What is Reddit's opinion of Drive Medical 12011KD-1 Tub Transfer Bench For Bathtub with Adjustable Backrest?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Buying a shower chair was hands down the best investment. I’m at 7 weeks PO and I still use it

Drive Medical Plastic Tub Transfer Bench with Adjustable Backrest (color may vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VWK0T6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NoEfFb7EQTZT5

I’m a BKA but I have a shower and use this bench (Drive Medical Plastic Tub... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VWK0T6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share). I would think a tub would be very low and difficult for him to get into and out of and would require much more assistance than the tub transfer chair will.

With this type of chair, he can sit on one side and prepare for the shower (take off his leg, dress his incision post op, cover it with a bag if it’s not meant to get wet yet) and then slide on over to the shower side of the seat and shower. I always sit on the bottom of my shower curtain to prevent the water from falling outside of the shower.

I totally understand having a resistant older parent, it's hard. You're a good kid (in the adult sense) for stepping up and taking on the role.

This is not my brand (it's long since discontinued) or any recommendation of a seller, just an example.

https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-Transfer-Adjustable-Backrest/dp/B002VWK0T6

It's your basic 4-legged (two in, one out) transfer bench with a back and a bar on the inside. No sliding or otherwise moving parts.

If you face the seat so the user is facing towards the drain be advised you might want to set the front legs taller than the rear as the drain end of the tub is usually deeper. This will actually level the seat. It took me a while to figure this out as to why I always felt pitched forward, turns out I was and I don't have the right muscle control and balance to deal with that. Whatever you do make sure it's stable and able to handle the weight of the user. Right now I have a shower seat in my shower stall that supports 400 lbs. Do I weight 400 lbs? No, but I like that the thing is ROCK SOLID.

Like the floor of a tub the bench needs to be cleaned regularly. Even with a factory non-slip surface or a mat it can get slippery. If left unchecked to get scummy.

There are shower benches. They overhand the tub so that a person can sit on the bench outside the shower and scoot over into the tub. This eliminates the falling hazard from trying to step into the tub, and from standing in the shower.

Your local medical supply store may have one, or you can order one online.

As an example for your search

I just took a shower today after 11 days! I was also kinda worried about going into my bathtub. I was so scared something would go wrong but everything went smoothly! I even shaved my good leg!

Do you have some sort of chair you can sit on in the bathtub??

I use this and it’s like a lifesaver! I would never shower while just standing on my good leg. That’s too risky for me so I love this chair! It takes a lot of worry off. It’s also helpful that it can extend outside the bathtub. It makes it easier to get inside. It’s also height adjustable so I think it’ll fit even though your tub is deep. My bathroom is also kinda small too but we were still able to make it work.

I also bought a stool to put in the tub so I can rest my leg.

Would a transfer bench work? https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B002VWK0T6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_3WTBQE7RKJRCN6W9SK81

It’s actually a shower bench! Like this one. Drive Medical 12011KD-1 Tub Transfer Bench For Bathtub with Adjustable Backrest https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VWK0T6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_VM4G886S06MBPZSQ5MHQ

Hey! I actually had the same problem. I have a bathtub with sliding glass doors. It was manageable pre-op since I had some ROM, but I was struggling trying to find out how to shower post op. I’m back with my parents for now since I couldn’t stay on campus this semester, so my dad was suggesting to get the bathtub remodeled. We talked to a remodeler and found out it’ll take months so we opted out of that, but the guy thankfully offered to take out the sliding glass doors for free. Then, we just put a curtain rod on top with shower curtains. Problem fixed and we saved some money! You can try the same too. You probably don’t need to have a consultation with a remodeling company like we did, but you can try to find someone who could take your shower doors off. I’m sure someone who knows their way around tools could do the job; I don’t think it requires professional. Then just put some curtains on to keep the water from going outside the tub.

Some other shower tips that may be helpful:

• If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend that you get some sort of chair to sit on while in the shower to minimize the risk of slipping. I got this one and it made it SO much easier to get inside

• Get a small stool for you to rest your operated leg on so it’s not just hanging off the chair

• Use a hand-held shower head

• Set up 1 or 2 shower grab bars if you’d like some extra safety/support. Here’s one from Amazon

I also completely tore my ACL playing volleyball too! plus a bucket handle meniscus tear. I’m 9 days post op and these are the things I got to prepare.

I’d say a cold therapy machine would help a lot, but regular ice could also do the trick. Some hospitals give one out after surgery. Do you know if they will do that for you?

