The bathroom is one of the most dangerous rooms in the house when you’re a senior. The floors are slippery, and the constant effort needed to perform daily duties, along with the regularity of these duties, increases the risk of injury.
Bathroom lift chairs are one of the many mobility aids that can assist you in the bathroom, helping you to get in and out of the tub.
Do You Need a Bathroom Lift Chair?
As you age, it becomes increasingly difficult to bathe. Your personal hygiene may suffer because you dread taking a bath and you also miss out on the soothing, calming benefits provided by a regular soak.
A lift chair simplifies the process of getting in and out of your tub. It fixes to the middle of your tub, you sit inside, and it moves you up and down as needed. It may also recline backward, offering full submersion and allowing you to clean and relax.
If you have issues getting over the edge of the tub and find that you need to push yourself too hard and run the risk of slipping and falling, you can benefit from a bathroom lift chair. It’s not the ultimate solution, nor should it be your first port of call when you have a few minor strength and agility issues. Nonetheless, it can assist many with their bathing needs.
What Features do the Best Bathroom Lift Chairs Have?
Your needs and budget will dictate what type of bathroom lift chair is best for you, while the manufacturer will determine the quality and features. Here are a few things to look out for before you buy:
Adjustability
Is the chair adjustable and can you change it to suit your height and the size of your bathtub? This is especially important if you’re going to be using the chair in different bathtubs.
Weight Capacity
Can the chair support your weight? This likely won’t be a problem for users who are underweight or average weight, but it becomes an issue for overweight and obese users. Most mobility products have these limits and when they are exceeded, there is no guarantee that the product will work as it should or that it will keep you safe.
Security
Does the chair fit securely in your bathtub and can it hold you tightly in place when you’re inside? It should provide a secure and comfortable bathing experience, and this is true even for the more budget-friendly options.
Durability and Reliability
The bathroom lift chair should be rust-resistant, strong, and reliable. It should be backed by a warranty and a return policy, as it’s not uncommon for mobility products like this to be returned. You want something that will last for years to come and not degrade rapidly.
The Best Bathroom Lift Chairs
We’ve searched Amazon, checked prices, looked at manufacturer reputations, and have highlighted the very best bathroom lift chairs you can buy right now. These chairs tick many of the boxes outlined above and can be shipped directly to your home.
Drive Medical Whisper Ultra Quiet Bath Lift
A navy-blue lift chair manufactured by Drive Medical, one of the biggest brands in the mobility sector. It fits securely in the bathtub and comes with a waterproof remote control attached, with buttons to lift, lower, and recline as needed.
It reclines as much as 140 degrees and can hold users of up to 300 lbs. The fact that it’s a Drive Medical product also means it is built to last.
You can buy this lift chair for between $350 and $400.
Bathmaster Deltis Bath Lift
This seat looks a lot like the Drive Medical option mentioned above. It’s blue, features a similar design and remote control, and it offers many of the same benefits. However, it costs over twice as much and seems to be a little sturdier and more reliable.
One of the best features is its portability. It folds down easily and can be picked up and carried. You can take it with you to hotels and friends’ houses or just remove it and store it so that other family members can use the bath. It’s lightweight, and while it’s not small, it is flat, so it’s easy to add to the trunk or store in a closet.
For the average user, that additional portability may not be worth a total cost of $650, but if you need a mobile chair, it is worth it.
Lumex Splash Bath Lift
At approximately $530, this bath lift is more than the Drive Medical one and less than the Bathmaster one, but it combines features from both. It is sturdy, solid, and well built, but it is also compact. It can raise up and down and, in its lowest position, it pins itself to the bottom of the bath.
With an all-white design, the Lumex Splash is the most discreet option on this list and if you lower it all of the way, it’s barely even noticeable.
Alternatives to Bathroom Lift Chairs
The following aids assist you when you’re getting in and out of the bathtub. They are just a handful of mobility aids, many of which we have written about independently in separate articles, and all of which can make your life easier.
- Bath Transfer Seats: A long bench or sliding seat that is fixed inside and outside the bathtub. Think of it as a bench with four legs, two inside the tub and two outside. Just sit on the overhanging side of the bench and slide along.
- Walk-in Bathtub: The ultimate bathroom aid, a walk-in bathtub is a large bath with a low lip and a secure door. Just open the door, walk inside, take a seat, and turn on the faucet. These tubs are deep and may feature additional massaging jets.
- Grab Bars: An essential aid for any elderly person, a grab bar offers support for sitting, standing, and moving, and is best used in the bathroom. They are cheap, easy to install, and available in abundance.
- Transfer Poles: A strong metal pole that stretches from the floor to the ceiling and provides support when the user is getting in and out of the bathtub. These poles range in price from around $150 to $350 and often feature curved grab bar attachments that swivel around the pole.