Help Getting In and Out of the Bath: Techniques, Aids & Safety Guide (2026)

Don’t Risk a Fall: The Complete Guide to Safe Bathing

For many people, the realisation happens suddenly. You’ve enjoyed a relaxing soak, you pull the plug, and then you realise—you can’t get up.

It is a terrifying feeling.

Struggling to get out of the bath isn’t just about weak legs. It is a combination of suction (water holding you down), the slippery surface, and the loss of buoyancy as the water drains. Suddenly, your body feels heavy again just as you are trying to lift it from a low position.

At EA Mobility, we want to keep you safe. Here is our specialist-approved guide on How to get out safely and What equipment prevents this problem.

At EA Mobility, we want to keep you safe. Here is our Occupational Therapist-reviewed guide on How to get out safely right now, and What equipment prevents this problem in future.

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Part 1: The Technique (How to get out NOW)

If you are reading this because you often feel unsteady, here is the safest method to stand up without a mechanical aid.

1. Don’t Rush: Panic causes slips. Take a breath.
2. Drain First: Let the water out completely. This removes the “suction” effect between your skin and the bath, making you lighter.
3. Roll onto Hands and Knees: Don’t try to “sit up” straight (like a crunch)—it puts too much strain on your core. Turn onto your side, then push up onto your hands and knees.
4. The Kneel: Move to a kneeling position. Grip the rim of the bath tightly with both hands.
5. The Push: Push down on the rim to lift one foot flat onto the floor, then push up to standing using your legs (not your back).

• Safety Note: If this sequence sounds impossible for you, do not risk bathing alone again. You need a mechanical aid immediately.

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Part 2: The 3 Best “Add-On” Aids (Budget Solutions)

If you want to keep your current bath but make it safer, these aids can bridge the gap.

1. Bath Boards (The “Transfer” Method)

• What is it? A reinforced plastic board that spans across the width of the bath rim.

• How it works: You sit on the board outside the bath, swing your legs over, and slide into the middle. You wash while seated on the board.

• Verdict: Cheap and safe, but you don’t get a proper soak because you are sitting above the water level.

2. Inflatable Bath Cushions

• What is it? A cushion that inflates to rim height to let you sit down, then deflates to lower you into the water.

• Pros: Portable and lightweight.

• Cons: Unstable. If you have poor core balance, sitting on a wobbling air cushion can feel scary.

3. Electric Bath Lifts

• What is it? A motorised chair on suction cups.

• The Reality: Good for lowering you, but they don’t go all the way to the floor (leaving knees cold), and you still have to lift your legs over the high rim to enter.

• Read our honest comparison: Walk-In Bath vs. Bath Lift.

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Part 3: The Permanent Solutions (Total Safety)

If “technique” and “gadgets” aren’t enough, or if you want to enjoy a bath without machines, you need to change the environment.

4. The Walk-In Bath (To Soak)

This removes the need to lower yourself to the floor entirely.

• The Solution: You open a door, step in (low threshold), and sit on a moulded, upright seat.

• Why it wins: It restores the ability to soak in warm water without the fear of getting stuck.

• Cost: Starts from ~£3,500. (See 2026 Prices).

5. The Wet Room (To Shower)

The ultimate safety upgrade.

• The Solution: Remove the bath entirely. Install a flat, anti-slip floor with a secure Shower Seat.

• Why it wins: Zero trip hazards. Zero barriers. You can simply walk (or wheel) in and out.

• Cost: Starts from ~£6,000. (See Wet Room Guide).

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Which Solution is Right for Your Condition?

• Arthritis (Stiff Hips/Knees): You need heat to loosen joints. A Walk-In Bath is best for hydrotherapy.

• Balance Issues / Vertigo: Stepping over a rim is dangerous. A Level Access Shower is safest.

• Upper Body Weakness: You cannot pull yourself up. You need a Powered Seat (Bath Lift or Power-Bath).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I just install a Grab Rail?
A: Yes, but position matters. Do not use a towel radiator—it will rip off the wall. Install a vertical rail on the wall (to help you stand) and a horizontal rail on the bath rim (to help you lower). (See our Grab Rail Guide).

Q: Why is it harder to get out than get in?
A: When you get in, gravity helps you drop down. When you get out, you are lifting your own body weight against gravity, often on a slippery surface, with muscles relaxed (and weakened) by the heat.

Q: Is there a grant for this?
A: Yes. If you cannot bathe safely, you may be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). However, waiting lists are long.

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Don’t Wait for a Fall

The most expensive bathroom renovation is the one you have to do after an accident. Prevention is better than cure.

Our surveyors can measure your bathroom and recommend the safest way to keep you independent—whether that’s a new bath or a full wet room.