[cait24]

I have been having a lot of close calls in the shower and the situation is just not working for me. It is a mid-size shower and I have a bath chair and bars. But by the time you get the chair in the shower and move the stuff to the floor to reach them, there is no room to move about safely. I called in one of those companies that put in one of those all-in-one disable person shower/bath combo and they gave me a price of almost $20,000. For $20,000, I would rather have a pool. What has everyone else done in this situation.

thanks
kathie

[uncledave]

I have a walk-in shower. I bought a chair and installed a bar and I also mounted a caddy type thing for shampoo, soap, etc. I use a flexible shower head so I can bring it down to me and direct the water wherever it needs to go. The secret for me was getting everything down to a level that could be comfortably reached from the shower chair. It works like a charm now.

[ginnie]

I can't believe they quoted you such a high price. Thats too much for any person to afford. My son, and some friends, took out my mothers tub, and shower stall, which had bars, and a chair. Made a walk in with plenty of room and NO steps. This cost about 5,000 to do for materials. Would your community pitch in to do the labor? The whole project took some doing, but it was better than putting out that kind of money which our family just didn't have.
I would check to see if your local fire department, has some men, or know some people that could help you. If a house can be built with volunteers, like we see on tv. perhaps there is a way for this to happen. Try calling Homes for Humanity, and ask about volunteers, it may just work. We have groups of people in and around my area, who re-do homes. Some are roofers, others paint and do carpentry. There has to be a more affordable way for you to have the kind of shower that is safe. Wish you were near me, I would put my son to work. I wish you all the best. Don't give up. There has to be some help out there. ginnie (habbitat for Humanity) is the group I am thinking about.....

[cait24]

Ginnie, you are so sweet. Your son must be a very busy man. I have a handy man coming to the house tomorrow to do some accommdations to the main floor. He said he would take a look at the shower and give me a price. I wanted to get some ideas what other people have done. I think the main problem is it is just too small to accomodate the chair, so we will need to knock our some walls to make it bigger. It is a small bathroom and the shower is snug between the door and the toilet without any room to grow. Let's hope the handyman can find a creative inexpensive solution.

thanks so much
kathie

[ginnie]

Yeh we knocked down a wall or two, to get the shower built. My son wound up being an occupational Physical therapist. He knew my mothers need. I hope that handy man can come up with some kind of good idea for you. Maybe he has some good buddies willing to lend a hand to get it done. Let me know what happens Kathy, it is important to do, and you will feel so much better when it is a safe area. My mom didn't want to get in the shower at all, or the tub before we got the project done. I think when you are safe, that worry goes away. take care....ginnie