When people first consider a new walk-in shower for a person with reduced mobility they usually have a lot of questions. Particularly if that person is used to using a bath for many years and is unfamiliar with a shower.
An easy to access walk-in shower makes a very good alternative to a bath for anyone who is starting to find a change in their mobility. To help answer any questions you might have, we have put together responses to queries we commonly hear from our customers.
Should you of course have any questions that we have not answered below, please feel free to get in touch with us at Bathtime Mobility. We are always more than happy to provide advice, to ensure you make the right product choice for your individual needs
Are walk-in showers cold or draughty?
The shower doors and shower curtain can be sufficient to trap warmth produced by the hot water from the shower, creating an ambient showering environment. Cold or draughts in the bathroom are likely to be due to room temperature rather than the presence of a shower. To overcome this ensure a suitable radiator, or other form of heating, so that the room can be thoroughly warmed before use.
What size are they?
Showers are one of the most flexible solutions for a mobility bathroom. Shower trays come in various standard sizes, providing a huge range of choice to suit all circumstances.
Where a bath tub is removed, Bathtime Mobility can offer a bath replacement shower tray which comes in an 1850mm length and can be trimmed down to suit the exact footprint left by the removal of the bath. This provides a generous sized shower area the same size as the old bath tub.
The new shower area can also be customised to suit the end user, through the use of various door configurations, which can be made to measure to suit the requirements of the end user and the bathroom. Grab rails can be placed in key positions, tailored to suit the individual, to provide support and assistance when entering and exiting the shower area.
Cleaning and maintenance – living with a walk-in shower
When choosing to fit a new mobility shower, the option of choosing wall cladding over traditional tiles would be a cost effective and easy clean way of waterproofing the shower area. Grout can be hard to keep clean if the person tasked with cleaning it has weak grip and/or hand strength.
Wall cladding is a series of boards lining the shower area which are easy to keep clean by spraying on a bathroom cleaner and wiping easily with a clean cloth or rinsing clean with the shower head and using a squeegee to wipe off the excess. No grout to scrub and labour over for hours on end. Wall cladding is the easy clean option so specify it at the start of your bathroom works.
A shower drain can do with regular maintenance, and it is recommended to clean the shower drain at least once or twice a year. High street stores and supermarkets have several products available for this, so a perusal of the cleaning isle on your next visit will be worthwhile.
If the drain does become blocked it is worth trying a good quality drain un-blocker, again see your supermarket isle for something suitable, and follow the instructions on the label. If this does not help you may need to engage the services of a specialist drain cleaning firm.
How does a walk-in shower compare to a bath?
The obvious difference between a shower and a bath is that a bath allows the bather to lie in the water and soak. Many people appreciate the therapeutic effect a good long soak in hot water can have on their joints and muscles and they will miss this if using a shower.
People with mobility difficulties will often find that a bath, and sometimes even a walk-in bath, becomes more difficult to use. Where this is the case it is time to recognise that a new bathroom solution will be a trade off between what is wanted and what is practical. A shower, though different to a bath, will allow the user to continue to safely use a bathroom to maintain personal hygiene and dignity.
If you are considering installing a mobility adapted bathroom and are keen to discover if a walk-in bath or shower is a more suitable solution, please contact Bathtime Mobility on 01491 411 041 for help and advice.