If you saw a chair in the shower, you might think that someone in the household was very absent-minded. However, chairs designed specifically to be used in the shower have been proving their worth over the decades. As America’s population ages, the popularity and prevalence of these chairs is increasing.

The usefulness of using shower chairs cannot be overstated. By providing stability and safety in the shower, they offer a prolonged sense of independence for seniors and the disabled. By the same token, these chairs offer peace of mind to those who care about them.

On the practical side, a shower chairs can postpone – possibly indefinitely – the need for in-home care. With the price of a home-health aide averaging $29 per hour nationwide, the savings would be substantial over time. By the same token, they can also delay the need for the person to move to an assisted living facility, which cost $3,000 per month on average.

There is an expanding variety of shower chairs from which to choose. The needs of the person using the shower chair should determine the features of the chair. It should be comfortable, safe, durable and at the correct seating height. The degree of mobility of the chair will depend on the user’s needs.

The more inexpensive varieties are made from plastic, which is lightweight yet very strong and impervious to water.

Some models of shower chairs are simply a large stool without a back. Other chairs fold or feature a seat that flips up for storage. If choosing a folding model, examine the locking mechanisms carefully to be sure that it locks securely into the open and closed positions.

Another option is a shower chair with a padded seat, which provides a higher level of comfort. The padding on the seat is wrapped with a substantial vinyl covering to make it waterproof.

Another type of shower chair features wheels, which provide additional mobility. They are easier to move over the lip of a shower and also allow for effortless maneuvering inside the enclosure for the shower.

On some of these wheeled varieties, the wheels stay outside the legs and have a device for locking them into place. On others, the wheels glide up inside the legs when weight is placed on the chair. This way the chair can be rolled into the shower and then the wheels disappear while it is being used for chair. The nonslip material on the bottom of the legs keeps the chair firmly in place while in use.

Shower chairs are available in a wide price range, starting at $50 and going up to several hundred dollars, depending on the types of features. This relatively simple and inexpensive device can be the answer to mobility and balance challenges facing more and more people today.