Any advice on showers vs bathtubs?

[mbday630]

with my mother being here now (89 years old) we are thinking it is too dangerous for her to step into the tub to take her bath/shower. Right now we just have a shower nozzle and it is nice to have a bathtub so that I can give my dogs a bath. But, I worry about her getting in and out of the bathtub so Larry and I were talking about having the tub taken out and putting in a shower. Also, we are looking at cut-out tubs where they take a piece of tub out to get in and out more safely. So, should I take out my tub and put in a shower or does anyone else have another idea? My greatest fear right now is mother slipping trying to get into the tub.

[Stella]

My downstairs bathroom has a step in shower. Since my mother-in-law can't stand very long, we have a bath stool in there, and also a sprayer hose attached to the shower head.

How big is your bathroom? My neighbor bought a walk in whirlpool tub (Home Depot) and I've often thought about showing up at her house for a bath!

[mbday630]

My tub/shower area is small and we only have 1-1/2 baths, so this bathroom shower/tub is it. So, whatever we do will be permanent forever. I think that is why we are leaning more to the cut-out tub, but, we have to make a decision as I am having someone give me an estimate for a shower install on Wednesday and I just don't know what to do. I bought one of those chairs for the shower yesterday.... but, it still involves mother getting in and out of the tub and she has no upper body strength at all. Maybe I should just throw her in there, tell her to sit on the chair and shut up and save the money. I think she would like just a "PTA" bath.

[draclvr]

Last year I got rid of my tub upstairs and put in a fabulous walk-in shower with a built-in seat and have never been so happy. I love, love, love it. Those tubs with the doors are probably a good compromise though. My 91 year-old mother is in a nursing home and they use one of those with the Jacuzzi feature. She is in heaven on bath days. When she was in her apartment attached to the nursing home, she had a walk in shower with a seat and was thrilled to be able to take a shower every day if she wanted. She could never have done ANY kind of tub by herself.

[Jude]

I don't know if this applies, but when I wracked up my knee (and it still dislocates easily), I had a grab-bar installed on the wall of my tub/shower. Also, it's probably a good idea to remove any towel/washcloth racks and replace them with a grab-bar which is strong enough to hold a person's weight if they use it to hold onto or grab it to keep from falling.

[draclvr]

Very good point, Jude. This shower my mom had in the apartment had grab bars all around inside it. However, there was simply a towel bar outside the shower. She lost her balance once and pulled the towel bar out of the wall when she fell. They then went around and put solidly secured grab bars in all the apartments. My brother-in-law has had both of his legs amputated and he has a combination of vertical and horizontal grab bars in his shower.

[StarLite]

Some cut out bath places can cut out the tub but they also have the extra piece that you can put it back on. But the idea of the shower and seat I think would be the best way to go. Once mom lays down in the bath, is she going to be able to get back up. There's so much to consider, but do check over all options before you make the move and check out any reviews or forums and see what people are saying about this style

[mbday630]

yes, I read about that the extra piece can be put back in and that sounds good to hubby. Plus, the ease of a shower but sort of a tub for giving my dogs baths. I don't know. hubby is leaving it all up to me (damn him) and I don't know which way to go.

[LadyKestrel]

Since lifting reluctant canines into the tub in the main bathroom was too much work, we bathe them in the second bath which has a small shower stall.

For making a decision, think about what you would want when you're your mom's age.

[Diat60]

LadyK, you just reminded me of a friend who had a huge German Shepherd. They only had a very small shower stall and the only way to bath the dog was for her husband to get in and take the dog with him (on his hind legs). And no one took a picture, which would have been priceless!

[LadyKestrel]

That would be a sight to behold, Diat!

[draclvr]

OK... that's not a sight I would even WANT to behold!

[Diat60]

I think he kept his shorts on.

[draclvr]

THAT'S a relief!

[mbday630]

The people who do the cut-out tubs just called and that would be 1,500. Hubby thought it would just be a few hundred dollars. The shower would be over 2000. so, I just bought a shower chair and had hubby install a rail for the bathtub and I will just have to help mother get in and out of the bath. I think I should encourage Larry to get into the bath/shower business.