tubs are never good for older people, I remember on many occasion having to pick my dad out of the tub due to his parkinsons even in the early stages, in the end he had a bench he could sit on in the tub, and use a hand held shower wand. Certainly you can add a grab bar over the tub edge, but I would go for a regular depth alcove tub.

Looking for a condo for my mom right now, and while she used to take baths, she prefers to take a shower.

Agree with sloyder- aging in place and tubs usually aren't in the same sentence. But as a bath lover I know it's not easy to give them up when you really prefer them to showers.

Some tubs have built in handles on the inside of the tub itself which would make it a bit easier to get that first push up.

Turning around to grab a bar behind you would be difficult especially if you have back issues already. Are you sure there aren't other places to put grab bars on the side or at the end of the tub?

If you don't need grab bars now, but anticipate you will in the future you can just put blocking behind the tile or wall. I suggest taking a picture and noting where the blocking is before you close up the wall. Locating it later will be much easier.

Good luck

Lisa

Thanks, sloyder. Good tip, Lisa. If I went with a 60" rectangular tub, I would have room for faucets on the end (instead of on the curve) and could then fit a small grab bar on the side. I just hate to give up that long, deep soak I've longed for all these years. Lesson learned -- get the bath of your dreams in your 30's and enjoy it! I am almost 58 and the dh is 63. Not sure a decade of deep soak is worth the risk.

they also have walk in tubs.

tub grab bar

I would consider something like the Kohler Archer, which uses a special high slotted overflow to allow a deeper soak in a lower tub, if you are looking for a plain soaking tub rather than something with jets.

Personally, I have no problem getting in and out of a regular tub at this point, but I would be very uncomfortable with the steps for the Japanese style tubs in the previous post, especially when wet, or with a roman style tub approached by steps.

I recommend spending the $7.99 for a digital copy of NKBA Kitchen and Bathroom Planning Guidelines with Access Standards: Edition 2. It was probably the best investment I made in planning our whole house renovation.

Link here:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=bZAgCwAAQBAJ&source=productsearch&utm_source=HA_Desktop_US&utm_medium=SEM&utm_campaign=PLA&pcampaignid=MKTAD0930BO1&gl=US&gclid=CLCCn_CGss0CFdNtfgodwp0Cwg&gclsrc=ds

Here are a few images from my copy of the first edition. I didn't see any limit on tub depth in the guide. I think the back wall should be 36" or less from the front of the tub for safety, though.

Wow, great links. I am going to relook the Archer tub, also. Thanks!

That Japanese tub is probably the most dangerous for anyone with mobility issues. Worse than a regular soaker tub.

While not pretty you could always put in a regular tub now and if needed in the future switch to something like this: [ADA Compliant Tub[(https://www.houzz.com/products/air-and-whirlpool-fully-loaded-walk-in-bathtub-white-right-prvw-vr~47284565)

There are also companies now that will fit a door into a regular tub when needed, or just make a finished cut out for those who only have a tub/shower and can no longer use a tub.

We're going with this 'Meditub' tub from menards, as we love that it has jets too!

http://www.meditubs.com/MeditubProductDetails.aspx?ID=7

I've never looked into those deep tubs with doors. I know they're marketed to seniors, but I question their safety--one can't safely get out of the tub while there's water in it. If you need to get out, you have to wait for it to drain first. They seem neat, but I think I'd recommend a good shower seat and a good showerhead on a slide bar (maybe a bigger water heater) over one of those tubs. At our house I can take a hot shower longer than my tub water will stay hot, even in our old cast iron tub.

We aren't tub people but would like to be able to take advantage of the therapeutic value of soaking. Being our climate is mild we have decided to forego replacing the tub and buying a 3 person spa for the backyard right outside the door. It's won't cost much more than a new tub and our old tub is good shape. Yes it's a cheap steel contractor's tub. But it's easy to clean since it doesn't have the new permanently attached slip guards that new tubs come with. I dreaded dealing with the newer tubs so the spa was my solution.

I think the Archer is just too deep. I was so close to buying one, having looked at it on line, but I took a drive to a showroom that had it, and it was way, way, too deep to get out of comfortably. I[m 5'3". I got into the tub, which was displayed in the middle of the floor, not in an alcove, and I had to sort of turn over on my hands and knees to get out. Of course it would be much simpler in an alcove with grab bars, but it really made me stop and rethink my choice.

It's back to the drawing board for me.

