Open plan wet room

[JeminaTheGiantBear]

I’m trying to plan for having elderly relative live with me (not there quite yet but will be).

I was originally thinking of converting a self contained area by putting in a wheelchair friendly bathroom. But looking at it in more detail and thinking about turning circles for wheelchair etc I’m actually starting to think the most practical idea would be to convert a good sized downstairs room into a bedroom with a wet room style shower (which would be seated & low height - not standing- with privacy curtains), and wheelchair accessible toilet & basin, all at one side of the room - not walled off. Obviously the floor in this area would need to be non stick waterproof floor (which might actually be good throughout) and the walls tiled/boarded.

This just seems to me to be the easiest and most accessible way to do it but I’ve never heard of this kind of open plan facility before and am wondering if it’s mad. Has anyone ever done this or seen it? Kind of creating an open plan wet room at one side of a room?

Sounds damp and smelly.

I think it would be very depressing to have that as my bedroom set up. I answer as a wheelchair user though I do have limited mobility.

in that situation I would happily loose a decent sized bedroom for a separate bathroom. The bedroom only really needs a single hospital bed bed side table /dresser and perhaps a nice chair to encourage visitors. My bed is up against the window to give maximum floor space and nice view outside.

will the patient be in the bedroom most of the time or sharing the family space

From a privacy perspective alone, a fully open plan room would not be ideal.
Could you to create a separate bathroom as described (using a stud wall?) for an en suite wet room? As you say they are a wheelchair user, access to both sides of the bed would be helpful for you or care workers to aid lifting etc.
I know someone who did this and it worked well, especially when a hoist was later installed.

Sorry - would be a definite no from me as it would be so humiliating if I had guests visiting in the bedroom - likely if they are getting older and in a wheelchair.

May seem an extreme reaction but a en-suite door or bathroom in a seperate room seems so much better than open plan bedroom cum bathroom with a curtain. Also think about if you ever may want to sell!

Can a specialist advise you on the options? I installed a bathroom and did not make it accessible enough as my needs have changed - so it's worth thinking about long term issues.

OP, your proposal does not sound at all appealing. The “privacy curtains” would get all wet - do you really want that in your bedroom all day? The bedroom itself would be steamy and damp after a shower - and I would want a bit more than a curtain between me and the room when using the lavatory. I really don’t think your suggestion is at all practical, and if I were the elderly relative, I would hate it.

Building regs require a fan for adequate ventilation when installing new bathrooms now.

My wheelchair using friend has a decent sized family bathroom. Shower wheelchair that she transfers into either assistance.

Like others I’m not sure this would work. Do you have a floor plan?

Is there enough money to fund an architect or something like that to look at more options?

Have you sought advice from OTs and from a building regs point of view? It doesn’t sound like a good set up - lack of privacy, damp implications, really miserable for the person living in the room.

We stayed in a holiday cottage where the bedroom had a wet room, it looked like it had been built on. It was fine, a bit odd that from the bed you looked straight into it, but a curtain across would have helped.

We have a single storey extension which was a wheelchair accessible wetroom and bedroom.

The wetroom was disproportionately big and I agree it initially looks like a waste of space, especially as the door has to be so wide.

The non slip floor was a nightmare and completely impossible to clean. As pp said you really don't want the steam in the bedroom making everything mouldy. How far would you go with tiles, water can go everywhere!

I think you run the risk of making it look like you are sleeping in the bathroom.

My cousin created a separate wheelchair friendly bathroom and bedroom from a dining room. The bedroom had a french window in the new room for light so was a really nice environment. The shower room was boarded and really simple in design.

Having a bathing setup in your bedroom would be a bit yuk.

That’s very useful - if a bit depressing! Thank you all very much. I think my main worry is getting an en-suite that is big enough for easy wheelchair manoeuvrability. Will have to do some more working out!

Our wet room in our bathroom surrounded by walls and a door but is open plan inside. No cubicle, screen or shower curtains. It took us a good while to get used to the vulnerable feeling of not veing enclosed when showering.

The bigger issue would be dampness. Everything gets wet. Everything. We wedge our bathroom door open when no-one is in there, at all times. And we have a dehumidifier running in the hallway all the time. If for any reason the bathroom door is closed overnight there is a damp smell. Nothing to see but you can definitely smell it.

I don't think your idea is going to be practical.

we had an OT home assessment on Monday for our DPs - a wet room was strongly suggested as being safe , but would also cater for future long term needs.

It really highlighted for us how hazardous the bathroom is - even though it doesn’t look it in the slightest… and despite it having a walk in bath .