Concerned that elderly inlaws are being talked in to having a wet room

[LindorDoubleChoc]

Elderly inlaws could definitely benefit from having a large walk-in shower (rather than their current shower over bath arrangement) but as they only have one toilet and one bathroom (the toilet is in this one bathroom) - surely a wet room is a slipping hazard for every other time they need to use the bathroom?

The bathroom is a decent size. They could have the bath taken out and an enclosed shower cubicle installed, which would ensure the rest of the room especially the floor stays dry. Why hasn't the plumber suggested this, are wet rooms more expensive?

Am I missing something here that's not obvious?

My Dad had a wet room installed and didnt have this problem. The floor and drainage area should be sufficiently angled to disperse all the water from the shower area

There’s many different types of wet room. We had a beautiful bathroom in one house with a single sheet of glass to screen off the massive shower area - no tray and no doors and the rest of the floor was perfectly dry. I’d have it again in a heartbeat- it was gorgeous.

They do need to be very well installed though but they are very good for anyone that might need considerable mobility help eg wheelchairs.

They are also often considerably more £ though due to the tanking so it might be money motivated.

It would be easier and cheaper to take out the bath and put a shower cubicle in. But it depends what they want - I can see the advantages of both options (assuming the fitter's good).

Having more than a few elderly relatives a wet room has a definite advantage in that a chairbound person can be wheeled in and have a shower easily in a seated position. An elderly brother in law, in his 80s, has a wet room and the flooring is non slip, and obviously drains into the corner with the shower. All I had to do was stop his older sister insisting that he used floor mats as it looked cold. Although over a few years he has had a few falls none of them have occurred in his wetroom. If you are thinking of remodelling the bathroom for an elderly relative you should always consider the fact that their mobility will probably deteriorate. In a wetroom a carer can help them shower but wouldn't be able to to fit in a shower cubicle.

A well fitted and suitably ventilated wet room dries pretty quickly and should have flooring that isn’t slippery when wet.

Shower cubicles tend to have a lip, which is a trip hazard and makes unusable with some mobility aids. So if it’s a change to be elderly friendly then wet room is generally the best option.

If they have physical/mobility issues they should go through their council’s occupational health, they will advise on the best design and even fund it in some circumstances.

Sorry occupational therapy not health. Request an assessment from them. That’s how I got my wet room installed (I have MS) and it’s an absolute godsend. I can’t imagine life without it.

Wet room is an absolute godsend if there are mobility issues.

No step in and out of the shower
Can put handrails wherever you like
Can push a shower chair all round the room
Loads of space for carer to help give a wash

A proper wetroom with good drainage and non slip tiles is infinitely preferable to a shower cubicle. Even a bad wet room is still better really.

Wet rooms are designed primarily FOR disabled people with mobility issues. The flooring used is textured so it isn't slippery when wet. Wet rooms are designed with sealed, waterproof flooring - no gaps at all that aren't waterproof surfaces where water can splash. They will be slightly angled around the shower so that water runs off, so less slip hazard than a normal bathroom where water escaping from a normal bath or shower goes on to non-draining shining tiles that become very slippery until someone dries them.

Obviously your in laws could have a enclosed shower installed. However if the room is not a wet room, then water has to be contained in the shower bottom, which means it either goes into a bath or a tray with a reasonable height lip. This means that, even if grab bars are fitted, and a portable shower seat used, it is only going to be accessible to your in laws when they can stand, walk several steps and lift their legs high enough to get over the lip. If your in-laws stop being able to do that, neither a bath or shower will be possible unless they have hoists fitted. Also a wet room provides more space for 2 people 2 be in the shower space, should the time come where your FIL or MIL need the other, or a carer to shower/soap them.

My mum got a fab wet room, lovely non slip flooring and a fold down seat under the shower.

I had a wet room installed for my disabled sister. It was great- no worries re steps, shower screens etc. the flooring is non slip. I could go in and help her wash her hair etc. It was dead easy to clean.
It was vat free because it was installed for accessibility reasons.

