Many Australian homes have a shower installed over the bath. It’s a practical way to save space while offering the flexibility of both a shower and a bath.
However, for people living with reduced mobility, balance concerns, recovery from surgery or age-related changes, stepping over the side of a bathtub can become one of the highest-risk activities in the home. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) found that in 2019–20 almost 70,000 older Australians were hospitalised following a fall in the home, with bathrooms accounting for around 8,600 of those hospitalisations, making them one of the most common locations for serious falls.1
The good news is that you don’t always need to renovate your bathroom to improve safety. A range of assistive bathing products can help make getting into, out of and using a shower-over-bath safer and more comfortable while supporting greater independence.
This guide explains the different types of bathing aids available, which situations they are designed for and the safety features to look for when choosing one.
Why shower-over-bath combinations can become difficult
A shower-over-bath requires users to:
- step over the bath edge
- maintain balance on a potentially wet surface
- lower themselves safely into the bath if bathing and then return to standing
- stand for the duration of a shower
As mobility changes, these movements can become challenging and increase the risk of slips and falls. Choosing the right mobility aid depends on where the difficulty occurs.
Which bathing aid is right for you?
Different products are designed to solve different mobility challenges. Consider which of these best describe your needs.
Difficulty stepping over the bath edge
If lifting your legs over the bath is becoming difficult but you are otherwise steady on your feet, a bath step may provide the extra height needed to reduce the step into the bath.
The Q-assist Bath Step & Stool is height adjustable and features slip-resistant feet to provide a stable platform when entering or exiting the bath.
Difficulty stepping over the bath while maintaining balance
If balance is also a concern, remaining seated while moving into the bath may be a safer option.
Two common solutions are:
- a transfer chair
- a bath board with a swivel seat
A transfer chair allows you to sit outside the bath before moving across the seat into position, reducing the need to balance while stepping over the bath edge.
A bath board with a swivel seat provides another seated transfer option by allowing you to sit, rotate and position yourself safely before showering or bathing. In this short video, Occupational Therapist Anita Brown Major demonstrates how to set up and use the Q-assist Bath Board:
The most suitable option depends on factors such as upper body strength, your bathroom layout and the height of the bath. An Occupational Therapist can help determine which solution best matches your needs.
Difficulty standing throughout a shower
If standing for the duration of a shower is becoming tiring or unsafe, a seated showering solution may improve both comfort and safety.
 The Q-assist Transfer Chair provides: |
 The Q-assist Bath Board provides: |
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The right option depends on the amount of support required and your ability to transfer safely. This video, filmed by the Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group in Western Australia, demonstrates how a transfer chair is used.
Difficulty lowering into or getting out of the bath
If you still enjoy bathing but simply find the bathtub too deep, a suspended bath chair can reduce the distance you need to lower yourself.
The Q-assist Suspended Bath Chair provides a secure seating position within the bath, making bathing more comfortable while reducing the effort required to sit down and stand back up.
Safety features to look for
Choosing the correct type of bathing aid is only part of the decision. It’s equally important to select products designed specifically for bathroom environments.
Weight ratings
Always choose a product with a maximum user weight suitable for the intended user.
Current Q-assist weight ratings include:
- Bath Step & Stool – 150kg
- Bath Board – 150kg
- Suspended Bath Chair – 150kg
- Transfer Chair – 250kg
Using a product within its specified weight rating is essential for safe operation.
Slip resistance
Bathrooms are naturally wet environments, so look for products that include features such as:
- slip-resistant feet
- non-slip seating surfaces
- drainage holes that minimise water pooling and improve cleaning
These features help improve stability during transfers and showering.
Australian Standards
Selecting products tested to relevant Australian Standards provides confidence that they have undergone independent safety assessments.
Q-assist bathroom products are independently tested to applicable Australian Standards, including:
- Transfer Chair — AS/NZS 3973:2009
- Bath Step & Stool — AS/NZS 3973:2009
- Suspended Bath Chair — AS/NZS 4069:2013
- Bath Board — AS/NZS 4069:2013 and AS/NZS 4438:1997
Supporting safer, more independent bathing
The right bathing aid can help people continue using their existing bathroom with greater confidence while reducing the physical effort involved in showering or bathing. Whether you need help stepping over the bath edge, transferring safely or sitting comfortably while showering, selecting the appropriate product for your specific mobility needs is the most important step.
Before purchasing any assistive bathing equipment, speak with your Occupational Therapist or healthcare professional to ensure the product is appropriate for your individual circumstances.
If you’d like to learn more, explore the full range of Q-assist bathroom and bathing aids designed to support safer everyday living.
| If you… | Consider… | Why it may help |
|---|---|---|
| Find the bath edge too high to step over but your balance is otherwise good | Q-assist Bath Step & Stool | Provides a stable, height-adjustable step to reduce the effort required to step over the bath edge. |
| Feel unsteady or lose your balance when stepping into the bath | Q-assist Transfer Chair or Q-assist Bath Board | Allows you to remain seated while entering the bath, reducing the need to balance on one leg. |
| Become tired or find it difficult to stand for the duration of a shower | Q-assist Transfer Chair | Provides a supportive seat with a backrest and armrests so you can shower while seated. |
| Enjoy bathing but struggle to lower yourself into or out of the bath | Q-assist Suspended Bath Chair | Reduces the distance you need to lower yourself into the bath while providing a stable seating position. |
| Need a higher weight capacity | Q-assist Transfer Chair | Supports users up to 250kg, making it suitable for bariatric applications. |
Explore Q-assist Bathroom Aids
