Greatest Inventions – The Shower Chair

Have you ever paused to marvel at the inventions that quietly transformed everyday life? Think about wheeled suitcases. Our kids have no clue what it was like to drag heavy cases and sports bags through airports until someone had the genius idea to add wheels. It wasn’t cutting-edge tech – but it was life-changing. The same goes for smartphones, reverse cameras, and GPS. We didn’t know we needed them until they appeared, and now we can’t imagine life without them.

Recently, in my journey with PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy), I stumbled upon a similar revelation. No futuristic gadget required – just a simple, game-changing idea: the shower chair.

For nearly 50 years, I showered standing up. Why? When we eat, we sit. When we relax, we sit. On a train or at the cinema, we sit. Sitting equals comfort – so why do we stand in the shower when a perfectly functional chair exists? I never considered it until this morning.

Now that I have one in my new downstairs shower, it’s nothing short of revolutionary! Two showerheads – one overhead, one handheld – make cleanliness effortless. But the real magic? Comfort and safety. It’s bliss. I can take my time, enjoy the warm water, and feel secure. It’s a small change with a huge impact. Yet another absurdity along the PSP trail.

So why isn’t everyone using one? Probably because people think shower chairs are only for those with mobility issues, people like me. My view: why deny anyone such a simple pleasure? If someone marketed it as cool, I bet it would go mainstream. Imagine glossy ads: “Upgrade Your Shower Experience!” It sounds a little strange and bizarre  –  but why not?

Of course, PSP brings bigger challenges. Essential aids like electric wheelchairs, the U-Step Walker, and even my stash of airline eye masks from the hundreds of foreign longhaul trips I made have helped enormously. They make life easier, but they only address part of the problem. There’s still so much room for innovation.

Today, I’m trying a new solution for reflux – fingers crossed! Liquid thickener? Still adjusting to the texture, but the benefits are real. I and others have researched futuristic ideas like fall-protection airbags and exoskeletons, but for now, I’m sticking with practical fixes. Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the most powerful.

And yet, the elephant in the room remains: we still lack a cure, an effective treatment, or even a definitive diagnostic tool for PSP. That gap overshadows everything. It’s the invention we need most – and it hasn’t arrived yet. We have made so many leaps forward in so many areas – yet in some things we simply are lagging far to far behind.

So tell me – what everyday inventions have surprised you? What game-changers, big or small, should I know about? Share your thoughts – I’d love to hear them.