Attaining old age is a blessing, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that the elderly are safe, comfortable, and in good health. Unfortunately, old age comes with numerous complications, some of which reduce their mobility and function normally. Luckily, products have been designed to make the lives of all older adults easier and more comfortable. Bathroom lift chairs are among these products. They are designed to make it easier and stress-free to take a bath, as the Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift does.
Finding the perfect bathroom lift chair for yourself or your loved one requires more than just picking one from a physical or online store. You have to know the basic and special features you need and choose one that is strong and durable. You must also pick one that can carry the weight of the intended user. Bearing these requirements in mind, how can you tell if you should choose the Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift over others? Well, we will explore the pros and cons of this bathtub lift chair and let you decide if it meets your primary and unique requirements.
Overview
The Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift is one of the best bathtub lift chairs in the current market. The designers considered an older person’s bathroom needs in the modern age, including comfort, sturdiness, stability, ease of use, and durability. It is easy to assemble and fold for transportation and storage, and it comes with six suction cups that prevent accidental slips and falls. This product has a seat whose dimensions are 16.5x 13.7 x 18.8 inches for depth, width, and height, respectively. It can accommodate any older adult who weighs a maximum of 300 pounds.
Pros
- Easy to assemble and use
- Strong and durable aluminum construction
- Comfortable seat and backrest
- Foldable for portability and easy storage
- Strong suction cups for safety
Cons
- Suction cups not for textured surfaces
- Long charging time
- Fragile electric plug
What is Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift Made of?
The Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift is made of an aluminum frame that is strong and durable. The frame is padded with high-quality padding material. Some of its functional and aesthetic features are made of high-grade plastic. The padding on the seat and backrest provides optimal support and comfort to the user. The lift chair is lightweight despite having all these materials. It is also fitted with a lithium-ion battery in the hand control that is also watertight.
Our Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift review
My 83-year-old mother recently suffered a hip fracture and had to undergo hip replacement surgery. She is still recuperating, and since the accident, bathing became a big challenge for the entire family because her movement is now minimal. We did not know that lift chairs existed until a nurse asked us to purchase one.
We embarked on an internet search to learn more about this useful product. One of my mother’s friends recommended the Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift because she had bought it for her grandmother. We trusted her opinion and experience, so we settled on this brand. We have been using it for the last three months, and it has made bath time for my mother much more manageable. We will share our experience so far, so please note that our scores, feelings, and thoughts are somewhat subjective. We will mainly look into the lift chair’s suction power, ease of assembly, sturdiness, and stability.
Suction Power (7.2/10)
When we ordered a Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift for my mother, we expected it to work as well as our family friend had said. Unfortunately, we soon discovered that the suction power was below par for us. From the information available online, the suction cups would only work on smooth surfaces. Luckily, my mom’s bathtub is very smooth. When we used it for the first time, the suction cups barely stuck to the bathtub. This was very frustrating for my mom and all of us.
Instead of taking a risk and using it anyway, we decided to clean the bathtub again and dry it thoroughly before use. After the procedure, we tried using the seat lift again. It seemed to work a little better the second time. The suction cups stuck to the floor of the bathtub. However, their suction power was relatively low to keep the entire seat secured in place. This time around, she had her bath after warning her to be very careful.
The next day, we decided to try another bathtub in the house. Unfortunately, the experience was the same. After a couple of tries and uses, one of the suction cups broke. We were fortunate enough that our family friend offered to give us a replacement because she had a few extra pieces.
To date, the suction power of the Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift is not what we desired. We have taken extra caution and only allow my mom to take a bath only when there is someone in the house. We also remind her to be extremely cautious each day and alert us if she feels that the seat is moving too much in the tub.
Sturdiness and Stability (7.8/10)
We discovered that the Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift was quite strong within the first few days of use. My mom weighs about 285 lbs, and this seat comfortably supported her weight. Not much space was left on the sides after sitting, so there was no risk of falling. The side flaps seemed to support her weight very well, and this was a plus for us.
On the other hand, the overall stability of the Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift leaves a lot to be desired. Our mother’s condition means that we have to lift and place her on the seat to have a bath. Our experience doing this the first couple of weeks was less than pleasant because the seat kept shifting all over the place as we tried to place her on it.
We later discovered that we needed to place bars on each side of the seat to promote stability. This information was not included in the user manual, and the manufacturer should consider including it to save new users the stress of using the product.
We discovered that the stability of the seat was further compromised by the type of bathtubs in mom’s house. They are relatively shallow and a bit constrained by the surrounding shower. Due to this structural issue of the house, the chair could not recline much, and it lost its stability when mom tried to recline it. We felt like the manufacturer should offer recommendations on the type and size of the bathtub the product is most suitable for. The Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift is more likely to work better in a deep tub.
Easy to Assemble (8.4/10)
Our favorite aspect of the Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift was its ease of assembly. We set it up within no time. My siblings and I experienced the only challenge when assembling the Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift was installing the suction cups. The explanation on how to do this was not easy to understand. We tried a few times and failed to install them properly. After making two calls, we were informed that the seat needed to be raised before fitting the cups. When we did this, installing them was very easy.
After assembly, we charged the seat and realized that it took a bit of time for the battery to charge to capacity. It took about four and a half hours to charge fully. Afterward, we tested it on the bathtub, and it seemed to work just fine. Unfortunately, we noticed that the padded covers for the back and seat are removable slid out of position with slight user movement. We later realized that this was our fault because we did not attach them properly.
We also realized that the Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift design made it difficult for the user to reach the plug. The unit has a connector that allows the battery-powered hand control to plug back to the back of the chair. After disconnecting the charger, we had to plug the hand unit back onto the chair, and this took a minute to figure out.
Final Verdict 7.8
By now, you can already tell that the ease of assembly was the only aspect that made us smile after purchasing the Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift for my dear mother. While it made it much easier to take a bath compared to having nothing to assist, our expectations were certainly not met.
The poor suction power was frustrating, and so was the overall stability of the chair. Due to these reasons, we felt that this bathtub chair lift deserved an overall score of 7.8/10. Unless the manufacturer makes some much-needed updates and adjustments, we will not be recommending this product to anyone.
[FAQ’s] Consumer Questions & Answers
How long does the Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift’s battery last?
The battery comes with a 2-year warranty, but it is supposed to last much longer. After about three years, the battery’s capacity declines, and it only takes a partial charge, so you may need to replace it for the lift chair to continue functioning normally.
Do I need a separate charger that plugs into an outlet, or does the hand unit plug into an outlet for recharging?
The bathroom lift chair comes with a cord that you plug into an outlet to recharge. It takes a couple of hours for the battery to recharge, and when the battery is fully charged, you will see a green light on the handset.
What is the weight limit for the Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift?
The manufacturer indicates that the maximum weight limit for it is 350 lbs.
Can I remove and wash the seat and back covers in this bathroom lift chair?
Yes, you can. The seat and back covers are removable, but this is not easy to do. After removing them, you can wash them. Since this is not a very easy thing to do, it is best to do your best to keep them clean as you use them. Periodic cleaning will be much easier than frequent cleaning.
I have a textured bathroom floor. Does this mean that I cannot use the Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift?
You should not risk using this bathroom lift chair in a textured bathroom as the suction cups are only designed to work on smooth surfaces.
Does the Drive Medical Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Chair Seat Lift come with an instruction manual?
Yes, it does. If it is missing, you can easily download a copy online.