Walk-In Bath

[Barquentine]

Can anybody recommend the quickest and cheapest way to convert a bath to one of those walk-in ones for an elderly person with dementia? Not me, for my Mother-in-Law. And why do the ones I have found so far online cost £1,000 upwards? An ordinary bath is only a few hundred and a waterproof door shouldn't more than double the cost should it? Thanks, all.

[barry1010]

They cost more because they aren’t sold in the numbers as standard baths. It’s more than the door that is different, they usually have a built in seat.
Your mother in law might be entitled to a grant , check with her council.
I can’t recommend one but the cheapest and quickest way is to make sure the external measurements are the same as her existing bath

[Barquentine]

Thank you, Barry. Yes, that makes sense. Will check that out. I did offer to saw through her ceramic bath and try a DIY jobbie.
"Oh, no you don't!" was my wife's response.
"But, I watched a YouTube video - it looks easy enough!"
My wife is a lot smarter than I. She's always right!!

[Hymie]

I recall another issue someone who had a walk-in bath installed, experienced – and that was that the bath required a much greater volume of water to fill, as the person bathing is sitting on a ledge. The person’s hot water tank was not large enough to store sufficient water to give them a hot bath.

So if you do go ahead and install a walk-in bath and do not have a combi-boiler that can supply unlimited hot water, check that the hot water tank has sufficient capacity to fill the bath with the required amount of hot water.

[Hopkirk]

Rip it out and get a shower cubicle fitted.

[woofgang]

I agree with Hopkirk and would go for shower cubicle with seat. The walk in baths have to be entered while the bath is empty and filled up once the person is in and seated (obvs) and emptied similarly. Its a chilly start and finish to a bath and unless you have got a locked temperature controlled water setup, its a bit risky. Depending on her physical abilities and her level of dementia, she shouldn't use either without supervision and a shower is much easier for a helper to manage and to help with hygiene.

[1581960]

Don't now if this will be any help but just in case:-
https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1843227.html

[Barquentine]

Thanks, Marty. Very sensible suggestion. I think my wife is going to go with your shower cubicle idea. How is Jeff doing?

[Hopkirk]

Took me a while to realise you were talking to me. I checked previous replies looking for one from Marty.
Jeff's fine thanks.