People define walk-in showers a variety of ways. Some people consider walk-in showers to be any bath that is a stand alone unit. Others consider walk-in showers to become showers that allow for simple entry, have very low or even curbless thresholds or showers that don’t have doors.
We are going to look at the benefits of showers that allow for people of any age or ability to use. This type of walk-in shower is often also called a curbless shower. The U.S.A. has an aging population. Now many people are coming to recognize that to bathe safely and independently, people must move beyond the traditional bathroom fixtures found in most homes today. Also the growing need of the increasing number of people with disabilities has also shed light on this safety issue. This fact has increased the interest in walk-in showers.
Bathrooms are one of the most dangerous rooms in a dwelling due to the hard, slippery-when-wet surfaces. Most bathrooms have few if any grab bars or other gripping surfaces which are useful for support. Often times people rely on towel bars for support. Unfortunately, towel bars are typically not constructed to be used as a grab bars and/or are improperly mounted for support. Combine the lack of hand support, with a step and an unsteady user and the chance for a bathroom fall increases dramatically.
Often times the standard traditional fixtures do not meet the variety of individual needs that occur through-out a person’s lifespan. Many manufacturers are providing beautiful Universal Design products that focus on lifetime usability. Many products available today offer style that people want, while keeping the safety of all users in mind.
A relatively new fixture design, the curbless shower, is extremely versatile and can be considered “universal”. These showers feature a very low or no threshold at all so users may easily walk or roll into the unit.
