The Sliding Chair!
The Sliding Chair
Getting into the bathtub can be an overwhelming and scary task when you have a physical challenge, but this sliding chair takes the fear out of bathing. How? It slides you gently and safely from the outside of the tub to the inside, putting your mind at ease so you can enjoy your shower.
The story behind the sliding chair?
Well, you have Designer Gary Brinkmann to thank for this wonderful innovation.
Here’s how he came up with this great idea that has affected so many people in a positive way.
Gary was inspired to develop the sliding chair by his wife, Connie, who has been living with multiple sclerosis for several years. As Connie’s MS progressed, she was experiencing greater fears of getting hurt in the tub. She was uneasy about being transferred across an unsecured bench over the side of the tub onto a standard bath chair. Although Connie is quite small, it was a really awkward and uncomfortable transfer for both care provider (Gary) and client (Connie).
“It was unstable and uncomfortable,” says Connie. “It was scary for me and I didn’t feel very safe.”
The Brinkmanns were encouraged to consider a special lift device to reduce the risk of injury to either Connie or her care providers. The contraption being recommended is slipped and secured underneath the client; it then lifts her in the air and swings her to the intended location.
“It’s got to be the most demeaning thing you can imagine,” says Connie, shaking her head. “There goes your self-respect – you’re hanging there like a bag of potatoes in this sling.”
Her husband didn’t like the idea either.
“I said, ‘that’s not going to happen to you’,” Gary recalls. “So that’s when I developed this bath-tub chair. I wanted to design something that was safe, and gives Connie her dignity too.”
Gary said the occupational therapists encouraged him and they love the chair as much as Connie does.
The chair works so well for his wife, Gary wants to share this exciting new product with others. Ultimately, he was awarded a patent for the product: U.S. Patent No. 6,334,225. It sold well for a while, but the patent ultimately expired and now lots of people sell something similar to what Gary designed, which is fine by him. He just wants to make the world a better place.
Testimonials Gary has received about his terrific invention
Gary, your chair has made a big difference in our life. My mother’s stroke left her with no lower body strength. Every time I lifted her onto the old shower bench I was afraid to hurt her or myself because it was very awkward. I would also like to thank you for suggesting and making changes to the chair to accommodate our unique bathroom layout. Now, showering has become quite a pleasant event.
Sincerely,
Cateja Yardon
Ottawa, Ontario
Thank you for the phone call this morning I was so very pleased to hear from you. I would like to tell you how much your chair has helped us since Rogers’s accident 1 yr. ago. I used to dread giving him a shower and now it seems if Roger would like two or three showers a day I would not have a problem with it. The shower chair has taken all the stress and work out of showering. Thank you so much for making such a wonderful chair for the disabled.
Roger and Connie Jacobson
Irwin, Idaho
As someone in a wheelchair, who has used your sliding chair for the last six months, I would recommend it to anyone. I had previously tried several other products and none of them suited my needs. Before buying it, there were many times when I did not shower, because I felt uncomfortable transferring to my regular bath seat, but with the “Ultimate Shower Chair” I always feel safe when I’m using it. Also, Assistive Innovations and its owner, Gary Brinkmann were very good about customizing the seat to my personal needs. My seat looks good, is very comfortable and ensures that my home-support worker and I can take care of my bathing needs safely.
Kevin Kinsella,
Ottawa ON
kevintkinsella@aol.com