Many disabled or injured people are because of their injuries and limitations unable to take a bath without assistance. Although an alternative would be to take a shower instead, many still have a strong desire to go back to their old routine of taking a relaxing bath in their own tub. Buying a bathtub lift or disabled bath lift may be a great solution to return one to their old bathing habits.

Disabled bath lifts have been around for years however seem to get overlooked. Most people in this type of situation gravitate towards purchasing a tub bench or transfer bench and taking a shower using this method with or without assistance. Tub benches surely are a less expensive option and do the job fine, however if you are required to sit down anyway during the cleaning process it may be worth the extra cost to buy a bathtub lift system. A bath lift is a chair that is specifically designed for the elderly and the disabled so that they can be independent while taking a bath. The chair fits perfectly into the bathtub and does not need to be drilled into place. Its compact design ensures it sits as far back as possible in the tub, offering maximum legroom.The disabled bathtub lift systems available currently are relatively inexpensive and extremely reliable. The ability to immerse oneself in a bathtub and be able to get out safely and easily might be a huge ego boost to the psyche of the disabled individual.

The bath aids available both online and in store can get overwhelming thus each person needs to tailor the purchase to their own personal needs. For starters, if you are looking into buying a bathtub lift or disabled bath hoist, you need the flexibility to be able to get into the seat itself. Most bathtub lift models have seats that rise up to or above the tub lip thus making the transfer easier. This is a big advantage over a tub bench in that the person must get down to the level of the tub lip to sit down successfully. Furthermore, if you so desire to take a shower instead of a bath then simply don't lower the lift into the bath and take your shower while sitting higher in the tub. It is truly a great situation for those looking into a bathtub lift or bath hoist purchase.

There are reclining bath lifts available which means that the back of the bath lift is adjustable, enabling the user to lie down in the bath rather than sit up straight. Although this type of disabled lift does not fully recline to a horizontal position, it does recline into a comfortable and safe position enabling most of your upper body to submerge in the water.

Installation and setup of a normal bath lift is very simple and can be done in less than 20 minutes. Measurement of the tub height and depth is required to ensure proper fit before purchase. If you or your loved one is of larger stature and you require a heavy duty bathtub lift or hoist, be sure the model you select is meant for someone of your size. Unlike other mobility devices such as stair lifts and walkers, there are not many bells and whistles available when it comes to bathtub lift and disabled bath hoists. Color, style and appearance are the main differences between a lot of models. Make sure the device has a swivel seat and a chest harness to ensure that you remain in the seat during the bath. as the buoyant force of the water may pull some people out of the seat.