Bathing vs stairs

tryingmybest

hi everyone

does anyone else struggle with the bath but are okish with stairs? 

I seem to find bathing really difficult 

please share your experiences xx

sdoc94

@tryingmybest

Hello! I suffer from arthritis throughout many joints - I struggle getting in and out of the bath because when trying to lower myself in my knees feel so tight and sore as if they are going to snap.

But when going upstairs I will be in pain, but not the same pain. It is more of an ache and I manage with railings etc - it is a slow process but I make it up.

Is this similar to you?

Jean_OT

Hi @tryingmybest

I'm not overly surprised to hear that a person can handle stairs but struggle with stepping into a bath, they really are two very different actions, also the availability/positioning of handrails etc is likely to be very different.

I'm aware that you have posted on my 'Ask an Occupational Therapist' wall and I was try to respond more fully as soon as possible.

Best Wishes

Jean

tryingmybest

Hi @sdoc94, im sorry you are sufferong too with bathing! 
I have a vestibular disorder that affects my balance And i have perioda of Vertigo for some reason i can manage stairs altho i have to take my time and use rails but with bathing i feel so much worse its hard to explain but i find it difficault to sit in water (momentum) and slipping in and out of the bath. X

wilko

May I suggest you contact your local council Adult care team explain your problems and ask,if a oucpational therapist can make a house call to advise and explain what help is available. 

Jean_OT

Hi @tryingmybest

I have replied on my "Ask an Occupational Therapist" wall but for completeness and also for reference to others that might be interested in the answer I am copying my response below:

So, the first thing I need to stress is that it is impossible for me to pinpoint exactly what adaptations or equipment would work best for you. Making that judgement is going to require an in-person assessment by an Occupational Therapist (OT) who visits you at home to explore with you what the difficulties are and discuss what changes may be possible. You can request a visit from the Community OT by contacting the adult social care team at your local authority (council) or your GP can contact them on your behalf.

Presumably the equipment that you are currently using was supplied by the OT but if it isn’t working for you then they need to come out and re-assess and have another think.

In many areas getting Community OT support is challenging due to long waiting-lists and insufficient departmental budgets to meet local need, but do persist!

People who have the financial means to pay for their own equipment/adaptations sometimes decide not to wait on the Community OT and instead engage the services of on OT in private practice: https://www.rcotss-ip.org.uk/find

Either way, it is a good idea to have an idea of what products are on the market prior to the OT visit. AskSARA is an interactive online information resource about disability equipment that allows people to work through questions to find equipment targeted to their needs: https://asksara.dlf.org.uk/?auth=sara5

My suspicion is that if your vestibular disorder is one that is going to persist that ideally you may need to have a walk-in shower with a seat, rather than a bath. Potentially this is an adaptation that can be funded via a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) https://www.scope.org.uk/support/disabled-people/disabled-facilities-grant The Community OT will be able to advise if you meet the criteria for a walk in shower both in terms of assessed need and the financial means test.

 

Best Wishes

Jean