It does seem to be standard for disabled people.

i’m disabled and personally I hate them - many hotels I have stayed in have them and although in theory the water is supposed to drain away it never bloody does and I’m always nervous about moving around in them.

I am disabled and struggle to get in a shower cubicle. I wish I could afford to change my bathroom to a wet room and wish the plumber had recommended one years ago when they installed the shower tray.

The plumber may actually be trying to save them money in the long term and prevent falls.

If they need the bathroom changes due to a disability then do they know that they do not need to pay VAT- the plumber helped me with that .

Care homes have wet rooms so they must be a safe option. Get them to be careful about the flooring they choose. Can your DH be there to talk to the plumber with them?

My relatives put in a walk in shower and then replaced it with a wet room a few years later. I do think a properly installed wet room provides a lot of “future proofing” against potential care needs. The biggest advantage was a carer being able to wheel them in for a proper wash.

I have one and have under floor heating (but not where the shower is), I have a glass screen and the floor is angled to drain the water away. I have a bath mat in there but have never needed to use it as the water dries so quickly. Go for non slip tiles and they’ll be fine.

I have bad mobility issues, need a walking stick to stand and have trouble with my balance.

having my wet room is a godsend, no lip to step over a large shower area so I can have a stool, and plenty of hand rails.

my advise is to have the shower at the end of the room, with the sink and toilet near the door. That way they step away from the wet area of the shower onto the dryer area infront of the toilet and sink to dry and access the door.

get a shower curtain not a solid divider, and make sure the curtains reaches almost to the floor.

i always use a shower mat to step onto, though I find the floor is dry anyway, but that makes sure my feet are dry. Last thing before leaving the bathroom I pull on the shower curtain to dry and position the shower mat under so the water drips onto it. Next time I go in I just lift it to dry/wash. I do have a very good extractor fan which is on when I shower, but I find the room is dry very quickly. As I say if the shower area is at the back of the room, I can access the sink and loo without going near the wet have half of the room.

lastly make sure you get a good grip flooring, mind is a hospital grade one in pale blue. It’s not as pretty as tiles, but is safe for me to use.

Couldn't you get a wet room funded by the local authority via Adult Social Care?

However if the room is not a wet room, then water has to be contained in the shower bottom, which means it either goes into a bath or a tray with a reasonable height lip.

Not true

We have a walk in shower. It has no tray or lip (or door). The floor of the shower is the same tiles as the rest of the bathroom floor, angled downwards towards the shower drain. But it’s not a wet room because there is a glass screen between the shower and the rest of the bathroom.

I think this is called a zero entry shower, ie the shower floor is totally level with the bathroom floor. You can either create it with tiles (like ours) or you can get a shower tray which is completely flat and fitted flush to the floor.

OP I think this is the arrangement that would work best. Make sure the shower screen is big enough to block splashes but small enough that you could get a wheelchair or walking frame into the shower if needed.

My mum was in an extra care flat, and every flat had a wet room. So there's no way that they could be considered unsafe.

The good installation is key. I recently had a wetroom removed (it was in the house when I moved in) because it drained badly and I regularly found puddles of water behind the toilet and sink (not leaks), and if I didn't hand dry it meticulously it started to smell. I can absolutely see why they can work well for people with mobility needs, and the floor in mine was not slippery at all.

My mum changed her bath for a shower, but then ended up with parkinsonisms, ie tremors. It was so difficult using the shower as the tray was so slippery. And even an inch of difference in height from the floor became impossible to manoeuvre with a zimmer frame. When she moved in with us we had a fabulous wet room installed, with a folding glass shower screen that meant we could get her in with the zimmer or wheelchair if we needed. It was so much easier, and looks lovely.

That’s what we have. The plumber called it a wet room

Thank you for thinking of this option. Unfortunately I am not eligible financially but equally can't afford to spend £££ refitting the bathroom - that's why I think the OP's plumber may be thinking long term - I wish I had!

DB has a wet room with loo and shower downstairs. It’s great. I’ve not had a shower in there but when I’ve used loo it’s never been wet or slippy. It’s perfect for elderly dad when he stays (and DB when he broke his leg…. Got a temporary shower seat put in).