Walk in (mobility) baths?
My poor old Dad has reached a stage now where bathing is impossible, so my Mum got a company out that fit these “walk in” assisted baths, does anyone have any experience with these?
I ask because they were quoted £12k yesterday, for a bath and a toilet, which I think is an absolute rip off!
A quick search shows the baths come in between £1.5k and £3k depending on type and quality, let’s be generous and say the higher toilet is £1k so they are looking to charge £8k for a days work of fitting a freestanding bath and toilet?!
A bit of context, the bathroom is big, already has a freestanding bath with taps, and toilet is an hours work as I’ve already had a plumber out to look at that.
Are they being ripped off here or is this price correct, worth getting more prices from similar companies or are all going to be the same?
Im hoping someone else has been through this and can advise.
Thanks
I recently had a new shower cubicle (not a walk in bath admittedly), toilet, cistern, and bathroom cabinet fitted for £1200 including removal of all the old stuff. So even allowing an extra couple of grand for the walk in bath it sounds expensive to me.
Walk-in can be complicated because the plumbing needs to be below ground (worse if bathroom is upstairs but I suppose it’s not) and still needs to keep the right slope for free flow, plus a means of access to the siphon (dropped wedding ring, for example).
That said it looks steep. But don’t underestimate the amount of work if it’s done properly.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
If looks aren’t important raised toilet seats can be bought which fit over the standard toilet.
My Mum had one supplied by social services - maybe worth seeing if they can help out.
Could he manage with a standard shower with a fold-down seat?
Last edited by Kingstepper; 19th August 2022 at 08:32.
It might be worth looking at electric bath lifter seats which fit in / on the existing bath, or a simple perching stool to place in the shower.
Jeez. Lots of websites selling them, and I haven't found one with prices. Says a lot.
Would your father be elligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant?
It’s also worth considering that your father will have to sit in the bath whilst it empties below door level, potentially getting cold while waiting.
A shower is the best way to go.
I'd second a shower, or more specifically turn it into a wet room. It's also far better long term if your parents want to sell the property. My parents did this and the only specific fitted item they had was a hand rail on the wall - they used a nice steel/plastic chair instead of having a wall mounted item.
When my father passed and Mum sold up many years later, we just removed chair and took off the handrail/filled the holes.
I think this is an often overlooked factor. The doors open inwards on these type of baths so realistically they are used as sit down showers (usually with a shower curtain and all the challenges they bring).Originally Posted by Dave+63
I do a lot of bathroom re-fits and I've removed a fair amount of these walk in baths. Let just say the installation quality has often been variable at best.
These modules are designed to fit in a standard bath size area (following the removal of the bath) with varying add on pieces to make up any size differences. Wall panels are used to create the shower/bathing area so it's a quick and simple install.
The £12K you've been quoted doesn't surprise me as this, IMHO, is what these companies think the market will bear, and is not a reflection of the quality of the materials and/or the complexity of the install.
A lot of the ones I've taken out seem almost un-used so perhaps the reality of living with one is a little different to the idea sold in the brochure.
I have also fitted a few different types of fold down seating arrangements in shower cubicles/areas for customers and the feedback has been pretty good regarding practicality etc.
Of course the specific needs of the user will dictate the viability of the install but I'd look at whether a larger low profile shower tray with an enclosure could be fitted with either a fold down or permanent seat. This should be achievable on a realistic budget and timescale.
It could also be a wet room type flush tray but this would be a more involved install and wet room arrangements do have their own issues and are reliant on the quality of the install/membranes for long term reliability.
Edit to echo the points made in the post directly above by Scepticalist whilst I was speedily one-finger typing my own post.
(Please note the caveat re wet rooms though).
Last edited by jeff; 19th August 2022 at 11:05.
Sounds a bit steep to me,my mates that are still in the trades average £300.00 a day.
I guess what's needed depends on personal circumstances and individual preferences.
In the case of my mother with various mobility, hearing and balance problems, the bathroom was redone, the bath was removed and replaced with a good size floor level walk in shower/wet-room with rain head, hose, folding seat and grab rail. The fixtures and fittings were all standard, not from specialist mobility/assisted bathing places. The toilet had an easily removable frame, riser and handles from a mobility specialist or NHS, can't remember.
When the time came to sell, the bathroom looked fine for the new owners.
The stairlift was a different matter. When it was needed, it was needed immediately and cost. When the house was sold, it had to be removed on the day of exit, at cost and with no or little resale value.
She now lives in a flat designed and built for the elderly. No baths. All large walk in showers. She has grab rails and a chair.
We had a bath in Spain in our ensuite bathroom and it was fine until the wife had her stroke. We had the bath ripped out and everything retiled and re plumbed etc and had a large walk in shower fitted with two handrails and a sheet of glass that self cleans. The shower tray was on piece, thus leak proof and also non slip. She had a nice non fixed aluminium/plastic covered chair to sit on which which she now does not need to use.
It works perfectly.
Sadly these companies seem to mostly prey on the people in this (and similar) situations.
I would buy them and get a local plumber to sort TBH.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
Did the estimater wear a mask and a striped jersey? Sounds excessive, several quotes are a must but I’d go for a walk in shower, I know several folk that live in nursing homes and all use showers not fancy walk in baths.
A wee observation, there is an advert for these baths on tv and the woman using it looks in better shape than me.
Depending of financial circumstances your local authority should be able to provide the fitment of a wetroom shower setup wit ha seat if required. Its a long process so may not be ideal for you but the Accessible homes section is where this grant aided work is handled,i have a contract with the local authority for this work if it may be of interest, happy to chat more privately if needs.
Thanks for the replies, I’m going to ring them myself next week and ask them to break the costs down!
Mrs Goat has recently retired from being a disabled facilities grant assessor
Without knowing all the details the price is expensive and she would question whether a hoist will also be needed, if not now then in the future?
She’d go the level access shower with a decent seat and shower curtains as opposed to screens
Just her ( professional) 2d worth….
Best wishes to the old fella
Take a look on Facebook should be easy for a plumber to fit first 2 listing are £300 ok second hand but what the heck.
Squashy1
Did you search on toilets?
American Standard (don't know if sold there) is a 16.5" height model with elongated bowl and about $300 Canadian, so no clue what they're selling for $1000UK
Companies cut away a section of the tub to avoid having to step over the tub wall and use a stool with back rest for safety if you have the width for the legs
Also install bars if you don't have as in this image (front and angled side)
DON
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