Future proofing the bathroom - late 60s

[CountingDownTheLongDays]

DF is talking about having his bathroom redone - not a moment too soon, I think it was last touched in the 70s. When I was at school twenty years ago he borrowed a pritt stick off me, walked into the bathroom and stuck the wallpaper back to the wall... you get the idea. I am very keen to encourage him on this one.

He's in his late 60s now, and while he's got good mobility at the moment on this board we all know that won't last forever. No grab rails necessary yet, but I would be thinking about where they can be placed.

He really values being able to stretch out in the bath, and any suggestion that only features a shower will be vetoed. It's a small space, so there's no space for a separate shower.

I've seen these walk in baths - if he gets dementia, is there anything to stop him opening the door before the bath has drained, and flooding the place? Another elderly relative let their bath overflow and the whole place had to be rewired...

Can anyone give any tips for a future proofed bathroom for someone at this stage of life?

Gosh, we’re 67 and 68 and would think all these adaptations are for old people.

They are also really off putting if your parents want to sell the house/downsize. First thing we had to do to sell my elderly parents’ house was rip out the stairlift.

It’s not expensive to do adaptations in 15/20 years time. Leave them be.

Well it's a bit early to think he'll need a shower/wet room right now.
A way to maybe prolong the life of the bath is buy one with hand rails made into it. Even if your knees are shot, at least with grab rails both sides, you have something to haul yourself up with.
I think most bathrooms can be changed in a week, so if it comes to it, change it then. And always buy extra tiles and stash away, not only for refits but breakages in use. I dropped a big mug, chipped a tile, had to retire whole floor.

My mum had dementia and I used seat to lower her in and raise her back up.
we did this without any problem and I had a chair ready with a towel for her to sit on while I dried her.

I have to say I cherished those moments - I would sing to her and she would join in With a huge smile on her face.

When she deteriorated and went into a care home, they were well equipped to bath her and again, she seemed to get immense pleasure from a bath.

Thank God for that (also late 60s). I was beginning to think that I should be doing something to my bathroom after reading this.

Mid 60s here and just on the point of renovating our bathroom. What a depressing post!
Im sure your Dad can make up his own mind.

Both 74 this year and designing two new bathrooms at the moment. It is sensible to have at least provision for grab rails, and downstairs we are planning a large shower cubicle plus separate bath. Not an actual wet room, I hate them. I appreciate we are fortunate with space.

I have a stool I use in the shower now, I quite like it because I can place it anywhere in the bathroom. Those walk in baths are hideous. I am getting a normal one I can step into easily. So we are not going mad with the mobility stuff.

As pp said, it's easy to change later. I wouldn't condemn your dad to living with a horrible bath if he doesn't want one

My main concern in a bathroom is easy cleaning!

Grab rails are a good idea, I will admit. I haven't even got to the stage of thinkig about future proofing anything.

I think it’s a really sensible post! I’m 42 and I’ve had loads of back and knee problems lately. I’m due to get my bathroom done soon, and I will definitely be looking at units which will be easier to use if my back goes again. Especially the height of the loo! I couldn’t get up and down very easily at all.

I think bathrooms in general are really badly designed for the old, young and infirm. Why not make them safer? Why does having very sensible grab rails make somewhere less sellable? It should be standard.

I was in a hotel recently which had a deep bath and absolutely nothing solid enough to hold onto within grabbing distance. I'm a strong 52 year old but I found myself leaning over and clutching the bath to climb in and out 😂

You can get aesthetically pleasing towel rails with enough heft to provide grabbing support. I'd put them in now tbh. He could twist his ankle tomorrow and be very grateful for them.

I like a bath too but my health has meant I've just had to lose the bath and have a double walk in shower filled. I've also had non slip vinal flooring fitted too. As you get older if flexibility is an issue with arthritis etc climbing into a bath is painful and as condition deteriorates almost impossible.

Some baths are just ridiculous. I've been poring over bathroom brochures and been taken aback at the depth of the rolltop baths that are all the rage. They look lovely but not for my stubby legs!

Father in law managed to 94 with a standard bath and one of the bath lift seats. I think being a man, and thin on top, he wasn't bothered about how easy it was to wash his hair. I would definitely like a shower just for that reason.

I wouldn't suggest adaptive features as he's unlikely to accept it but I would insist on grab rails, I'm having them put in for me, not because I'm infirm but because it's slippery!

I did insist on those bath handrail things when we did our bathroom last
year. I'm mid-40s!

But I'd nearly got stuck in our old
bath when pregnant and it seemed a sensible addition.

Old age creeps up on you.....

If he has a new bath installed now is he going to agree to a wet room or level access shower in 10 or 15 years? Probably not!

Best forward planning for old age would be to get a level access shower installed now. No need to install grab rails just yet.

Don't install a bath with handles in the middle. They don't work with shower boards or bath lifts as they get in the way. Don't install one of those dreadful baths with a door in either. You have to step up into them which is difficult for someone with mobility problems and you have to sit and wait for it to drain before you can open the door (freezing your nuts off in the process!).

Contact the Occupational Therapy team at your local council if and when you need help with grab rails or adaptive equipment.

I think the art is to do things as late as possible but to still do while you have energy and capacity to sort.

Definitely make sure the floor is not likely to become slippery, and have grab rails/handles on both sides for getting out of the bath. Speaking from my perspective as someone in their late 40s who recently had a really nasty rotator cuff injury!

Re the loo. A high one is easier to get on and off but worse for actually ‘going’. So perhaps think about a low one with rails. I’m sure that would be good for maintaining upper body strength and balance as well as bowel health. Also, as your DF is actually relatively young, it's a case of use it or lose it re strength and balance. Pp mentioned loos that clean and dry you - sounds like a wonderful idea if your dad can afford one!

I think I'd go with a shower over the bath, with extra tiles for if it needs to be replaced with a walk in shower.

Non slip flooring. Carpet is good but will need replacing every 5 years or so. Not found another flooring that’s as non slip.
A 10 mm premier finish bath so when he grabs the handles the bath doesn’t flex

It can be redone thoughtfully but how they want. I would suggest that when everything is ripped out that you ensure there is solid timber supports in place in the walls/ceilings where rails or a hoist might need to be installed. Add a comfort height loo now, and taps with a lever rather than twist. Plus keep lots of spare tiles and flooring back.

Its worth looking at placement of towel rails, the width of the edge of the bath in case a bath board is helpful plus a hand held shower.

Just grab rails for now, including near the toilet. Muscle weakness, dizzy spells and falling is more of a concern as you age.

Deal with the dementia aspect if and when it becomes apparent he's got/getting it.