What would you do: Simple bathing

[catherine]

Here's the situation.

We have a clawfoot tub in our small, 6x7 bathroom. It has one of those hose things so you can shower yourself off--we're in the process of mounting a clasp on the wall, and we're also in the process of putting up a grab bar.

As you might imagine, or if you've ever had one, clawfoot tub showers are not ideal. They're a pain to get into, and the shower curtain is cumbersome and claustrophobic. I had one in my first apartment, which was upstairs in a Victorian house. But I LOVE the tubs. This particular tub is just the right size for me, and the bathroom is so cute and quirky and I light a candle and bring in Alexa and I listen to music and it's awesome.

DH originally was psyched to see the tub because clawfoot tubs are higher and rounder and more comfortable. But truth be told, he hasn't taken a bath in years. Our old tub was too small and he has gotten larger. He certainly gets around--he doesn't have serious mobility problems, but it is a struggle to get into this tub. So, as I said, we are doing everything we can to outfit this tub so he has an easier time with it. We have one of those very stable step stools, and two grab bars.

But.....
I know that the most practical thing to do would be to remove the tub and put in a walk-in shower. It would be pretty easy to do--no change in footprint needed. Maybe minor plumbing tweaks.

Here's the selfish me coming out:
I love the tub. I hate to give it up.

Plus, we do have a walk-in shower--outside. It's enclosed, it's big, it's a perfectly functional outdoor shower, but it can only be used 5 months out of the year. I had always reasoned that DH could manage for a few months with the clawfoot. Plus, originally we were going to spend a good part of the winter elsewhere.

But now we're down to being here pretty much full time and this tub is not great for DH.

There is no way to expand the footprint--I won't spend the money just to save a tub.

I've considered a wet bath, but I'm sure that doesn't come cheap either.

Advice? Any creative designers who can see some solution to having both a walk-in shower and a tub in our bathroom?

Do I just suck it up and do the practical thing? Or do I figure that grab bars and stools are good enough for DH for a few months until the summer comes.

I have wasted all fall on my back-and-forth thoughts on this. It didn't help when both my DIL and DD, neither of whom have bathtubs in their houses, told me they wish they had a tub.

Do you think I'd really miss a tub? A nice modern walk-in shower would look good in this bathroom. But that tub....

[iris lilies]

Install the walk-in shower.

[herbgeek]

Is it possible to move the tub outside and screen it with fencing? Yes, you could only use it part of the year, but you might still be able to enjoy it /sometime/. I'm with Iris on the walk in shower, a tub like that sounds like an accident waiting to happen for your husband.

[Tybee]

I am having a hard time imagining a 6 x 7 bathroom with room for a clawfoot tub. So I'm not sure what you would put in its place. And could it go somewhere else in the house, like your bedroom? A friend of ours did that--it looked a little weird but she loved it, and there was room. She did a half wall out of tile.

You are going to hate this answer, but I would look at universal access tubs and see if I could find something that met my need for a tub and his need for a safe tub/shower. I just think it's so dangerous, the clawfoot. I say this because I almost broke my elbow once slipping getting out of the tub--and I was not even 60 at the time.

I'm sorry!

[KayLR]

Safety first. Sorry. I wish I could think of a way for you to keep that tub and have it both ways.

[frugal-one]

Look into walk-in shower tub combo.... listed on line.

[JaneV2.0]

I can't imagine trying to navigate any kind of tub at this point. I might be able to climb in, but I'd probably die there. :|(
I wouldn't hesitate to install the nicest walk-in shower I could find. Hang a picture of the clawfoot on the wall for atmosphere.

Or Herbgeek has a good idea; install it in your outside alcove.

[catherine]

Thanks everyone. Great ideas--

Actually, have I asked you guys this before?? I think I'm losing my mind over this. I do remember Jane also mentioning the walk-in tub. Sorry if I'm repeating myself.

I am inclined at this point to try to salvage the tub (my daughter suggested that), probably outside, but I LOVE that bedroom idea!

But you guys are telling me what my inner voice was telling me--it has to be a walk-in tub.

[iris lilies]

Price out some walk in tubs and then come back and talk with us. They are super expensive. Are you really going to spring for that?

[Tybee]

Price out some walk in tubs and then come back and talk with us. They are super expensive. Are you really going to spring for that?

Very cheap compared to a broken hip. My husband broke his pelvis in two places, and it was pretty horrible.

I also think stand up showers can be dangerous, too, as we get older.

[catherine]

Price out some walk in tubs and then come back and talk with us. They are super expensive. Are you really going to spring for that?

No, I'm afraid I am not interested in that option right now. I agree that showers can be dangerous, too, but we can use slip mats and benches.

[Teacher Terry]

Those old bathtubs are way to tall and a fall waiting to happen. My mom got into a regular one until she died despite being really sick.

[Tammy]

We have a tiny bathroom and recently replaced the tub/shower combo (old and ugly - not claw foot) with a walk in shower. The shower has a built in place to sit and you only have to lift your foot 2 inches to enter/exit. It’s not tiny shower - it has lots of elbow room. I love it.

