Shower chair innovations solving complex care challenges

Adaptability: Meet evolving needs with a single chair

When you’re prescribing equipment like shower chairs, a challenge is that patient needs can be different 6 months down the line. This could be because a young person has grown or because clinical requirements have evolved. Innovative product designs now mean you can cater for those changes within the same chair frame – and without expensive accessories.

For example, the RAZ adjustable shower chair can adapt in various ways. Features like the Integrated Pelvic Alignment System (IPAS) allow the seat to move up to 2 inches in any direction to accommodate asymmetrical body shapes or hip rotations. It’s also easy to add lateral support, change headrest position or adjust footplates to cater for fixed plantar and dorsi flexion positions. Additionally, it has options for both open and bridged front seats, as well as to have rear and side opening apertures. These options give carers better access to the user, including when independence increases.

You can also get access to innovative adaptability for users who require powered shower chairs: IndiGo² shower chairs have adjustable seat heights, arm rests and footplates that go beyond the standard.

Pressure care: Creative ways to prevent tissue injury

Every year, around 180,000 new patients suffer from a pressure ulcer or tissue injury. By improving on the rigid seats of traditional shower chairs, newer options help mitigate these risks.

Key developments in this area include:

• Contoured seats that replicate the pelvis’ natural bowl shape: The RAZ seat has been pressure mapped showing how pressure is redistributed due to its unique aperture, which is a contoured bowl shape replicating the human pelvis. This provides both stability and comfort for end users. Patients being cared for at Salisbury Hospital and Stoke Mandeville Spinal Injury Units benefit greatly from this.
• Foam cushions: This includes Visco foam options for patients with current or past pressure sores, or concerns about skin breakages. These innovative properties provide greater balance, protect vulnerable skin and can be easily replaced without having to reconfigure the chair.
• Postural support and tilt-in-space: Postural support innovations and tilt-in-space functionality help prevent slumping. As this case study shows, postural support along with a 5-degree tilt eliminated redness and pooling while giving the client one of her most comfortable bathing experiences.

Compatibility: A better fit for any environment

How well does the shower chair fit into the user’s bathroom? This is another area where design innovations are making a difference.

For one, there’s enhanced compatibility with modern wash-dry toilets. The AZ ART and some of the Indigo2 powered shower chairs are designed to fit over the wider Closomat and more compact Geberit systems, as well as most wall-hung toilets. As a result, they also offer effective support for patients living in multi-user homes.

Secondly, the right shower chair design and postural support can reduce the number of carers required to help a patient. Not only is this a benefit in what can be a constrained environment, but there are substantial cost savings involved in needing fewer carers.

Sustainability: Longevity + recyclablity

Innovation isn’t just about the first use, it’s also about the thousandth. Innovations in adaptability also translate to enhanced recyclability. Because RAZ shower chairs are made with rust-resistant stainless-steel frames and can meet a broad range of care needs without expensive add-ons or upgrades, they come with a 5 year warranty and have an expected lifespan of at least 10-15 years.  As a result, one of our council partners achieved an unheard-of 100% recyclability rate and cut costs by 55% over 3 years. Another council partner achieved 81% recyclability and a 60% year-on-year cost reduction over 4 years.