Wet room

[allotmentartist]

Mick has a bee in his bonnet at the moment about turning the bathroom upstairs into a wet room I am undecided it will be OK short term but what happens when the stairs become a burden . Hiso answer was ill just stay upstairs then . Has anybody havery one ano do you think they are worth the upheaval , message etc x

[Katiebow]

Is there anywhere for a wet room down stairs at all. This means that when he can't manage the stairs he can have his bed downstairs and you can get onwith getting food ready, see visitors etc much more easily and be near to him. If he can still manage the stairs now he can go down for shower/dressing etc. I know it all depends on the layout of the house but I think it would be a bit depressing for you both living upstairs all of the time.

Hope that's helpful

Love kate xx

[allotmentartist in reply to Katiebow]

Kate the only place is the downstairs cloakroom but it's tiny and he is dead set against it we even thought about the cupboard under the stairs but that is our only storage space still weighing up all the options though x

[Katiebow in reply to allotmentartist]

It's a very difficult situation when the house isn't suitable for a room conversion, we were lucky that the garage was integral and were able to use that. We had the wet room and utility room where the garage once was. Th OT did suggest a lift to the upstairs and I think this would have been our second option and the bathroom converted to a wet room. I know that totally would have been a no no for us, I know I would have been very depressed staying upstairs to look after him as I like to throw the doors open in good weather and be able to potter outside for a minute or two every now and again.

K xxxx

[Ratcliffe]

I had our spare bedroom converted into a wet room for David but it was after we had a through floor lift installed in the box room, which came down into the living room. They were an absolute godsend, and I have to admit that David's favourite part of the day was his nice shower in the morning in the wet room.

If you can do it, I would recommend it, but it depends on funds and any support you are getting authorities. As David didn't have savings, and we were not married he was entitled to adaptations paid for by the local council but as the house owner I had to sign a guarantee to cover their outlay (I've I would have to pay them back if I kicked David out)

The only thing I would say, is that the installation of the list and conversion of the bathroom cost not much less than a single story extension downstairs would have cost which could have been fitted out properly etc for David.

They didn't realise the bathroom was a problem until after the lift was fitted, then couldn't go back on the expense and build the extension as they would have had to write off the lift (nuts I know), so if you are able to get any help, make sure this option is explored before anytime g is committed to, but if you can't or don't want an extension, then a through floor lift and wet room is a good combination as you can transport your partner around the house in the transit/commode style chair which is fine to be used in the shower, and then change to the comfortable chair downstairs (obviously whilst movement and walking is doable the. This is great but I am just trying to show how the combination can work)

Sorry for the waffle!

[allotmentartist in reply to Ratcliffe]

Thank you I will keep it as a possibility we don't have much room though so a lift might be outhe is the floor safe as in not slippy x

[Ratcliffe in reply to allotmentartist]

If it done properly, the floor is like Lino, but with grippy dots all over it. It is the same stuff as is often used in kitchens at work. Think sandpaper, but bigger dots.

It's not the easiest thing in the world to clean, but it's NEVER slippery when wet.

Strangely, I have always fancied a wet room, as you can just sluice the floor and then sweep it all into the shower to get rid after cleaning! The best thing to use is either a squeezable sponge broom, or one of those large black rubber blades like the smaller ones they use on Windows. I love mine, it made Davids life so much better, and I love it too.

It also makes cleanup after a toilet accident so much easier too, which you may experience in the future as PSP progresses.

I really recommend one, if you can do it. It can always be converted back to a normal bathroom in the future....

I always took the view, that the house needs to do what we need of it at the time, and it needed to help me care for David. I can put it back to its old configuration at any time, should I wish to.

[allotmentartist in reply to Ratcliffe]

That puts my mind at rest we always shower now anyway ,it would be better to get the work done while mick is still reasonably OK it was so good of you to reply ,I don't think I would have had any option as when mick gets an idea these days he keeps on until you agree lol xx

[Yvonneandgeorge in reply to allotmentartist]

We live in a bungalow with a wet room of the main bedroom, would not be without it. Good luck on what you decide on xxxx

[Ratcliffe in reply to allotmentartist]

It's odd, but my David was determined that we DIDNT have one, but I was determined that we did using the argument about the house needing to fit our needs. I think he was worried about damaging the value of my house with his needs, but for the year that he used it he admitted it was great. It's the only time I ever won out in an argument with him, lol.

I don't know where you are in the country, assuming you are in the U.K., but if you are anywhere near Leicester and want to see a wet room you are more than welcome to come and have a look at mine.

[doglington in reply to Ratcliffe]

Perhaps we can arrange a coach party trip to view wet rooms ? !!!

