Disabled showers/wet-room

To avoid having to go upstairs to bath, we are looking at converting our downstairs shower (quite high and difficult for me to get into at the moment) into a disabled shower/wet-room. I was just wondering if anyone had any experience/tips? Many thanks Lit

In May 2011 I had my bathroom converted to a shower/wet-room and can highly recommend the idea. I was able to manage getting into the bath, but getting out was threatening to become impossible. With mine I have 1 metre high stable-type doors along the long outer side, two grab-rails and the shower control on the side opposite, a folding seat on a third side and a 1.3m built-in shelf on the fourth where I keep shampoo, shower-gel etc. As a result I am well provided-for for hand-holds, which will in due course be invaluable. After several months of increasing nervousness I shower confidently every morning.

We have moved into a retirement apartment with a wet room and it is wonderful.

The only thing I would say is to check that they get the floor laid properly. Ours doesnt slope towards drain so we get big puddle that needs mopping up. Landlord's problem though and he doesnt seem bothered. Not big issue.

Patsy x

Sounds like this was a custom installation. Did your contractor specialise in this type of remodel?

Derek Wood said:

In May 2011 I had my bathroom converted to a shower/wet-room and can highly recommend the idea. I was able to manage getting into the bath, but getting out was threatening to become impossible. With mine I have 1 metre high stable-type doors along the long outer side, two grab-rails and the shower control on the side opposite, a folding seat on a third side and a 1.3m built-in shelf on the fourth where I keep shampoo, shower-gel etc. As a result I am well provided-for for hand-holds, which will in due course be invaluable. After several months of increasing nervousness I shower confidently every morning.

I live in sheltered accommodation and after a referral from my Doctor the local Social Services dept contacted me to discuss my needs. In due course this culminated in the installation for which I received a 100% grant. I had 3 different contractors pitch for the job (not up to me to choose) all of them specialists, and as my appartment is one of 50+ they had all done other installations in the scheme before. The room was off-limits for 7 working days.

My husband is working on a wet room right now.The existing shower is no longer applicable for me.

Hi, I've just had my bathroom converted to a shower wet-room, It has a fitted, folding chair which is great. I first had to contact my OP for a new assessment and when she saw my difficulty, she recommended that I get a shower wet-room. She contacted the relevant people to guide me through the process. In the end the work was done by a private contractor with a 100% grant. The bathroom was out of use for about a week, but it was worth all the stress. So the first thing you should do is speak to you OP and find out what they can do to help you.

We went down that route.Definitely need a wet room now as the Ataxia progresses. Pros and cons against going down the OT route.

Pro is that it is free.

It gets done on time quickly .

We don't have to do anything.

Con You have to have what they suggest.

My husband is in the business but I can have something custom made for me.

ps I am still waiting and have to use the old shower.It keeps making funny noises and I have to psyche myself up to go in it.

I wanted to say thank you for all your great tips and suggestions. I will have a proper read over the next few days.

My only thought has been do you miss a good old soak in the bath?

My dad, a few years ago, had the shower/tub combo switched over to a walk in shower that was a little more wide and long. We just have a shower curtain and it works fine. One bench in the corner which I hate, wish it had been larger and the width of the back but oh well. It's more than enough wide for a shower chair when I need one. I love this thing. Dad has passed last Father's Day, so now the house is mine. He had the door to that bathroom widened, and he also double doors put in the bedroom 1/2 bath, with a taller commode and taller wall mounted sink. It's very narrow, but wide, so I can get my walker in and out of it super easy because of the double doors.

Do I miss a tub bath ? HECK YES !!! I am still able ( I think ) to get out of one by myself or with only minimal help on rare occasions, but I miss one SO bad ! ( I rarely took them before except sometimes in my previous house, I had a huge jacuzzi tub ) but I think it's also a case of " missing what you don't have anymore".

I would suggest a handheld shower head along with levers that are lower than standing high. A ada tolet which is taller and a vanity with wash basin at desk highth with a seat with room for a wheel chair underneath. Don't forget lot's of grab bars by the tolet, by tub, in shower etc.A folding bench is good for other's to use also and when a wheelchair goes in also. A sliding mirror door opens up wide. Make sure a wheel chair can get through it.

Heated air bubble with jets sure help those muscles when they need to be massaged. Or just a seam shower helps those fatigued mussels out allot more than you would think that they do!

Make sure light switches are lower and tolet paper holder and the outlets are lower than you would think they need to be. Have more outlet's put in than you think you will need also. I also would suggest a towel warmer and/or a floor warmer if possible since having ataxia I get chilled easy! If you can afford these definitely go for them!

Have as many Grab rails as possible to aid your balance.

a totally thermosatic temperature is vital (many cheaper makes/models claim that they have this but beaware, this is not true in practicality)

you may consider the inclusion of a patern to the wall tiles, (th basic WHITE, is too Medical, personaly) you can get some colourful accessories to mix and match.

dont forget the position of the equipment (Taps, shower controls etc) they may look nicely positioned, but are they useflly placed for daily use

A fully fitted (strongly fixed to wall) shower seat

plenty of light, to see

A floor coveringcolour that dosent show the water stains and dirt

All these suggestions are useful for me too.

Thanks again for all the great tips and suggestions.

I have been looking at disabled walk-in baths/showers. I am probably being silly but am I right in thinking, to use the door, you have to run the bath when you are in, and let the water all out before you can get out? This seems silly and to completely defeat any idea of warming your body up?