturize skin.
- Baths before bed are good for sleep.
- The elderly don’t have to stand in baths.
- The elderly can heat their bodies in warm water.
So, let’s say your parents are elderly, and for whatever reason, you don’t want to have a shower but a bathtub, and you worry about your parents’ falling while taking a bath. Worry no, I’ve got you covered. There are two quite safe bath designs you might want to consider, so let’s see what those are.
Walk-in Baths
Walk-in baths are an amazing invention that combines the characteristics of showers and bathtubs. These bathtubs are a bit higher than your ordinary tubs, but they have a small door on one side. Once an elderly person is inside the tub, all they need to do is close the door and let the water run.
Walk-in baths are also great because they already come with a built-in seat and (usually) a non-slip surface.
The Cons of Walk-in Baths
Before you go and buy a walk-in bath thinking all your troubles are gone, you should know there are still some not-so-very useful or positive features about these bathtubs.
The main cons of walk-in baths include:
- Installation. Installing a walk-in bath means removing your existing tub or shower, which always comes with great costs and weeks of the installation process.
- Preparation. The great thing about traditional baths is that you can fill the tub with warm water before you get into it. That’s impossible with walk-in baths, however, since you couldn’t open the door to get into the bathtub.
- Door design. Another hazard of bathing in walk-in baths is the fact these tubs have doors in them. It can happen that an elderly forgets to shut the door securely and floods the entire bathroom before they realize it.
Bath Lifts
If you already have a bathtub and you don’t want to replace it with either a shower or a walk-in bath, then a bath lift might be just for you.
Bath lifts can be quite expensive for some, but they’re still the cheapest option. That’s because you’re not changing your existing bathtub. Instead, you’re installing a seat that stands on top of a tub. Once an elderly person sits on the seat, the lift lowers it into the tub.
Some elderly will still need some help to actually climb onto the chair and learn all the controls for the lift, though.
I recommend MAIDeSITe Electric Bath Lift Chair from Amazon.com. This bath lift comes with six suction cup bases which means it’s not going anywhere once you install it. Also, because of its steel rods and non-slip material, it’s perfectly safe for any older person to use it.
How Often Should the Elderly Shower or Bathe?
Showering or bathing too often isn’t that good for anybody, let alone for the elderly, because doing it too often can cause skin problems and infections. Apart from that, showers and baths bring many risks with them to the elderly, such as slipping and falling due to sarcopenia. The elderly spend much of their time at home, so having a shower or a bath isn’t a priority.
Therefore, it’s quite enough for the elderly to shower or bathe once a week. Of course, if certain situations call for a sudden shower, the elderly can have it, but if it’s unnecessary, it’s better not to risk anything.
It’s common for older people to lack the energy to shower regularly. However, there are ways to respectfully tell them they smell. Want to learn how? Read my guide. How to Respectfully Tell Your Elderly Parents They Smell
An Alternative To Baths and Showers
Unfortunately, everybody reaches that point later in their lives when having a shower or a bath is impossible to do, or the risk of an injury is too high. In those cases, many elderly have a helping hand when taking a shower or a bath. That help usually comes from:
- Their children.
- A professional help, such as an in-home caregiver.
However, another alternative many elderly have to consider is a bed bath. With bed baths, the elderly remain in bed or close to it, and somebody cleans them using a water-soaked sponge or a towel.
Final Thoughts
Showers are usually better for the elderly because they are much easier to get in. However, showers are a better option only when they have a handrail for support and a seat. Apart from that, baths can be better for relaxing muscles and better sleep.
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