ease of use- bath or shower?

I had to get rid of my bath when I had mega problems getting in and out. I now have a lovely shower which is large enough to accommodate a stool which I need to sit on when washing my hair.

I did not chose the shower, if I had, I would have chosen one with sliding rather than folding doors which I find a pain.

When you go to the store to buy it, step in the shower and see if it is big enough to meet your needs. You do not want to feel too restricted in it. If you can have a wet room, even better.

We've just this week arranged to have our bath replaced by a shower. I struggled with a shower over the bath for ages and now post knee replacement its almost impossible. Using a bathboard and trying to reach the shower attachment is stressful and dangerous. Our new shower is the same size as the bath so is quite long enough to accommodate a stool if necessary. Can't wait for it to be fitted.
In discussion with the ladies in out block it turns out that none of us has had a bath for years! Its showers all the way for us.

I love my bath! However I had similar problems 5 or 6 years ago when in need of a hip replacement. The first problem was that I could no longer sit or stand up in the bath as before, but I remembered my mother saying she found that if she knelt down facing away from the tap end and holding the sides she could then gently roll over and voila! So easy once you know how... the problem with getting into the bath was solved very simply for me, as I already had a sturdy plastic step which was made all in one piece with slightly splayed legs; it's very stable and just under half the height of the bath side. I put it up against the bath and place a small folded towel on top to prevent my slipping when I get out with wet feet. Hoping I can use this method for years to come (I'm 77) as I do appreciate a good relaxing soak and cannot now do with the disruption and hassle of having any alterations!

I enjoy a hot bath most nights, but I know it will get to the point when I cant lift myself to a standing position to get out.
I read a story in a newspaper a few weeks ago about an elderly woman, who lived on her own, and got stuck in her bath. She was there for 2-3 days before anyone heard her calling and came to the rescue. She kept going by drinking the tap water.
Found it - it was 4 days!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IynqnvreBjY

We haven't had a bath for about 25 years, a shower is much easier, quicker, cleaner, and I would never want to go back to a bath.
Over the years two of the ladies I clean for have had showers put in which take up the same space as the bath did, so plenty of room for them to manoeuvere themselves in. They have fold back doors, non slip floor and a folding seat which closes up against the wall. They loved them as the fear of getting stuck or falling in the bath was a great concern.

I found getting out of the bath extremely difficult and had the chair installed that lifts you up and down. Then I moved and the new flat had had a shower installed where the bath used to be. There's plenty of room and it has a fold-down seat as well but I still miss having a relaxing soak in the bath.

jordana. A wet room is one where the whole roo is the shower. The shower head is placed where you want it ( wall or ceiling) the plug whole is in the middle of the room.
If you can get one done, they are wonderful.

I have a wet room, if your going for a shower you need to remember that a shower cubicle will have a step to get into, whereas a wetroom hasnt. also theres not a lot or room in a cubicle compared with a wetroom.

We got rid of our bath 5/6 yrs ago as I could not get in and out safely with my hips. We already had a shower over the bath and put in a long shower tray with walk in shower screen it took up no more space than the bath was because it was open ended it is simple just to walk into and no spillage on the floor it works perfectly for us.
Its similar to this but we bought the screen and the tray from a local plumber.

www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/aegean-wetroom-screen?campaign=googlebase&PS2PVV1=9116&gclid=CjwKEAiAu6DBBRDDr6-e_6698E0SJACvuxnyFK_T_bhO_lO9vbugA-g7W2JEC7Q7eqI9bb4lAfQ2HBoCytHw_wcB

I'd be more than happy to swap our bath with electric shower above to a shower cubicle as I haven't had a bath for years and have had to install a grab rail to get in and out the bath but H does like a relaxing soak now and then. A wet room is different jordana There is no tray and often no curtain or screen and the water just runs out through a drain in the floor. The housing association removed my mums bath and turned the room into a wet room due to her disability. She loved it.

Our last UK house we took out the bath and installed a shower - the tray was 80x120 which was a good size and we had a glass end and sliding door. We put a bath in the large attic room we used as guest room - we preferred to stay one floor lower! That worked well for when the grandchildren came. I did have the occasional bath which was nice as we had a roof window above it and you could soak and look at the stars!

We have a shower here too and a small but nice French bath in what is now our cloakroom. In the shower we have a fixed head plus one on a hose - it is controlled by the bar type of tap thing - one end does the temp and the other turns the water on. I find that the heads on electric showers rarely have such a copious amount of water as the large fixed head - or the ones which we have used when staying with family.
We have positioned places to have the towels for our exit from the shower easily reachable too - And they can hang on the heated towel rail so nice and warm to wrap in on a cold day!

Our bath hasn't been used since GS was about five, and DH and I have never used it. We have an ensuite shower but DH finds the cubicle is a bit on the small side (and he's not a large chap by any means) and we can't make it bigger, so we are thinking of converting our main bathroom into a walk in shower next year. I've always been of the opinion that a bath is a selling point in a house (families with small children, etc.) but I'm coming round to the fact that it's not something we should worry about - getting in and out of the bath safely is!

We still have a bath with shower over, but watching Mum over the years and if we reach such a great age we will definitely install a wet room when it is time. I love my bath every evening and shower every morning but needs must as one ages!!!

My Mum is 92 and when she could no longer push herself up from sitting (even from her shorter bath with a stepped seat at one end), we bought one of the powered seats. This has proved to be very successful and she really enjoys her weekly soak - one of life's luxuries. (I feel the need to be there to support her getting on and off the seat, though she could probably manage). I have now bought another seat to have here at our house to save transporting hers between our two homes. I guess Mum is unusual at 92 to be still able to get her legs up and over the bath side but a step would also aid this. She can still get into the bath and sit on the bath board for a hose-down with the shower in between her baths. These seats retail about £200 on line - I think Mum would agree it was money well spent and is so good for aches and pains. (I scrub her back and cream her legs afterwards so it is a bit of a pampering session too). A shower is just not the same!

Heard about this story recently - poor woman! Since injuring a shoulder as well as having Polymyalgia I have to use the 'on all fours' method of getting in and out of the bath. I dread the day when I can no longer manage it as I love my morning soak to loosen me up. I do always take my phone with me and leave it beside the bath for emergencies.
woman stuck in bath for 4 days

Me too shysal, if my kids try to remove my bath there will be Big Trouble!!!!

We are in our 80s and had our bath replaced with a shower a few years ago and are so pleased, do not miss the bath at all

I really miss my bath!

I loved nothing better than a really good soak in the bath. I used to go prepared with a book and spent up to an hour or so in the bath but those days are long gone when I could not get out and had problems getting in. A shower is much safer for me provided I take my time.

Had the bathroom revamped in Summer, got rid of the bath for a double shower ( yes, room for two!) a quadrant shape with sliding doors, and waterfall shower head, just wonderful.

Another one here who used to take a book and soak for ages, topping up the hot water. But now I can't do it after my knee replacement, or at least I can, but getting out is not a pretty sight, the all fours method. Although I enjoy a shower, it's not the same as a long, hot bath, is it?

I've never seen the appeal of reading in the bath. Why?

There are occasions when I'd love a soak in a hot bath, but it takes the ancient piping system here ages to fill it so a shower it is, most of the time.

A cup of tea and radio 4, whilst soaking in a hot bath, is one luxury I'm dreading having to give up.

Ana it is a superb way of relaxing reading in a bath and topping it up with hot water whenever necessary. I frequently did this on a Sunday afternoon when I was working.