SHOWER TO GO
By Judith L. Seidmeyer
Contributed by: G.T.
Hitting the road with portable bathing solutions.
Accessible bathing while traveling? What a joke! Unfortunately, it is a sad commentary on the options available for most individuals with disabilities. Too often the lack of viable bathing options while traveling results in the resignation to stay home. But that doesn’t have to be the case anymore.
Trip planning for individuals with disabilities has traditionally bee a very real problem. Hotels that claim to offer accessible rooms may have only a small percentage of their rooms set up for accessibility, or they may only really be offering a bathtub with a grab bar or a bench at the far end of the bathtub but water controls at the front.
Housekeeping may use cleaning agents that leave a slick residue—a perfect set up for falling-even when access isn’t an issue. Or a room may have doors which do not allow for total wheelchair access. You know what I am talking about.
But times are changing, albeit slowly. There are now solutions for travelers, and many of these solutions are compact, lightweight, and very affordable. Whether a person uses a wheelchair due to spinal cord injury or simply age related weakness or instability, there are products that meet basic personal care needs—including showering—and allow for an active lifestyle.
There are a few keys to easy and dignified traveling which can open a whole new stimulating world of experiences, regardless of the nature of the disability. By asking specific questions, and obtaining a few essential support items, you can ensure a pleasant experience despite the lack of accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
There are common areas of travel which have always been of concern, namely transportation (vehicle ramps, transporting support equipment), lodging (bedrooms and bathrooms) and maintaining good health (skin conditions, body temperature, hygiene). To combat these concerns, asking questions before you travel is essential. Call ahead to the location where you plan to stay, or to the attractions you intend to visit. Ask very specific questions about wheelchair access into the locations, the size of all door openings, the layout of the room, and other specifics that are relevent to your limitations.
Does the bathroom have enough space to turn around a wheelchair? Does the shower allow you to roll in to bathe (or will you need to transfer from your chair?) Does the hotel provide bars or floor grip supports to prevent slipping?
Portable bathing products may provide the best solutions in terms of guaranteed accessibility and the peace of mind that goes along with that. Go Mobility Solutions (www.goesanywhere.com) offers an “easy to commute” commode and bath and shower chair—safe, lightweight, compact, and convenient “carry on luggage”.
Taking portable bathing solutions one step further, portable shower stalls address bathing needs on the road and in hotels. The FAWSsit Fold Away Wheelchair Shower from Care Giver Support Products (www.fawssit.com) for example, was designed specifically for use in the home where remodeling for accessibility is not an option, and for travel. This fold away shower stall folds flat to less than 30 pounds. With its own waste removal pump, water which flows into the drain can be pumped out and down a sink drain. The water source for the shower is simply a water faucet. The shower stall need only be set up within about 12 feet of a sink making it ideal for use anywhere there is access to warm water. Its hard sided case on wheels makes for easy transport and shipping. Whether setting up the shower at a rest area if needed while traveling, or setting up to help control body temperature, the ability to have a body bath when needed is good for both one’s health and sense of comfort and dignity. The portable shower and portable shower commode chair can truly open up the world of travel possibilities for nearly every individual with a disability.
Generally, it’s not a problem with airlines to check a portable shower stall or portable shower/commode wheelchair as baggage. This equipment is considered necessary, and is checked in the same manner as any other durable medical equipment.
There’s no arguing that travel and recreation can be very difficult for some with disabilities. But with a clear understanding of the environment you are traveling to, and armed with the portable equipment to support your basic requirements for daily living, there’s no question that you can travel without concern for your daily needs.
For more information, check out the websites for the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality (www.sath.com), Access to Recreation (www.accesstorecreation.com), Care Giver Support Products (www.fawssit.com) , American Ramp Systems (www.americanramp.com) and other accessibility product sites.