Does this bath aid exist??

[BabbleBee]

My dad is coming to stay with us for a while, but he can’t manage to get in the bath to shower.

Is there such a thing that’s a bit like a chair / stool that goes over the edge of the bath that he can sit on to swing his legs over? I’ve tried googling but I can only find permanent fixings.

Might be an idea to also repost in Elderly Parents? Lost of knowledge on there Babble.

Google swivel bath seats www.completecareshop.co.uk/bathroom-aids/bath-seats-and-chairs/swivel-bath-seats/aluminium-swivel-bath-seat-685mm?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIucafl8SA8QIVROrtCh2tPACxEAQYBCABEgKpavD_BwE&sku=Q23628

Something like this would be useful maybe? Can find them much cheaper just the first example to come up

This sort of thing?

www.completecareshop.co.uk/bathroom-aids/bath-seats-and-chairs/swivel-bath-seats/myco-swivel-bath-seat-heavy-duty?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq4jXxcSA8QIVZRoGAB2SngLFEAQYASABEgJ2Z_D_BwE

I used to have something similar that was a board that fits over the bath - google bath board or bench

Yes - as others have posted above, you want a swivel bather or bath board. I'm an OT.
You need to measure the width of your bath for a bath board (internal) it will either be 26,27 or 28".
For a swivel bather you need a bath lip of at least 1" for it to sit safely, the wider the lip the better.

If you have a particularly nice local authority, you may be able to loan one for free.

I have a bath board. It's simple to fit and remove.

Perfect, thank you so much! We haven’t seen my parents for...well, for as long as Covid as they live 3 hours away. Dad can’t drive down any more so I’m going to get them and they’re going to have a mini holiday thing with us and I want to make sure he’s safe!

Completecareshop and careco websites are amazing. They have solutions to mobility problems you didnt even realise you were having. Its worth a look to see if there is anything else that would make his trip easier.

You might find an organisation that rents them too, it's a common issue

As mentioned, the simplest solution of he is fairly agile, is a shower board or bathboard. Showerboards have slats to allow drainage. Swivel bather is more hefty and less portable. With a showerboard the idea is to sit onto it and then lift legs over side of bath rather than clamber over first. So many people get them and continue to clamber over edge of bath!!

He just needs something to sit on to swing his legs over into the bath. He’s also very reluctant to accept any kind of help or admit his difficulties so if I can find something that doesn’t scream mobility aid, all the better.

Dad is mid 70s, seems to have aged 25 years in the last 10 FIL is a similar age, much more agile and able than my dad. The last time we were together for a weekend he fell at least 3 times...

shower board would be perfect.

If he is falling regularly he should be getting GP to investigate why. He may have something treatable causing this.

Measure edge of the bath, you need 2-3" on the side of the bath for a bathboard, 1.5" for a swivel bather. He needs to have good range on movement in his hips and be able to sit without support for a bathboard. A suction grab rail on the wall might also be helpful.

They're pretty cheap on Amazon, £20 odd quid. No local authority I've worked for would loan you one as he's not living with you, and the assessment delay would just waste time.

@vdbfamily

If he is falling regularly he should be getting GP to investigate why. He may have something treatable causing this.

It’s a combination of problems, and he’s just been put on the waiting list for knee surgery. If he wore proper slippers and picked his feet up when he walks he’d help himself!

@waleswhaleswails

Measure edge of the bath, you need 2-3" on the side of the bath for a bathboard, 1.5" for a swivel bather. He needs to have good range on movement in his hips and be able to sit without support for a bathboard. A suction grab rail on the wall might also be helpful.

They're pretty cheap on Amazon, £20 odd quid. No local authority I've worked for would loan you one as he's not living with you, and the assessment delay would just waste time.

That’s helpful re the measurements, thank you. Hips and sitting are absolutely fine, he doesn’t have the confidence to stand on one leg and balance to get in the bath, and he’s waiting for knee surgery - the knee pain is a big problem

Thanks everyone.

I’ve spoken to him and told him the plan, he’s adamant that he’ll manage with a step like children have to stand at a sink so he’s been firmly told that no, that’s not happening! He’s finding aging hard to accept I think.