Sit-down shower?

[joepeters752]

Gals (& guys), we are doing a bathroom remodel. We currently have a 32 x32 shower, no tub. We have room for a shower with a sit-down feature. We are currently 60 & 62 years of age.

Thoughts?

[turkey feather]

We put a shower with a corner seat in when we redid out bathroom a few years ago.  We also made the door wider and put in a toliet with a much higher seat. This was a great idea because just shortly after I had two accidents in two years.  The wheelchair went through the doors and while in the shower I could sit on the bench. Now is the time to prepare for being older.

[Kay/NC]

I would evensay toaccommodate a wheelchair with the level threshhold to the shower, if possible. Lowe's has good booklet on accessbility, or did. There is a lt of good info about, with so many of us hitting our golden years.

Don't forget the support rails for the shower and toilet. Easiest to mark the studs for anchoring while you are torn out remodellng.

[manureseller]

I'd say go for it.  And I was just thinking about this while in the shower this morning.  When we build we are looking at putting a bench in both our shower and the guest bath.  I just hope we can get started on this project soon!!!

[Kay/NC]

Just to lobby again for the roll-in shower. Sitting down is one thing, but transferring a wet, slippery person into and out of a chair, to the seat and back, is a bear. Of course, groundfloor location makes the most sense for this accommodation.

[Ruby Lou]

I would say yes, go for the shower with a sit down.  when I took my mom to my nephew's wedding out of state, I asked for a handicapped accessible room.  The bathtub was not accessible, had two rows of handle railing, but not a walk in shower.  I found out when we checked out that they did have those, but the gal that booked us thought this room at it.  Anyway, with us farm women we know that we are susceptible to getting parkinsons and/or alzheimers in the future, whether it be earlier or later....I did get my mom into the tub lifting one leg in at a time very carefully and she had to hold on with one had...I was so afraid she would fall, but she said she would be ok....She is not comforatble with someone washing her yet.

[farm160]

We previously had a standard 32x32 shower and a couple years ago replaced it with a unit from the onyx collection. Size is now

 42x48 or 42x 60;  (can't remember which we ended up with), but it's doorless.  We put in a 14 or 18" corner seat; however it's too small and placed too low for sitting.  It works for shaving legs, but not really for sitting.  It would need to be more of a bench at a proper height to work well.  After the fact, hubby wishes we had more of a seat which really surprised me.  The onyx collection is really easy to clean, and having no door is nice. 

[turkey feather]

It looks very good but there may come a time when you wish for grab bars and handles. 

[farm160]

That's true - we should have put in a grab bar when we did it.  It can still be done & I have one in storage.  Just never thought about it at the time.  

[Kay/NC]

I started using grab bats in our bathrooms about 15-17 years ago. Had the guys put one above my spa tub in the Carolina house. Still have the ceramic drill bits. That was when I learned about the stud anchoring.

We put one on vertical at each end of the tub/ shower here at Jenna's when they re-did the tub surface and surround two years back. Those have more of a texture to the metal, so even better non-slip there. No matter which end we exit the shower curtain, there is a safe grip. It is cheap insurance against a slip and fall.