A realtor would probably say we lowered our resale value by not having a tub. I don’t care. I live here now and I like it this way.

[Teacher Terry]

We have a huge jetted tub because my husband wanted it. He has used it twice in 8 years. I decided to use it and the jets quit working probably from non use. The tub has turned into a giant laundry basket for towels and sheets:)). We also have a walk in shower like Tammy described. We can fit a chair in it because when my husband broke his ankle he used it.

[razz]

I love a soaking tub but mine in the main bathroom is high and hard to get out of so I use my ensuite shower most of the time. I feel your pain about giving up your tub. Logically, go for a sturdy basic shower with room for a stool. Emotionally, get a hot tub for relaxing. You will enjoy it!

[Tybee]

Hey, Razz has a great idea--why not an outdoor hottub on a deck??

[iris lilies]

Very cheap compared to a broken hip. My husband broke his pelvis in two places, and it was pretty horrible.

I also think stand up showers can be dangerous, too, as we get older.

The showers with his built-in seats are nice.


I say for those who wanna soak, yeah the idea of a hot tub is good plus hot tub in Vermont outdoors would be nice.

[Tybee]

The showers with his built-in seats are nice.


I say for those who wanna soak, yeah the idea of a hot tub is good plus hot tub in Vermont outdoors would be nice.

Wouldn't it?

[catherine]

Hey, Razz has a great idea--why not an outdoor hottub on a deck??

That is great idea!

[iris lilies]

We have a tiny bathroom and recently replaced the tub/shower combo (old and ugly - not claw foot) with a walk in shower. The shower has a built in place to sit and you only have to lift your foot 2 inches to enter/exit. It’s not tiny shower - it has lots of elbow room. I love it.

A realtor would probably say we lowered our resale value by not having a tub. I don’t care. I live here now and I like it this way.

there was a whole trend a few years ago of putting in showers instead of tubs. It’s what most people use anyway.


I didn’t realize our Herman house had no bathtub until I actually went in the first time to use it. It’s a shower that’s rectangular like a bathtub. It fits in the space of where the bathtub would’ve been in the 40s when it was built. I’m thrilled with that shower, it’s bigger than the ones we have in our city house.And when we remodeled the Hermann house we will be keeping it as it is.

[sweetana3]

We took out our long unused for 20 year jacuzzi and put in a large walk in shower. We bought a teak seat in case we needed it and a hand held wand in case we need to use the seat. Also had a very nice grab bar installed. The grab bars come in all kinds of styles now and do not have to look so commercial. We are so happy with it.

Many years ago I hurt my leg and for a week could not do the stairs. It was almost too much to raise my foot four inches to get in the shower. This time we got a shower with a 1.5 inch rise. Perfect just in case. I have tried a claw foot tub a couple of times at BandBs and always felt so unsafe and scared.

Note for the walk in tubs with doors. You have to sit in the tub while it fills up and drains.

[Tradd]

A friend recently looked into getting a walk in tub for her mother. $17K!

[Simplemind]

We put spa in our deck (it sticks up about 20 inches from the deck. Easy in and out) about 15 years ago. When we got it people said we would use it a few times and then it would sit there. I knew that would not be the case for me with my fibro issues. It is open air and I am in it almost every night unless there is a sideways downpour. Winter is my favorite time, the colder the better. I haven't been in a bathtub since we installed it. Wonderful right before bed to relax, get warm and look out into the meadow and stargaze.
We now use the bathtub to wash the dogs. I think I would love to take out the tub in our bathroom and put in a walk in shower with a built in seat. Hate trying to stand like a flamingo to shave my legs.

[pinkytoe]

I assume you are talking about one of those shower units made of fiberglass? At some point, you probably won't like crawling over a tub either. Houses around here are converting bathtubs to walk-in showers that don't have a ledge at all. I don't like taking baths so I would opt for a walk in shower (tiled) with a bench on the wall opposite the shower head.

[ToomuchStuff]

It really depends on your height.
My house has a 7x7 bathroom, with a clawfoot tub. The neighbor that lived up the street and died just shy of her 101st birthday, had a larger bathroom, but smaller closets (clothes wouldn't hang straight). She had a bath bench in hers, and sat on the edge of the tub and scooted over the bench. Her daughter helped her with the sprayer as her arms didn't go over her head well and towards the end, she had trouble pushing herself up off the edge of the tub.
Mine has the frame that hangs from the ceiling and holds a shower curtain. I will miss that tub in the new house because they retain heat so much better IMHE. (will miss when I screw up some muscles in my back or legs again)

[jp1]

I’m glad the OP has already reached the rational decision. If the tub is a struggle for her DH now that struggle will only get worse as the years roll by.

We often have threads here about dealing with resistant elderly parents. Eventually that tub, if left in place, will become the launch of just such a discussion thread in her kids’ lives.

[iris lilies]

The best hotel I have ever stayed in was Hotel Paris in Prague. What a gorgeous old place! The only downside was the super high sided bathtub with no grab bars.

I swear those tub sides came up to my mid thigh.

I guess most of their guests were tall, elegant, athletic Europeans. That is not me.