A shower stretcher, also known as a shower gurney or a shower trolley, is a water-resistant, mobile medical device that allows a caregiver to convey a patient with limited bodily movement into a bathing facility such as a shower quickly and safely. The patient will stay lying on the shower stretcher while the caregiver attends to their hygiene needs once they have been carried to the bathing area.
What to watch out for when it comes to selecting a shower stretcher
Shower stretchers are all meant to do the same thing: they provide the greatest and safest means for caregivers to keep their patients clean. When it comes to selecting a shower stretcher, there are several features and alternatives to consider that will best satisfy the patient’s and caregiver’s needs. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
- Material used
First and foremost, both the frame and pad construction of a shower stretcher must be made of strong and water-resistant materials. To guarantee comfort and hygiene, they should also deflect water away from the patient.
Shower stretchers must be easy to clean so that they do not get in the way of the user’s hygiene, in addition to offering a pleasant showering experience for both the patient and the caregiver.
- Casters
Because mobility is such an important aspect of a shower stretcher’s function, choosing the proper type of waterproof casters is crucial.
They should have a combination of two brake casters and two straight-steering castors for improved versatility, as well as a stable stationary platform. Middle casters may be included on stretchers with larger weight capacities to help prevent centre sagging.
- Capacity for weight
Whatever stretcher you choose, make sure it’s rated for a weight capacity that’s much higher than your patient’s normal weight range, allowing for regular variations.
- Railings on both sides
Stretchers are used to transfer patients over longer distances through a facility or house, therefore side rails are an important safety issue for a shower stretcher. Side rails are designed to keep patients inside the stretcher’s surface’s borders and are frequently bent to provide support without damaging the patient or caregiver. They can also fold or slide out of the way for convenient patient transport, then be raised back up and locked for safe containment.
Some shower stretchers also have a side-mounted column that allows the stretcher to be brought level with the bed height and overlay the mattress.
This allows the caregiver to comfortably slide the patient onto the shower stretcher by lowering or tilting the rails out flat on the bed.
- Adjustability in height
Shower stretchers from Modsel can be adjusted in height using a manual hydraulic system, electric/battery-driven hand pendants, or foot control pedals and bars, depending on the caregiver’s desire. Some stretchers also can tilt the stretcher, allowing for Trendelenburg orientation, which provides additional comfort for the patient and facilitates fluid drainage.
- Headrest adjustment
Some shower stretchers have a three or five-position high headrest that allows the patient to see around them while washing and keeps the water away from their nose and mouth.
A range of particular attachments and features are available to pick from, in addition to those common to most, if not all, shower stretchers, assuring a shower stretcher’s choice that best meets the needs of the caregiver, and, most importantly, the patient.