I am having trouble choosing a walk in tub for my mother. The best "How to Choose" page I have found is here: https://ellasbubbles.com/walk-in-tubs/how-to-choose/
Does anyone have any advice? I believe this company Ella's Bubbles allows you to choose your own installer so that is quite nice.
At some point even a walk in tub may not be possible.
A roll in shower can be used at any time and it can be used by anyone at any stage.
Appropriate Grab Bars for when a person is still walking and the shower is large enough for a Shower Wheelchair or a Hoyer Lift. And it is large enough for helpers to aid in giving a shower.
As to the walk in tub...not sure how I feel sitting in a tub as the water empties getting cold until I can get a towel around me. And the ones I have seen the "door" opening is rather confining so if there are mobility problems it is not easy getting in and out.
You have to sit there and wait to fill up the tub. When you are done, you have to sit and wait for it to empty. You have to shore up underneath because they weigh more than normal tubs and put the weight at an awkward concentration.
My folks wanted one in their bathroom, so we did it. They just used it as a shower with a seat instead of a tub...waste of money.
Crazy story... one time my Mom was sitting on the seat area and slipped into the lower area. Luckily it wasn't full of water, but she got stuck, and I had to call rescue services to help me lift her out of that area because the door opens inwards.
I vote for a zero-clearance roll-in shower stall if at all possible. This will not be an unwanted feature when selling the house like a walk-in tub would be.
And I agree, at some point the tub may not be able to be used by the senior if they can only get around in a wheelchair.
I much prefer taking baths to showers, but after I saw that monstrosity, I don’t think I would get one. It’s very clearly not something you would use every day. I wish I could have asked her about it.
Hot tubs are relaxing but they are expensive to own. I wonder how many people keep hot tubs that they win on game shows. 😁
One other thought - for much less than the price of a walk-in tub and installation you can get a very nice bath lift for your regular tub
The DH of the couple LOVED the tub, although they had to install a new water heater AND the tub used every drop of hot water to fill. The wife hated it--it took so long to get bathed! So I know they went back and installed a shower head, for her, and also for him to use to be rinsed.
After the death of the parents, the kids couldn't sell the house--the bugaboo? That tub! With only ONE bath, it was actually a pain for any young family, and that's who was looking for a house. The family ended up tearing out the step in tub and replacing it with a 'regular' one. I know my friend said in the end it ran them close to $20K. And they did most of the work themselves.
I'd opt for a 'jetted' over-size tub and put in plenty of rails, etc. The home we bought has a very deep tub and my DH LOVES a long soak. I am a shower person, only, can't remember the last time I took a bath.
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