Long-Term Care Shower Chair Procedures

Shower chairs assist long-term care patients with various bathroom procedures. Each seat with wheels helps long-term care providers with transporting patients from one hygiene procedure to the next. These chairs are made of a comfortable, waterproof material to enhance patient comfort both in and out of the shower stall. Most shower chairs are also equipped with a raised toilet seat to eliminate restroom difficulties.

Preparation

• The most important preparation step before conducting any shower chair procedure is to transfer the patient to the seat safely. Put down the brake to hold the wheels still while you assist the patient into place. Because patients who mobile chairs have a decreased sense of balance and sturdiness, you must supply firm support during patient positioning. Ensure the foot rests are in the upright position so the patient has enough leg room while entering the chair. Help the patient sit all the way back and then put the foot rests back down.

Shower Procedures

• If the chair has a bucket underneath the toilet seat, remove it before helping the patient shower. Failure to do so will result in a full container of water that can create a mess out of the shower. Removing the receptacle also enables the shower water to wash away from the patient's body more easily.

  Wheel the patient into the shower area carefully because the wheels get slightly slick on wet tile. Apply the brake when the patient is in an appropriate position. After showering is complete, dry the patient and the chair. Drying the transfer unit will eliminate water from spreading beyond the shower area and prevent unnecessary accidents. Because patients using shower chairs already have trouble with balance, decrease their chance of slipping by removing all excess water. Lay a dry towel on the floor directly outside of the shower stall to roll the chair over on your way out to soak up water on the wheels.

Restroom Procedures

• Shower chairs offer two options to enhance patient restroom experience. You can attach a receptacle underneath the chair's toilet seat to catch waste and limit travel to the bathroom. This option is ideal for patients who are on bed rest or experience pain upon movement. Others who prefer the privacy that a restroom offers but have trouble sitting and standing from the low surface of a standard toilet can position the chair over a toilet to increase the seat height and rid their waste into a toilet.