Tax Credits and Allowances for Better Senior Care

In our previous post on Bathing Safety for Alzheimer’s patients, we highlighted that if granted, the T2201 Disability Tax Credit Certificate  could be but toward a safety bath tub purchase. This includes a range of disabilities not associated to Alzheimer’s disease.

We also gave an overview on the Home Applications for Senior Independence (HASI) program which allows seniors that meet the given criteria a forgivable loan to put toward applications to help them around their homes - including bathroom aids.

Similarly, bathroom aids are considered eligible medical expenses. If you are caring for a parent for instance, you can claim the eligible medical expenses you paid on behalf of a dependent parent, up to a maximum of $10,000 per dependent.

Renovation costs you incur to accommodate your parents will qualify as an eligible medical expense and can likely give you tax savings under the medical expense tax credit.

If you are a Veteran, you may be eligible for the Canadian Veterans Independence Program which can assist you with home adaptations that also include bathroom aids and modifications in kitchens and doorways. 

To qualify you must meet ONE of the following criteria:

• You have qualified for a disability benefit

• You have qualified for the War Veterans Allowance

• You are in receipt of Prisoner of War Compensation

• You are eligible for but cannot access a Contract Bed or Priority Access Bed

• You have been the primary caregiver for an eligible veteran or civilian OR

• You are a low-cine or disabled survivor of an eligible Veteran of civilian

A simple call to your personal health insurance provider can help you assess whether you qualify for any of these tax credits or allowances toward home adaptions including bathroom aids.

Read our FAQs for more information on our products and their benefits!

Pros and Cons of Walk-In Showers

If you or a loved one suffers from mobility challenges, the prospect of standing for long periods of time may simply be impossible. When that is the case, most people find that traditional showers are off limits to them. That doesn’t mean, however, that giving up the luxury of showers or privacy when bathing will be necessary. Walk-in showers offer a distinct option for overcoming the obstacles.

Walk-in showers are available in two major design types. One is a combination walk-in tub and shower that provides all the benefits of a traditional bathroom fixture while eliminating the safety and access concerns that go along with it. A barrier-free shower can also provide the perfect solution in some cases. The latter choice is an exceptional one, but it can have some cons when compared with a full walk-in tub model.

Here are the standard benefits a barrier-free shower can provide you or a loved one if using a traditional shower is no longer an option:

·         Easy retrofitting – A barrier free shower can easily replace any traditional freestanding shower stall. A special pan will need to be installed that removes any major step over a shower once had.

·         Easy access – That special pan required by a barrier free shower sits as flush to the floor as possible. This enables people who use wheelchairs, walkers and canes to gain access easier. It can, in fact, enable some people to enjoy complete freedom in the shower that may have been lost in the past.

·         Exceptional support – Barrier free showers can be installed with grab bars, slip resistant flooring and built-in seating. These three things can combine to provide the safety and security needed in the shower for people with mobility challenges.

Barrier free showers are designed to tackle the accessibility and stability challenges people with mobility concerns face while bathing. The only real con associated with this design is that it does not offer the full bathtub features a walk-in combination model provides. If all the benefits of a shower and bathtub combination are preferred, a walk-in tub might be the best choice. This style of bathing equipment provides the accessibility, safety and stability features necessary while offering the luxurious upgrade of a full tub people can soak in.

Making Bathrooms Safe – Top 3 Disabled Bathing Solutions

Making sure a disabled loved one remains safe in the bathroom while retaining the ability to bathe independently and with dignity can be a tremendous challenge. There are three solutions that can help families tackle safety concerns head on while ensuring a person with mobility concern can enjoy the freedom desired to attend to personal hygiene needs.

If there’s a need to upgrade a bathroom to enhance accessibility and safety for a disabled person, these solutions may be ideal:

·         A walk in tub – Walk in tubs are recommended by healthcare providers in homes where disabilities are a concern. These tubs are also fast becoming popular in homes by owner choice simply because they remove major safety concerns in the bathroom. This style of tub is designed to eliminate the 20-inch step over traditional tubs have. In doing so, they eliminate one of the biggest hazard points in a bathroom. Consumers will find walk-in tubs, with their swing in or out doors, can be purchased to complete replace a traditional tub. Smaller models are also available for use in retrofitting rooms that have plumbing, but aren’t used for bathrooms currently. In addition, conversion kits can be used to transform any traditional tub into a walk in design.

·         Barrier free showers – Offering similar benefits as the walk in tub, this type of shower retrofit is meant to eliminate the step over in a shower that does not include a tub. These designs sit as close to the floor as possible to make it safer and easier for people with disabilities to gain access to the tub. A shower seat and grab bars are also common when these designs. Seats and grab bars add extra safety elements in the shower, making the bathing experience less perilous for those who cannot stand for long periods of time or at all.

·         Safety seats – Adding seating to a tub or shower that is designed for water use and slip resistance may also help those who are concerned about accidents in the bathroom enjoy a more relaxing experience.

Creating a safer bathroom experience for a disabled person may only require a few targeted upgrades. Walk in tubs, barrier free showers and simple safety upgrades can help those who are unsteady on their feet enjoy a safer, more independent experience in the bathroom.