Why Does Merchant Hunter Work?
We connect trusted sellers and buyers. Do not spend time looking for the best deal online on Walk in tubs – we will find it for you. Fill out the quick form above to get competitive price quotes from local dealers who will compete for your business.
Walk-in Tubs Buyer's Shopping Guide
Everyone who is alive today can look forward to a longer potential lifespan than their parents or anyone who was born even one generation earlier. Also, with the combination of advances in medical science, education about the value of nutrition and exercise and a newfound global interest in wellness and quality of life, today we have more resources than ever to make every day as healthy and enjoyable as possible.
However, at some point aging happens to all of us. As well, more people today feel very strongly about spending their golden years in their own home (which is often termed simply Aging in Place). Happily, for those who wish to Age in Place, home helps like walk-in tubs make it much easier to do so. Walk-in tubs can ease aches and pains, provide comfort, make bathroom and bathing safety a priority, offer dignity and modesty and more. For elders with debilitating conditions that require assisted bathing, walk-in tubs also make this much easier on both the elder and their caregivers! In this Buying Guide, you will learn what you need to know to shop successfully for a walk-in tub. Specifically, you will learn about different types of walk-in tubs, how they work, pricing and how to shop for a tub that will meet all your needs.
Walk-In Tubs Defined
Right now, visualize your own bathroom. In your visualization, imagine you are standing outside the closed bathroom door. Now open the bathroom door and walk right into your new walk-in tub! This visualization describes exactly what a walk-in tub is and does - it is a tub that removes the safety hazard of having to step over the edge of the tub in order to enter and bathe. Rather, you simply enter the bathroom, walk straight into the tub, close the tub door from the inside and seal it, and then begin to fill the tub with warm, soothing water for your bath. The invention of walk-in tubs has come about thanks to seal technology. The seals on the door of each walk-in tub are water-tight, meaning that once closed, the tub can be completely full of water and not one drop will leak out!
Walk-In Tub Advantages
People who enjoy bathing in walk-in tubs enjoy a number of advantages their regular tub counterparts do not have. Chief amongst these is SAFETY. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the bathroom is the most dangerous room in any house - including yours. Most slips and falls happen in the bathroom (up to 80 percent!) and most of those happen in or near the bathtub. So any person - child, adult or elder - who has trouble bathing because of illness, injury or other reason, can benefit from a walk-in tub. The presence of a walk-in tub also eases stress for everyone in the household. Loved ones are not worried about whether the elder will slip or fall during the next bath and the loved one isn't worried about having to ask for help to perform this necessary daily function.
Other walk-in tub advantages include less need for and reliance on a caregiver and the help of care transfer devices to enter and exit the tub and bathe. This decreased reliance can also translate to financial savings - when the individual is able to enter, bathe and exit the tub unassisted, less money must be spent on bringing in caregivers. On that same note, another advantage walk-in tubs offer is an increase in independence. Aging spares no one, and often one of the most painful parts of aging goes well beyond injury or illness to that the inevitable loss of independence. Having a walk-in tub can help elders living at home to enjoy greater independence, dignity and modesty as they age.
Choosing the Best Walk-In Tub
A critical component to choosing the best walk-in tub for your needs is to recognize that different types of walk-in tubs can offer different benefits. For best results, you want to be able to identify your needs and then match those needs with the right tub for you.
- Size - Your first consideration should be the size of the walk-in tub you choose. You will likely come into your search with certain size limitations because of the size and shape of your bathroom. Luckily, today's walk-in tub market is filled with options from compact to super-sized tubs!
- Door System - Next, you want to take a look at how the door works, since this is the key component that differentiates a walk-in tub from normal tub types. Some types of doors are easier to operate, especially for elderly or frail individuals. Tub doors may use a seal system, zippers, velcro or even snap buttons to secure the door and ensure it is water-tight. Before you select a tub, you want to make sure the door is not an obstacle to independence during bathing.
- Door height and width is also important to look at - you will have a choice of door sizes, from short and narrow to tall and wide. If the individual or elder will be transferring in from a wheelchair, you will definitely want to opt for a taller, wider door. It is also important to look to the future - a walk-in tub is a permanent installation, so even if you don't need a wide door now, you might in the future!
- Wall Height - Walk-in tub heights can also vary tremendously. Consider the height of the individual using the tub and also whether they need shallower or deeper baths for the most comfort. This will help you choose the best height of tub.
- Additional Features - Anyone who buys a walk-in tub has their own unique situation to solve. Walk-in tubs today can differ greatly in the type of hydrotherapy (water therapy) they offer, including how fast the tub fills and empties and how strong the jets are. Other options can include adding support rails or nonslip flooring and even Bluetooth technology.
Walk-In Tub Prices
Of course, you have probably been reading this entire Buying Guide while wondering in the back of your mind, But how much does a walk-in tub COST? The simple answer is, between $2,000 and $10,000. The complicated answer is that part of the cost is up to you and what you need. Be sure to check with your insurer to find out if some or all of the costs of buying and installing a walk-in tub may be covered due to medical need. Also ask the dealer if you can get a low-interest or interest-free loan. If cost is really an issue, some nonprofit organizations will provide loans or even fund the purchase of walk-in tubs for medical reasons. Finally, while it may be tempting to simply go with the lowest bidder, what is most pressing is to identify a tub that will meet your loved one's needs. Then you can look for financing, payment plans, insurance reimbursement and assistance as needed to help you afford the tub that is the safest and best choice.