I got into the tub, which was displayed in the middle of the floor, not in an alcove

I take it that was the drop-in, then, which is deeper than the alcove version, FWIW.

On the picture of the Japanese tub the outside mount of the faucet takes up leg swing room for getting in and out of the tub. Would be better to leave the side open so one could sit and swing their legs over instead of trying to step into a deep tub.

Writersblock, Thanks for pointing out that a drop in tub would be deeper than an alcove one. Right now, I don't remember - it was actually freestanding, I think, but who knows anymore, :-) .

benjesbride - we're getting the meditub that has assisted drain, so that it will empty quicker. We did find a floor model at our local big box store and sit in it - it felt comfortable to us! Many of them can work as a tub-shower too if desired, though for us we went with a secondary wheelchair accessible shower as well. I could never be a shower-only girl.

Consult an Occupational Therapist.

For now we're getting an "antique" looking tub. It will sit in its own alcove. If the time comes when we can't get in and out of the tub, we'll do one of two things.

Either we'll replace it with one of the tubs like I posted above, or we'll get rid of it completely and extend our shower to the alcove.

Our tub gets a lot of use, and -- like the OP -- we are concerned about aging in place.

We plan to build a deck-style tub, thinking it'll be great for now ... and in the future it'll be better than a free standing tub because we can sit on the edge and swing our legs around. If the time comes that we can't use it, well, that's too bad -- but we'll certainly be able to use it for decades yet to come.

However, at the same time we're not neglecting the no-barrier walk-in shower.

To clarify -- we are definitely getting an undermount soaking tub that will have a quartz deck, with pony walls on each end, and a wall/window behind. The Archer, unfortunately, is as deep as the MTI Adena II. There really isn't much on the market that is shallow. We are both active, and the dh runs 60 miles a week. I expect to have some neck discs bolted together in the next year or two. But we are not decrepit. Yet. And our shower will be accessible, so we will always have an option. I just want to choose the right tub, and not take unnecessary risks. Does anyone have any experience with the low-profile Jacuzzi tubs? We don't want air or jets or anything. Just still, hot water. Thanks to all!

A quartz deck sounds slippery. Can you do a quartz deck with a slip resistant texture?

some Silestone quartz comes in a honed finish. Might look towards Corian as well.

We plan to build a deck-style tub, thinking it'll be great for now ... and in the future it'll be better than a free standing tub because we can sit on the edge and swing our legs around.

We had that in the condo. The problem wasn't getting into the tub. That was easy. It was getting out of the tub. Not as easy. And yes we had grab bars but the biggest difficulty is standing up in the tub. Ours was quite deep though.

We're planning to age in place as well (never selling especially after the extensive reno) but decided to remove the tub entirely like a few neighbors have done.

Katrina, my guess is in a few years when the baby gets to be older, you'll be looking to move. Or buy the apartment next to you and conjoining them. :)

We had that in the condo. The problem wasn't getting into the tub. That
was easy. It was getting out of the tub. Not as easy. And yes we had
grab bars but the biggest difficulty is standing up in the tub. Ours was
quite deep though.

I know you're right. Grab bars are definitely in the plans.

Kohler Expanse has huge interior space and low step over height, both of which were critical for my wife. However, I am not sure if the curved exterior side complicates entrance/exit. we both find it easy to get in and out of, but then we aren't to the point of needing grab bars as of yet. It's not a deep tub, but its interior width and length seems to make up for it.

Watchmelol, that's exactly what DH and DS said when I enthusiastically showed them the pics at the top of the op. It looked like such a neat way of combining a shower and orfuro. Additionally, the thought having it glassed in would be a problem for leg swing, that and lack of flat seating area. Well having these forums is helpful.

Glad somebody resurrected this thread. We have chosen our tub, and I'm excited. We finally went down to the MTI factory in Atlanta – – they were extremely kind and pulled several for us to try out. The winner is the MTI Andrea 6, [which you can see here.[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/marmol-bath-remodel-transitional-bathroom-dallas-phvw-vp~16904294) Ours will look almost identical to this in terms of deck width for the undermount. This tub gives an awesome 46" of legroom in a 60" tub, is wide enough, and just deep enough. A little deeper would have been great, but we compromised for future safety. Cannot recommend MTI high enough. Awesome custome service.

You dont need someone to comment on your thread to give the helpers an update. Just bookmark your thread after you post it, or go to the activity on your page go to the side and press on your own posts.

I meant I just forgot about it! LOL. Too much going on. But thank you.