Why Use a Shower Seat?

If you suffer from mobility or balance issues, taking a shower can be a challenging, tiring and even dangerous task. One way to make showering safer, more comfortable and more convenient is to use a shower seat to take pressure off your limbs while washing. Using a shower seat can potentially create an easier and more enjoyable bathing experience for both the user and their carer.

The Different Types of Shower Seats

Shower seats come in a variety of styles and sizes, and are usually built for a specific weight capacity. Shower chairs can be padded or unpadded, wall-mounted or free-standing, and can be a simple bench seat or a chair complete with a backrest, armrests and footrests.

Full Shower Seats

Both free-standing and wall-mounted shower seat designs have their advantages. The appeal of a wall-mounted shower seat is that it can be folded flush against the wall when not in use for quick and convenient storage. These seats are easy to install – usually bolting onto the wall – and many have adjustable legs so that the seat height can be tailored to suit the user. If a seat cannot be installed in the shower area permanently, a free-standing seat, such as the Linido Shower Chair, is ideal. Many free-standing shower seats are mounted on casters with wheels for ease of transfer. Having a shower seat on wheels can also make it easier to move the seat about when it is not in use. Some free-standing shower chairs, such as the Combi Manual Tilt Shower Commode Chair, include a tilt function to assist with washing of the face and hair.

Horse-Shoe Shower Seats

A horse-shoe shower seat, such as the Contour Padded Horse Shoe Shower Seat and the Contour Horse Shoe Shower Seat, has a front cut-out in the seat for easier personal hygiene. These seats are sometimes designed to be used both in the shower as well as over the toilet. Some shower chairs, like the Contour Duo 2-in-1 Shower Seat, have a removable panel that allows the seat to be used as either a standard or horse-shoe seat, as required.

Padded Shower Seats

Both free-standing and wall-mounted shower seats, including simple benches and full chairs, are available with padding for extra comfort and greater support. Padded shower seats available from Health and Care include the Padded Wall-Mounted Shower Seat with Back and Arms and the Contour Deluxe Padded Shower Seat.

How to Choose the Right Shower Seat

Your choice of shower seat should be based on the size and capacity of seat that you require, the size of the area where it will be used, and your personal preferences. A good-quality shower seat will have a strong, rust-proof aluminium frame, a waterproof vinyl or moulded plastic seat for easy cleaning, and rubber feet or braking casters (if it is mounted on wheels) to prevent it from slipping on wet surfaces.

Always check the maximum weight capacity before buying a shower seat. This will usually be specified by the manufacturer and should be adhered to for safety reasons. Extra-wide chairs are available for larger users. These include the Extra Wide Wheeled Shower Commode Chair, the Extra-Wide Bariatric Bedside Commode and Shower Chair and the Heavy Duty Bariatric Shower Chair. When buying a shower seat with armrests, larger users may find that butterfly armrests, which are angled to provide extra seating space, or removable armrests are most suitable. 

Buy a Shower Seat from Health and Care

Need a shower seat? At Health and Care we have a wide selection of affordable shower seats with free UK delivery. Browse our full range of shower seats here.

Linido Shower Chair Independent Swivel armrests HT-cover material backrest and seat Available in two heights   £412.99View £412.99View    Dispatched in 1-2 days FREE UK delivery 12 month warranty Expert advice on hand

Combi Manual Tilt Shower Commode Chair Activated by hand lever at rear; Makes caring for heavier users easier; Effortlessly tilts backwards or forwards; Carer can stand at rear or side to operate.     £1,321.99View £1,321.99View    Dispatched in 1-2 days FREE UK delivery 12 month warranty Expert advice on hand

Padded Wall-Mounted Shower Seat with Back and Arms Seat, backrest and armrests are padded with cellular moulded foam Manufactured from corrosion-resistant epoxy-coated aluminium Arm rests are easily flipped up and back to allow side transfer Can support a maximum user weight of 25 stone (160kg) £259.99View £259.99View    Dispatched in 1-2 days FREE UK delivery 12 month warranty Expert advice on hand

Extra-Wide Bariatric Bedside Commode and Shower Chair Has a cut-out seat for improved personal cleaning in the shower Suitable as a chair, bedside commode and shower chair Has 'butterfly' armrests so body doesn't get squeezed Provides a comfortable seat for bariatric users £548.99View £548.99View    Dispatched in 1-2 days FREE UK delivery 12 month warranty Expert advice on hand

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