Shower vs wet room

[Owl2172]

Hi, my wife who is 57, has early onset Az. She is not too bad at the moment but is beginning to experience some mobility issues. In particular she is finding it hard to use our shower, which is above the bath. She has not been able to use a bath for a few years as she has two hip replacements. It is obvious that we need something different to enable her to keep clean (she is beginning to have some continence problems as well).
My question is, what have others found works? The bathroom will have to be modified so do I go for a disabled shower cubicle with a seat or a wet room? I can see that, in time, a cubicle could be a frightening thing for her to use, even if I got in with her, or am I wrong in thinking that?? Any advice welcome!

 

[Beate]

Would she be able to use a shower board? It enabled my OH to sit on it while being showered and all he had to do to get in or out was swing his legs. We got it for free via an OT.

 

[Theresalwaystomorrow]

My thoughts would be wet room every time , my mum has Alzheimer’s and she has a corner enclosed shower, she needs showering everyday and it’s so awkward and lack of space. Wish it was a wet room

 

[allchange]

A wetroom is also more likely to be zimmer frame/wheelchair accessible should this become necessary. It is also easier to keep clean.

 

[nae sporran]

We have the option of both at our extra support housing. The flat has a wetroom which is very easy to use, it has a chair under the shower. There is also an adapted bathroom with a chair lift on the bath which my OH prefers, although she needs the trained carers to work that properly. Does your wife have carers coming in? There are some things OH would prefer to do with carers than with me, your wife may be different of course.

 

[J3nny]

Hi , my husband is 57 also and was diagnosed with Parkinsons and Dementia at the age of 49. We had an extension to our house last year to accommodate a larger bedroom with attached wet room. The wet room is a god send,it had nonslip tiles put down,a higher toilet and extra wide doorway. Social Services came and put in grab rails,shower chair and toilet bars. It has made things so much easier and safer.

 

[marionq]

My husband had a bad fall in the shower cubicle two years ago so I had it ripped out and a walk in wet room instead. It is in his en suite and very simple. The plumber advised wet wall and waterproof floor tiles with a shower tray and glass dividing wall. There was room for a corner sink and of course the toilet itself. Within weeks it was thoroughly tested when he had four or five days of sickness and vomiting. Hosing him down was much easier.

The total cost would have been around £4000 but we didn't have to pay VAT as he had dementia so it was around £3400. A letter from your doctor to the Plumber or builder is all that is needed for them to deduct the tax.

 

[Jorbin]

My husband had a bad fall in the shower cubicle two years ago so I had it ripped out and a walk in wet room instead. It is in his en suite and very simple. The plumber advised wet wall and waterproof floor tiles with a shower tray and glass dividing wall. There was room for a corner sink and of course the toilet itself. Within weeks it was thoroughly tested when he had four or five days of sickness and vomiting. Hosing him down was much easier.

The total cost would have been around £4000 but we didn't have to pay VAT as he had dementia so it was around £3400. A letter from your doctor to the Plumber or builder is all that is needed for them to deduct the tax.

Thank you very much for this information.

 

[Jorbin]

Thank you for this information.

 

[Lawson58]

Could I also suggest that you get a shower head that has an attached hand spray as well? This gives you a whole lot more options and I always spray the walls down following use and it really does make a big difference to keeping it clean.

 

[Owl2172]

Thank you all for this very useful information. It does sound like a wet room is the way to go as this will be more suitable as things progress.

 

[Lonely partner]

Thank you very much for this information.

I have being trying to get zero-rated VAT units ( walk in shower) but stores are not willing to supply. My plumber is not vat registered, so I hoped to buy the materials myself.

 

[nitram]

I have being trying to get zero-rated VAT units ( walk in shower) but stores are not willing to supply. My plumber is not vat registered, so I hoped to buy the materials myself.

Contractors who aren't VAT registered can’t reclaim the VAT on the materials they buy.
Instead, they can help you arrange for the materials to be supplied VAT-free direct to you
from a VAT-registered supplier. You’ll need to give the VAT-registered supplier of the goods
(for example a builders’ merchant or DIY store) a copy of your eligibility declaration and
evidence from your contractor that you’re paying them to do the eligible work for you.
If you do the work yourself or a friend, neighbour or member of your family does the work for
you free of charge the materials can’t be bought VAT free.

Page2
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...sabled_Helpsheet__Construction_-final__2_.pdf

 

[Owl2172]

This has been a very helpful discussion. We are going to have a wet room installed. One further question please - is it best to have a shower with a half height partition or full? I guess that half is better as I can help my OH to wash when I need to. Any thoughts good people?

 

[marionq]

It's about two years since ours was done and I'm very pleased. We have full height and I stand at the front and hand in what is needed. I can lean in and take the shower head and hose him down if I feel it's needed.

 

[Owl2172]

Thank you - that looks nice!

 

[Spamar]

Unlike Marion, I would have a shower or wet room with the controls easily available from outside the shower. This is because OH forgot how to turn the water off, which in turn meant a wet arm for me when I was trying to do so.
I like the idea of a wet room which half height division across the washing area. Again, easier to help wash pwd without getting wet yourself.

 

[marionq]

Unlike Marion, I would have a shower or wet room with the controls easily available from outside the shower. This is because OH forgot how to turn the water off, which in turn meant a wet arm for me when I was trying to do so.
I like the idea of a wet room which half height division across the washing area. Again, easier to help wash pwd without getting wet yourself.

Thus far I have never got wet. I approach the taps from the left if I have to and you'll notice the head points to the right. I try to involve John in switching the tap off but always have to be there as he would just as easily meddle with the thermostat. It's always worth chatting to your builder for ideas though. I was advised against ceramic tiles as they're colder and the wet wall is wearing well and very easy to keep clean.

 

[Rolypoly]

Thus far I have never got wet. I approach the taps from the left if I have to and you'll notice the head points to the right. I try to involve John in switching the tap off but always have to be there as he would just as easily meddle with the thermostat. It's always worth chatting to your builder for ideas though. I was advised against ceramic tiles as they're colder and the wet wall is wearing well and very easy to keep clean.

I was going to ask what you had on the walls.

 

[AL60]

Hi.. I've only just converted our bathroom to a wetroom and so far I have no regrets. My wife has mobility and balance problems so one of the carers suggested sitting in the bath rather than standing reducing the risk of falling . Fine until one day she just couldn't stand up to get out. So on the advice from the nhs 111 line an ambulance was sent. We were then lent a battery powered chair for the bath. As a stop gap measure that was fine. But my mind was made up. A wet room . It's now complete and she actually enjoys showering now. With a fold up seat fastened to the wall , a half height shower screen, grab handles and an easily adjusted and removable shower head life is much easier . I've also just bought a shampoo shield, shower and hair washing is no longer a chore. The carers give it 10/10 Best decision I've made for a long time. And that's coming from someone who can't seem to get anything right of late ☺ Al.