Definitely get a shower chair of some sort. I got this one but a stool could also work.

Also get a stool to rest your operated leg on when you shower. Some also say to get one to rest your leg when you use the toilet. I didn’t get one, but I wish I did lol.

Lots of pillows for elevation! Or get a wedge pillow like this I learned late that it’s vital to keep the leg as straight as possible during the early stages of recovery, so I bought the wrong leg elevation pillow that bends my knee. If you get the wedge pillow, DO NOT use it the same way as shown in the product pictures. Put the smaller side facing you so that your leg is straight and elevated high enough. I wish I got that pillow, but I don’t want to spend again so I’m just using pillows to create the same effect.

Wipes and dry shampoo. Some have to wait quite a bit before they can shower, while some can shower in just a few days after surgery. Idk which one you’ll be, but if you have to wait some time, wipes and the dry shampoo will come in handy.

Stool softener!!! You will be constipated cuz of the pain meds, so this will make bowel movement easier! Turns out, for me, I didn’t need to buy these cuz my doctor prescribed me some. Maybe ask your surgeon if he will too? So you can save a bit of money and time.

Things to keep you entertained. I got some new books. I also bought a piano keyboard to put in my room lol cuz I want to learn and hopefully it’ll keep me busy and entertained while I recover.

Ok, so I have only limited experience caring for a stroke victim and it wasn't in Florida. Anyone with local experience feel free to speak up.

My MIL had a stroke a couple years ago, but she went downhill really fast and ended up in hospice after only a year. (Where she died of COVID because life isn't fair.) I am not saying your dad will do the same, my MIL had a condition that caused her to keep having strokes.

On my "must have" list:

A transfer bench for getting in and out of the shower.

An adjustable showerhead holder for taking seated showers. (Use with shower head on a hose, not included but easily found at every Walmart or home improvement store.) For the love of all things good do not use this as a grab handle. It will break and he will fall.

Safety rails for your toilet

An aftermarket bidet to install on your toilet. This is a cheap one, they have fancy ones with heated water and other functions.

If he's having bowel and bladder accidents you'll want a mattress protector, and I strongly suggest the wipe clean vinyl as opposed to the fabric ones.

It does make a huge difference.

I use this one: https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-Transfer-Adjustable-Backrest/dp/B002VWK0T6/ref=zg_bs_8624344011_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=RVTTJR4ZR0TMWMWHC50V

You don't need a prescription.

I would do the ADA with the tub (you can get a wheelchair around in there in the beginning) then buy a (links are examples, I did not read the reviews and no experience with these specifically) but buy a transfer tub bench:

Drive Medical Plastic Tub Transfer Bench with Adjustable Backrest (Color May Vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VWK0T6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_oEToFbB9VDN9B

And a hand held shower head

Delta Faucet 7-Spray Touch-Clean Hand Held Shower Head with Hose, Chrome 75700 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LV7VXW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.EToFbFV9DVR7

Medicaid if in the US does not pay for bathroom equipment, but PT will also be seeing him post op so you can also wait to ask them if you’d rather see how he does.

Most likely he’ll either go to rehab from the hospital or home with a wheelchair (Medicaid does pay for these). Unless he’s extremely exceptional. If he’s going to live alone, likely he’ll need rehab for awhile after surgery.

I'm not familiar with hotels that have the walk-in tubs, only the roll-in accessible showers. I am not sure if it is a cost or maintenance issue as to why they don't have one room outfitted for it.

In an ADA-compliant shower, he'd be able to sit on the shower bench (or wheel in with a shower chair) and get hosed down, which is its own nice feeling from what my Dad says. We installed a shower bench that goes over the bathtub so he can slide across it and get a nightly shower. I think it cost roughly $50 about 15 years ago when we first used it for my grandma. Look into that for your home bathtub - it has a grab bar built-in on the side you'll put towards the wall. (Link to show what it looks like on Amazon as an example) and Dad also likes having a pull-down shower wand so he can control where he wants the warmth and water. It's his way to help out during bathing, which is a huge help. Similar to the one he has, quick install/removal for apartments

Definitely give a call to several of the hotels on the WheelchairJimmy site and see if you can get a tour of their ADA rooms. That will give you a great idea of what is feasible and if it'd be a good experience for your dad.

I have no tie to the website, but I do this kinda research for my family and when I find a decent site, I like to keep it bookmarked for others.