Showering is one of those everyday things most of us never think twice about, until it stops feeling safe. Standing on a wet floor, reaching for the taps and stepping over a hob can turn a simple wash into the most nerve-wracking part of someone’s day. A shower chair takes a lot of that worry away. It lets a person sit while they wash, rest when they need to and keep doing it on their own, which often matters just as much as the safety does.
Shower chairs help all sorts of people, not only older adults. Someone recovering from surgery, a person living with a disability, anyone who gets tired or dizzy standing for long, all of them can shower more safely sitting down. The tricky part is that the seat that suits one person can leave another without the support they need. This guide sorts through the types, the features worth checking and how funding might help, so you can get it right the first time.
What is a shower chair?
A shower chair is a water-resistant seat made to be used safely in a wet shower area. Most have a moulded seat with drainage holes, non-slip rubber feet and a rust-resistant frame, and many adjust for height. It sounds simple, and that is the point: a steady, comfortable place to sit so bathing feels manageable instead of risky.
Shower chair or shower stool?
People often go looking for a shower chair when a stool would suit them better, or the other way around. The difference comes down to support. A shower chair has a backrest, and usually armrests. It gives the most support and suits anyone who tires quickly, needs a hand staying upright or wants something to push up from. A shower stool is backless and compact. It suits someone with reasonable balance and core strength who just needs somewhere to sit, and it tucks into a small recess where a full chair will not fit. If you cannot decide, lean towards more support rather than less.
Who is a shower chair for?
Shower seating helps more people than you might expect, including:
• Older adults who feel tired, dizzy or unsteady standing for a whole shower
• People recovering from surgery or illness, for example after a hip replacement or a stroke
• People living with a disability that affects balance, strength or coordination
• Anyone who simply cannot stand comfortably for long
• Carers, who find it far safer and easier on their own backs to help someone who is seated
The main types of shower chair
The right seat depends on how much support the person needs, the size of the shower and what they are comfortable with.
Shower chairs with a backrest and armrests
These give the most support. The backrest keeps the person upright and the armrests give them something to hold while lowering down and getting back up, which also means a carer has less lifting to do.
Shower stools
Light and backless, a stool works well in a smaller shower or for someone who only needs a rest point. Look for a wide, stable base and solid non-slip feet.
Swivel shower chairs
A swivel seat turns so the person can face the right way without twisting or shuffling their feet. It helps anyone who finds it hard to step over a shower hob, and it makes assisting a transfer much easier.
Bariatric shower chairs
Built for heavier users, with a wider seat, a reinforced frame and a higher safe working load, often up to 300kg. They make sure larger users get the same stability and comfort as anyone else.
Wall-mounted fold-down seats
A fold-down seat fixes to the wall and folds flat when it is not in use, which keeps a small or shared bathroom clear. It does need to be installed securely into a solid wall.
What to check before you buy
• Non-slip rubber feet. The chair has to stay put on a wet floor, so check all four feet have solid rubber tips.
• A rust-resistant frame. Aluminium or coated steel copes with a wet environment far better than untreated metal.
• Height adjustment. Setting the seat so the person’s feet sit flat and their knees rest at a comfortable angle makes standing up much safer.
• Drainage holes in the seat. These stop water pooling, so the seat stays comfortable and easy to keep clean.
• A safe working load with room to spare. Choose a rating comfortably above the person’s weight, and for heavier users choose a bariatric model.
• A size that fits the space. Measure the shower recess first so the chair fits with room to move around it safely.
Which one is right?
• Needs the most support, or a carer helps: a height adjustable chair with a backrest and armrests.
• Steady but tires standing, small shower: a shower stool with good non-slip feet.
• Finds it hard to turn or step in: a swivel seat.
• Heavier user: a bariatric shower chair with a suitable safe working load.
• Small or shared bathroom: a fold-down wall-mounted seat.
For anything more involved, an occupational therapist can do a home assessment and recommend the safest set-up, and that is often a funded service.
Can funding help?
Plenty of people do not pay the full cost themselves.
NDIS plans are unique to each NDIS participant. If you are considering purchasing a shower chair, contact the NDIS, your Plan Manager or Support Coordinator to discuss using your plan to fund this purchase. You can read more on the NDIS website: Understanding your NDIS funding. Safety and Mobility is a registered NDIS provider.
Older Australians may also access funding through the Support at Home program (which has replaced Home Care Packages) or the Commonwealth Home Support Programme. Your aged care assessor or provider can tell you what your plan covers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a shower chair and a shower stool?
A shower chair has a backrest and usually armrests for more
support. A shower stool is backless and compact. Pick a chair when more support
is needed and a stool for a simple rest point in a smaller space.
What is the best shower chair for an older person?
Most older adults are well served by a height adjustable chair with
a backrest, armrests and non-slip feet. If they are heavier, a bariatric model
is safer. An occupational therapist can help match the chair to their needs.
Can a shower chair be used in a bathtub?
Standard shower chairs are made for a level shower floor. For a bathtub, a bath
board or bath transfer bench is usually safer.
How much weight can a shower chair hold?
Every chair has a safe working load. Standard chairs commonly support up to
around 130kg, while bariatric shower chairs can go up to 300kg. Always check
the rating and leave some room to spare.
Before you buy
This article is general information, not personal health advice. Everyone’s situation is different, so it is worth speaking with a doctor, occupational therapist or other qualified health professional before you buy or use any equipment, to make sure it suits the person and their home.
Find the right shower chair with Safety and Mobility
Choosing a shower chair does not have to be a guessing game. Our team helps families, carers, aged care providers and hospitals across Australia find safe, reliable bathroom equipment every day.
Browse our range of shower chairs and stools, or call our friendly team on (02) 9983 9520 for a chat about what would suit.