Crash Test

It was this past Monday morning and I just took my brand new Shower Buddy SB3T out of the box. I loaded it in the bed of my Honda Ridgeline, and made sure it was positioned in tilt so it wouldn’t catch the wind. I headed to my first meeting across town. No problems. Next I headed to my clinic where I was going to unload it for a patient trial the next day. I was headed down the highway at 12:30pm. The clouds were looking a little dark, but I knew we were expecting some rain that evening. I’m talking on the phone and the wind seems to be picking up as I’m headed down the highway at 70 miles/hr. All of a sudden, I look in my rear view mirror, and see the Shower Buddy lift up and out of the bed of my truck. It went flying! The moment was as if I was Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz watching a tornado with houses flying around in the air. I couldn’t believe my eyes! I see the Shower Buddy bounce-roll-bounce on the road……. I immediately pull-over and jump out of my car, waving my arms in the air and screaming for truckers and cars to stop on the highway. They must of thought I was CRAZY! I grab the shower buddy and put it up on its caster wheels and started running down the side of highway, pushing the Shower Buddy. Then I look back and see the foam seat bouncing around under the cars, getting ripped to shreds. As I make it back to my truck, I hurry up and reload it back in my truck, this time lying down on its side. Then I start to freak out and could barely drive back to my clinic! When I got to the clinic, I found NO cracks or bent metal…. only scrapes and scratches with all the parts still intact! Man….. now that’s a test crash if I’ve ever seen one!

Into the tub in less then 60 seconds

This shows you how simple and quick showerbuddy system is. In less then 60 seconds the rolling shower chair gets in the tub. No lifting or remodeling required.

chair2showerin60secs from Showerbuddy on Vimeo.

Walk-In Tubs vs. ShowerBuddy

I was looking through the most recent issue of AARP’s monthly publication and I was astounded at how many page advertisements I saw for various brands of walk-in bathtubs! Four different companies had purchased ad space in the magazine and were talking about “new bathing experiences” and “transforming your bathroom”. I thought the idea behind home care was to keep things as similar to the past as possible. . . Regardless of any question that I may have about it, there is clearly a demand in the average consumers perspective and I think that in many cases, a ShowerBuddy product has a place in that conversation.

With an MSRP of anywhere from $2,569 to $8,376 for a walk in tub and being sold by retailers who almost never include installation or shipping in the price offered, both of which together can double or triple the overall cost of a walk in tub, (based on my research) there is a good opportunity here to offer the ShowerBuddy as an equally safe and far less costly alternative that also allows the user to maintain their bathroom as it has existed for years.
Now, I understand that the clear objection to this is that someone in the market for a walk-in tub is likely far more able bodied than a potential ShowerBuddy candidate and as a result will be opposed to or even offended by the idea of using an assistive device like the ShowerBuddy. However, the justification or event that prompts one to consider either product is the same: either a catastrophic event which designates the bathroom as an unsafe part of the house or a sharp decline in one’s ability to get themselves around the house without some type of assistance. If any individual is living with a caregiver or loved one responsible for them, and is considering the purchase of a walk-in tub then I think a ShowerBuddy product is worth their consideration as well. Chances are, their caregiver is already assisting them with many other activities of daily living. For someone with sufficient use of their arms (which is necessary for use of a walk in tub) the ShowerBuddy in bath section can be used by the user alone in virtually the same way as they were used to prior to them becoming aware of any walk in product (assuming that they have used a bath chair or transfer bench in the past). The bottom line for them is that a ShowerBuddy product is going to cost them no more than $3,495 (provided that they don’t require a tilt seat, which I don’t imagine someone in the market for a walk in tub would) Considering how important price is to many buyers in this economy, a solution that costs them less than half of what they planned to spend and allows them to keep the bathroom that they have loved for years the same, should present a great value for anyone in the market for a safe and comfortable means of bathing at home.

International Builders Show 2011

Showerbuddy is proud to be a part of  the NextGen Home Showcased at The 2011 International Builders’ Show to be Donated to an Injured Veteran & His Family

BELLEVUE WA, November 19th, 2010—The 9th edition of the NextGen National Demonstration Home located onsite at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, January 12-15th, will be donated to an injured veteran and his family.

The NextGen Home www.nextgenhome.com showcased at the 2011 International Builders’ Show, built by Champion Homes www.championhomes.com and with the support of all NextGen sponsors, will be donated to the nonprofit organization Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay www.rttb.org in cooperation with Sears’ Heroes at Home program.

The recipient of the NextGen Home will be U.S. National Guard and Army Veteran Waldemar Alameda, 39 years of age. The Alameda family includes Waldemar, his wife, their son 12 and their 11 year old daughter. The family resides in Tampa, FL. to be near the local VA trauma facility.

Mr. Alameda, served our country with distinction in multiple tours of Kosovo, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2007, he was severely injured by an IED explosion while serving in Tikrit, Iraq. Mr. Alameda suffers from severe leg and back pain, and while he can walk short distances, he normally utilizes a wheel chair most of the time. In addition he is diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and mild post traumatic stress disorder.

With his supportive wife and children, Mr. Alameda is looking forward to the future and having a permanent home in Tampa.

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New Literature and Video’s

New Literature and Video’s now available.  You can download PDFs, movies, manuals, logos or pictures.  There is a 16 page catalog that includes SB1, SB2,  SB2T and SB3t or single information sheets per product.  To have literature mailed to you click here.

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Hello everyone, Showerbuddy just joined Facebook. Please follow us at www.facebook.com/showerbuddy or click on this link below:

Enduser Showerbuddy Video

End user video Showerbuddy SB1.

Cleanliness is indeed next to Godliness

“Cleanliness is indeed next to Godliness.” – John Wesley

Most of us do not think twice about jumping into the shower and taking a quick rinse before starting our day. Bathing is something we all do to maintain our health and overall cleanliness of our body. What if one day you weren’t able to quickly jump into the shower? What if one day you weren’t able to even enter the shower without the risk of injury? Well, these “what ifs” are exactly what many elderly people are going through today. For many elderly the shower has become a dangerous unforgiving part of their home. Due to the risk of injury many are skipping their daily ritual. Read more

Showerbuddy Wins Harding Award

Showerbuddy has been recognized as the winner of the 2008 Harding Award for product innovation. The award was presented to Showerbuddy at the Canadian Seating & Mobility Conference in Toronto, Canada on September 15, 2008.