Hoping to stay in your home as long as possible? Debating which home renovations are best suited to helping you achieve that goal?

Considering states one in four seniors fall every year and many of those falls happen in the bathroom, it鈥檚 no surprise that installing a walk-in tub can allow seniors to live at home independently for an additional five years, on average.

鈥淕etting in and out of the bath or shower is a huge source of anxiety for seniors, especially those with mobility issues,鈥� says Rick Perkins, owner of . 鈥淔or both seniors and their family members, installing a walk-in tub can make a big difference when it comes to safety and peace-of-mind.鈥�

Why a walk-in tub? Why not a walk-in shower?

鈥淚鈥檝e often met with clients who for whatever reasons don鈥檛 particularly like baths and would prefer to continue showering,鈥� Perkins says. 鈥淲hile I completely understand everyone has a personal preference, I always encourage them to consider their safety first and the numbers don鈥檛 lie, walk-in baths are the safest solution on the market.鈥�

Walk-in tubs are specifically designed with senior health, safety and longterm comfort in mind, Perkins says. If you鈥檙e thinking a grab-bar is all you need, ask yourself one simple question: 鈥淚f I slip and manage to catch myself on the grab bar, do I have the upper body strength to fully prevent a fall or am I still going to walk away injured?鈥�

The vast majority of the seniors Perkins speaks with agree they can鈥檛 safely rely on grab-bars alone.

鈥淚 just want to help people, if I make a sale along the way great, but it鈥檚 never my priority,鈥�

鈥� Rick Perkins.

Keeping their clients safe is the ultimate goal 鈥� they鈥檙e not a high-pressure, sales-focused business, says Perkins, who though semi-retired, continues to sell walk-in tubs because he and his wife, Cheryl, find it so rewarding and fulfilling.

鈥淩ick has always been a 鈥榩eople person鈥� 鈥� he just loves visiting and helping people,鈥� Cheryl says. 鈥淭his is a 鈥榝eel-good鈥� business and we鈥檙e driven to continue it because we鈥檙e not only helping keep our fellow seniors safe, but helping them retain their independence for as long as possible.鈥�

Walk-in Tubs Thompson Okanagan offers a and Rick is always eager to provide prospective clients with information on Provincial and Federal tax-credits and grants available for seniors interested in a walk-in tub.

Learn more at , email info@walkintubsbc.com or call 250-682-4932 for more information. Find out if you qualify for a $7,500 government grant and a $2,500 tax credit with a free quote .

READ MORE: Walk-in tubs provide confidence and safety for seniors