There are many other devices to assist with bathing. Typically, people have chairs that sit in the tub. Transfers in and out of the tub are difficult. This particular device has a sliding chair so that a person can sit on the outside of the tub and do a seated transfer into the tub, which makes it more effective for many people. Many different iterations of walkers exist one in particular has wheels, handles, brakes, a basket, a tray, and a seat.
Many older people fatigue easily, so having a chair is a very useful feature.
In an intervention study that we did, we gave one person in a senior apartment complex a walker as part of the intervention. She was the only person in her senior apartment complex that had it. She was very social, interacted with many other people. We came back in six months for the follow-up and 16 people had a similar walker, because it had utility for them. Reflecting the temporary nature of disability for many people, a temporary ramp might be useful for someone who has had a hip fracture, needs to use a wheelchair, or has difficulty getting in and out of the house, but in 6 months, might not be using a wheelchair.