---
title: "What Is Walk-in tub? Home Care Glossary | HomeCare.com"
description: "A walk-in tub is a bathtub with a watertight door in its side, so a person can step in instead of climbing over a high wall. It has a built-in seat and..."
url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/walk-in-tub/
publisher: HomeCare.com
phone: 800-974-3458
start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com
---

Safety and home

# Walk-in tub

A walk-in tub is a bathtub with a watertight door in its side, so a person can step in instead of climbing over a high wall. It has a built-in seat and often grab bars. The person sits as the tub fills and drains.

## Why it matters for your family

A walk-in tub can make bathing easier for some people. It has limits. The tub fills and drains slowly, so the person may sit in a door-closed tub until it empties. It takes space and costs more than a shower upgrade. AARP says Original Medicare typically does not pay for bathroom safety changes. Families often choose a tub before checking what the person can do. A walk-in shower with a seat and grab bars may work as well for less. A common mistake is to buy without an assessment. Ask an occupational therapist and get written quotes. Caregivers can help with bathing safely.

Source: [aarp.org](https://www.aarp.org/medicare/does-medicare-cover-home-safety-equipment/)

[Read more: Personal and advanced care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/personal-care/)

## Related terms

-   [**Home modifications**Home modifications are changes to a house that make it safer and easier to use for an older adult or a person with a disability.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-modifications/)
-   [**Grab bars**Grab bars are sturdy handles fixed to a wall, usually in a bathroom, that give a person something solid to hold when standing, sitting or stepping.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/grab-bars/)
-   [**Shower chair**A shower chair is a waterproof seat for use in a shower or tub.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/shower-chair/)
-   [**Bathing**Bathing, as an activity of daily living, means washing the body by sponge bath, tub, or shower, and getting in and out safely.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/bathing/)
-   [**Fall prevention**Fall prevention is the set of steps that lower the chance an older adult will fall.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/fall-prevention/)
-   [**Home safety assessment**A home safety assessment is a room-by-room check of a home for hazards that could cause falls or injuries.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-safety-assessment/)

[All glossary terms](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/)

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