How to choose the right bariatric shower chair for your clients

Choosing the right shower equipment isnt' just about features:

It's about the needs of your patients.

With the right bariatric shower chair, your clients can feel comfortable and dignified in their bathroom routines — with as much privacy and independence as they need.

Here's what you need to know to make the best recommendations for your clients:

Custom RAZ shower chairs can be designed to support weights exceeding 275kg, allowing for greater flexibility and stability of individual needs, ensuring that all users can benefit from the durability and reliability of RAZ products regardless of their weight. 

How much does your client weigh?

Every bariatric shower chair is designed to handle significant weight. But not every chair is made equal:

Each has its own capacity — and some chairs are built for much more weight than others.

But as a rule:

If you are working with patients who weigh more than 250kg, the Indigo range won't be a good fit.

Instead, you will need a chair from our RAZ Shower Chair range — with some chairs that can safely hold patients who weigh up to 275kg.

Here is a quick summary to find the right chair for each weight:

Bariatric shower chairs by weight:

Do you need a frame that tilts?

Once you have found a chair with the right capacity, the next big decision is about the frame itself:

Does the user need a fixed frame — or a tilt-in-space frame?

A fixed frame keeps the user in an upright sitting position, where the seat is always parallel to the ground.

A tilt-in-space frame gives you the option to adjust the angle of how they sit — moving the seat, backrest, and arms of the shower chair to rotate the user backwards or forwards.

Fixed Frame	Tilt-in-space frame

So why would someone need one over the other?

If you're working with a bariatric client who has limited flexibility or movement in their chair, it can be difficult to help them shower thoroughly. With a tilt-in-space frame, you can help your patients into the best positions and angles — with minimal movement or support from the user themselves.

The tilt-in-space shower chair is ideal for users that need regular sling transfers, as it allows the user to be in the correct position before being hoisted. 

If you're working with someone who has more flexibility (or someone who’s not comfortable sitting at an angle), a fixed-frame shower chair can be enough to match what they need.

(It can also be a lower-cost option — which could be important if you are buying multiple chairs for a hospital or care home.)

Here are your options when it comes to the frame:

Bariatric shower chairs by frame: 

Do you need a wide shower chair?

Bariatric shower chairs are already built with wider patients in mind — designed with a larger seat, and a wider space between the armrests.

But there’s no one-size-fits-all chair:

Some bariatric patients will not be comfortable in a standard bariatric chair. And the widest shower chairs will not be snug enough to give a narrower patient the support they need.

So, as well as the weight of the user, you need to think about the space they need, too.

That could mean an extra-wide bariatric shower chair that comes as standard — like the Indigo Plus HTX. Or it could mean a model that offers a range of non-standard widths — like the RAZ AP600.

The RAZ shower chairs width can exceed beyond 790mm upon request, as these are custom built to the users requirements.

Here is how to choose the right fit:

Do they need a self-propelled chair?

Some bariatric patients will not need the help of a carer for their showering routines.

They might have more flexibility or strength than others — or it might be that their independence and privacy are especially valuable to them.

For those kinds of patients, a self-propelled bariatric shower chair could be the best option.

That could mean a manually self-propelled chair with wheelchair-style wheels — like the RAZ SP600. Or it could mean a motorised self-propelled chair — like the Indigo Drive T Plus.

Attendant-propelled	Self-propelled	self-propelled (motorised)

Still not sure of the best fit?

There is a huge amount of choice between the different models of bariatric shower chairs.

That can make it tough to get the perfect balance — between your clients’ needs, and the budget you are working with.

So, if you need some advice from people aware, we are here to help:

We work directly with OTs, hospitals, and care homes to help them find the right equipment for the patients they work with — with a thorough assessment and a collaborative approach that digs deep into the needs of everyone involved.

You can start by running through our quick and easy Shower Chair Selection Tool — or start a chat with one of our equipment experts to see exactly how we can help.