Procedures for a Shower Chair

Shower chairs are made of waterproof material such as plastic and provide a safe and comfortable seat allowing individuals to take a shower in a seated position. Shower chairs come in various sizes ranging from small to large in order to accommodate a variety of people. Shower chairs allow individuals who have difficulty standing enjoy the benefits of a shower safely.

Placing an individual in a shower chair

• Lock the shower chair wheels and make sure the safety bar is unlocked and out of the way. If the individual is capable of standing and pivoting safely, ask him to stand, turn and sit in the chair. Make sure the person is sitting comfortably with his back against the back rest and his bottom centered on the seat over the opening. Individuals who need lifted in the chair, manually or with a Hoyer lift ( a mechanical lift), should be placed in the center of the chair with their backs against the back rest and their bottoms over the opening. Remove the Hoyer pad (if the pad is not waterproof) from under the person by lifting each leg and moving the bottom of the pad to each side. Sit the person forward and pull the pad out.

Shower chair safety

• After the person is seated on the shower chair, use the safety bar to help keep her in the chair. The safety bar is usually secured to one of the armrests and goes across the person's waist and attaches to the opposite arm rest creating a lap restraint. The safety bar is used to help secure the individual in the chair. The safety bar prevents an individual from standing up and falling. Shower chairs are equipped with wheel lock brakes which prevent the chair from moving. The brakes may be found on two wheels or all four wheels depending on the shower chair model. The wheel brakes should be kept in the locked position to prevent the chair from moving while in use in the shower. Only unlock the brakes to move the person from one location to the next.

Using a shower chair to bathe

• Shower chairs are designed to be used with walk-in showers only. Once the individual is placed in the shower chair and secured with the safety bar, the chair can be pushed into the shower stall. Turn on the water and adjust the temperature before placing the individual into the stall. After the shower chair is in place in the stall, lock the wheels to prevent it from moving. After the person bathes, cover him so he keeps warm, unlock the wheel brakes and push the shower chair to an area where the person can be tended to safely.

Cleaning the shower chair

• After each use the shower chair should be cleaned and disinfected so it is ready for the next use. Use a sanitizing cleaner or diluted bleach solution (one part bleach to 10 parts water) to clean every area of the chair. Follow the instructions on the cleaning solution container to assure that the product sanitizes the chair. Be sure to clean the underside of the chair and the safety bar. After cleaning the shower chair, rinse it thoroughly with water and dry the chair. Store the chair in a dry place.