We were lucky to have a downstairs " garden room " extension and I changed the utility room into a wet room when that became Chris bedroom. It was great. Its a big upheaval though and needs doing in advance. We never know how long before a need changes !

xx

[allotmentartist in reply to doglington]

I agree ,that's why we are thinking about it now, when mick is still fairly well ,I have a small conservatory but mostly glass so, it will be a bit embarrassing lol😁😁😁😁

[allotmentartist in reply to Ratcliffe]

Awe bless you we are a bit far away though ,used to be yorkshire but is Lancashire now since they changed the border a few years ago some of the older people (I still think I'm young at 63 ) put a white Rose next to the white one on the signposts .😁😁yes it's surprising how stubborn mick gets but I'm a match ,we come to loggerheads a lot x

[Katiebow in reply to Ratcliffe]

We are from Leicester but moved to East Sussex 30yrs ago. I still have two sisters who live there, one on Knighton Park Rd and one on Desford. We

actually lived in Kirby Muxloe. Unfortunately can't get to see them but they visit when they can. xxx

[allotmentartist]

I'm warming to the idea yvonne how are you doing, a move to a bungalow was the other option but we love where we are good neighbours etc so wet room it is will research. It first though x

[aliciamq]

My husband will be getting sponge baths at the kitchen sink, so far :] I'm hanging onto my home for my own dear life, so far. We have a partly finished basement with an escape window, TV, desk, and a gas fireplace (The Man Cave). His bathroom, with, luckily, a walk-in shower is down there, too - I see him living down there!!!!!!!!!!! I just need a dumb-waiter - lol. I am getting rid of everything I can( 50 years of the "stuff") just in case my vision needs to change.

We can put a commode on the first floor in the kitchen nook ?! - I think that when the time comes he can't make the stairs, he most likely won't be making it across the house to the bathroom either. If it's going to be 2 or 3 years that way, we need to move -- if it might only be for a number of months, I'll suffer the inconvenience and keep the house intact for future sale

[easterncedar in reply to aliciamq]

The stair lift worked for us, and I never did install the wet room. When he could no longer get in the shower, which was upstairs, I sponge bathed him, and it wasn't any trouble. I kept him sweet and clean. Maybe he missed the feeling of being in a shower, but he never complained. It was only toward the end anyway. I don't regret not having the bathroom remodeled. When he couldn't transfer to the stair lift, he slept downstairs in a small room off the dining room, where hospice set up a hospital bed. He was only in that for about 2.5 weeks.

[aliciamq in reply to easterncedar]

yep. Thanks - I hate to feel mean about the house - When the wife (of the olden days- lol) kicks the bucket - the man's life stays the same -- When the man goes - the house will be all I have.

I have one of those hand showers in the kitchen sink!!! lol!!! and a kiddie pool!!!! That may have been in the Savoy book.

[Ratcliffe in reply to easterncedar]

David had to have sponge baths for a year whilst I argued with the local council and fought to get the facilities, but when they were finished, and he had his first shower in almost a year, the grin on his little face was a joy to behold. As we know, facial expression is hard with PSP, but It was so obvious in his case that it meant a lot, even the carers commented on how happy he looked.

It's a simple thing, but it can mean so much. David was easily pleased that way. Everyone is different, but this was something that made him happy.

[easterncedar in reply to Ratcliffe]

We went to a hotel with a nice new handicapped room when we traveled last December. The bathroom was great, and I could wheel him into the shower, where he stood holding onto supports under the spray. He did enjoy that, and I often thought I could probably find a similar setup at a hotel locally at home, and we could book a night now and then, but we ran out of time.

I love hearing how happy your David was. Really, it was good of you to persist so he could have that. Well done! Love, Sarah

[allotmentartist in reply to aliciamq]

It's hard knowing which way to go ,mick had said a few years ago we need to downsize which we did the one we are in now is not much bigger than a dolls house (slight exaggeration ) but the stairs are much easier for him at the moment x

[aliciamq]

Just read Ratcliffe's post above!!!! - hmmmmm.

[Ratcliffe in reply to aliciamq]

Which bit ?

[Julieandrog]

Hi

We had wet room put in and through floor lift,future proof any adaptions, both of these things have made life so easy and kept us in our home. Realistically being upstairs all the time is pretty miserable.

You may be eligible for a disablement grant from your local council.

Daftest thing someone said to me after the lift went in was 'will you be able to sell the house with the lift in' do i give a ####!

Whatever you decide will work for you.

Julie

[allotmentartist in reply to Julieandrog]

Thanks Julie don't know if the lift wold be an option as we only have a 1small room downstairs and would need most of the room for a bed still a lot of research to do but everyone on here has had so much experience with psp it was the best place to ask 👍