One of the main concerns of households with disabled and elderly persons is the fear of slipping and injuring of such family members in the bathtub. Age or disability prevents easy access to regular bathtubs. Homes with disabled and elderly should have tubs that are easily accessible, comfortable and safe to use. To address these issues, ADA (Americans with Disability Act) has made it mandatory for manufacturers to comply with their specifications to manufacture ADA compliant bathtubs.
ADA listed guidelines include specifications for grab rails, enclosures, seating, controls and faucets and shower heads that enable disabled and elderly to use bathtubs with minimum or no supervision. The main specifications are discussed here:
Grab rails
As per ADA guidelines, bathtubs should have grab rails that are attached securely to the wall. Two grab bars should be provided depending on the seating position. The main purpose of the grab bar is to enable the user to hold on to these grabs while getting into or out of the seat. The strength of the grab rail should be in accordance with the specifications laid down by the ADA.
Enclosures
According to ADA, bathtubs should have enclosures. However, these enclosures should not restrict the access of the user to the bathtubs or to the controls and faucets.
Seating
Seats should be such that they enable the person to easily lower himself into the bathtub or to come out of the bathtub. A seat prevents the person from slipping. Sufficient space should be available between the seat and the bathtub. The size of this area is determined by the location and approach to the seat. ADA guidelines specify different seating positions depending on the size of the stalls. A 36" by 36" stall should provide seat opposite the controls, whereas 30" by 60" stall should have the seats adjacent to the control. The seat should extend to the full length of the stall. It should have a width of at least 15". The height from the floor should be between 17" and 19". The seat must be securely fixed to avoid slipping.
Controls and faucets
ADA compliant bathtubs should have controls and faucets that are easy to operate. They should be operational with one hand of the user. This helps the user to operate the various bathing systems in the bathtub comfortably.
Shower heads
The showerheads in an ADA compliant bathtub should be detachable to enable the user to use it as a hand held shower. The shower and other sprays should have extendable hoses to enable the user to clean the body without having to leave the seat. The extendable hoses should be at least 60 inches long.
These features make ADA compliant bathtubs quite safe and comfortable for the disabled and elderly people. These tubs also provide the user adequate privacy. They can use these bathtubs without much assistance. However, before buying a bathtub it is advisable to go through the guidelines of ADA as this will help you to make an informed choice.
