I'm ready to remodel the small bathroom downstairs for my elderly Pop. I'm going to use a contractor, but I want to do a bit of research before jumping in.

I couldn't believe how many walk in tubs Home Depot lists on their website! There has to be hundreds of choices.

Do they all have whirlpools? It seems like every one I looked at, (before becoming bleary eyed) had that feature. Is there anything negative about them? Models to stay away from?

Any other thoughts about the remodel? I'm just now hearing about toilets that sit higher, chair height, I think they call them. Supposed to be easier to sit on/get off.

I know it's going to be pricey, but Pop is almost 88 and is getting a bit feeble moving around. I have to make it more accessible for him.

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Mr. Lahey: A lot of people, don’t know how to drink. They drink against the grain of the liquor. And when you drink against the grain of the liquor? You lose.

Randy: What the @#$%& are you talking about?

Consider the time it takes for a walk in tub to drain before you can open the door to get out. Somehow the occupant must be kept warm.

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Embarassing myself on the Internet since 1978.

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raz
Consider the time it takes for a walk in tub to drain before you can open the door to get out. Somehow the occupant must be kept warm.

Exactly. I can't believe these people are still in business.

Handicapped bathrooms include wheel in showers. Not walk in tubs. It’s just not a good idea. Talk to an actual specialist in handicapped bathroom design. My mom hired a specialist to set up for my brother when she built her new house in 98. Wide hallways, rails everywhere, roll in shower, wheelchair level toilet, etc.

I have a feeling those things are way overpriced.

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cbelt3
Handicapped bathrooms include wheel in showers. Not walk in tubs. It’s just not a good idea. Talk to an actual specialist in handicapped bathroom design. My mom hired a specialist to set up for my brother when she built her new house in 98. Wide hallways, rails everywhere, roll in shower, wheelchair level toilet, etc.

^

One day, hospital-type bathrooms will be the norm. They just make too much sense. The problem is that you have to custom make the floor to allow the surface to slope down for the drain. But these standard setups --- even shower pan inserts, with their lipped edge --- should not be needed.

Unless pops likes to take a bath don't build in a bath. They're great until you have to climb out of them.

A rail along the wall will be invaluable, or more depending on dimensions and distribution of the room.
The stairwell type seem less clinical to me.
A wheel In shower is a good idea. I also say that a corner shower with an angled door, will provide a small space where any wall is close for support.
I kept thinking that I’d strip it and start over again when a wheelchair was needed, but a bath plastic wheel chair fit in fine.
And the chosen vertical shower head worked great with it.
I thought about retrofitting a hose shower head afterwards, but then I always struggled with providing just the necessary amount of special equipment.
I wanted the room, the experience of needing assistance as warm as possible.
I’m overstepping here, but there’s a very fine line between independent and assisted grooming, and it’s great to keep it in sight.
Broken hips are no fun.
My best wishes!!

My brother installed one in one of their bathrooms, thinking it would be easier for his wife. It wasn’t. It’s the one I use when I visit and there is nothing about it that I like. It’s rather cramped. In my dad’s assisted living apartment, they had walk-in showers with low or no threshold. Much better.

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My life goes smoothly and in regular intervals

Does he really want a tub, or is it to be a shallow hydrotherapy spa? If it has a good size drain, it only takes 90 to 120 seconds to drain. A warm shower can easily chase the chill away while it drains.

A shower with an integrated seat and a good strong shower massage head is very nice.

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In tha 360. MRF User Map

Install a bidet adapter on the toilet.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

Thanks for the input so far, folks!

My Pop is just starting to have mobility issues. He uses a cane right now, but we got him a fancy walker a few months back that he hasn't used yet.

The reason he wanted a walker is that he is getting a bit unsteady and he thought using a walker with a built in seat would motivate him to start walking more to strengthen his legs. Arthritis makes his back hurt, so the built in seat on the walker would give him a chance to rest his back when needed.

The bathroom issue is that he can't lift his leg over the tub while balancing on one leg. He is also afraid of slipping in the tub. That's why I was thinking of a walk in tub with a built in seat. The whirlpool feature made me think it would be a good solution to help with his arthritis.

I'm beginning to think a walk in shower (with seat) may be a better fit. The bathroom seems to be original to when the house was built in the 70's. I think maybe a new tub with fiberglass surround and bathroom wall paneling have been the only upgrades since it was built.

Perhaps a walk in shower with seat, higher toilet, and lots of grab bars might be the way to go. As far as the issue of staying warm, well, this bathroom has a baseboard heater that hasn't been used in the 21 years we have been here. I think that may go and not be replaced with the remodel.

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Mr. Lahey: A lot of people, don’t know how to drink. They drink against the grain of the liquor. And when you drink against the grain of the liquor? You lose.

Randy: What the @#$%& are you talking about?

....what about sponge bath [ a la Seinfeld ]....????

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I reject your reality and substitute my own!

The grab bars are a greatly needed touch.

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Bill
Flagler Beach, FL 32136

Carpe Vino!

Fermentation may have been a greater discovery than fire.
— David Rains Wallace