No.

The closest was one where the whole tub was elevated to about 17 inches and the entire front edge went down, so you would sit down on the edge, lift your legs onto the tub floor as you turned to sit longwise in the tub, then you would reach down and pull up the side to lock into the closed position. Then you ran the water while you were reclined in the tub. It said it had a fast draining system so you did not sit in the cooling water for long as it emptied. It was the Kohler Elevance and it was discontinued.

Thanks for feedback. Still waiting on Kohler, American Standard and others to take note and make something that is not ugly and geriatric looking, and market it to athletes, and over 40 crowd. Ex-athletes, bad knees/hips, etc....can be difficult to get in and out of a tub. A Japanese Tub is about as close as I've seen...

Did you look at the Kohler Elevance? There may be some in showrooms or warehouses unsold.

Not something you could tile, but it looks better than those ones with little doors in them. It is just an elevated bathtub with a door/wall that slides down to allow access.

@Nancy, thank you, that is nicer looking. I'm curious if the door opening up/down is easier than a door?. I'll look into it on their website. Thank you so much!

Read the reviews on the Elevance as they seem to indicate there was a reason why the design was discontinued. The door evidently is a bit finicky and one person was stuck in the tub as she couldn't open it without assistance.

Kohler makes a slightly less institutional looking standard model with a door - the Belay.

Kohler Belay

Does this look less geriatric to you?

@Laura - google Elevance reviews and there are truly some nightmares :-). Of course like anything, there are going to be disparate number of negative reviews but I would imagine Kohler would continue to manufacture something that was still selling.

Hi Helen, yes I was wondering about that door swing but you beat me to it. Yes, I've heard those stories. The Belay seems nice, but I wouldn't want a faux stone/acrylic wall (but that is a wonderful option for easy install and quick add to bathrooms). I'd rather have the best tub/features/jets/reviews than worry about looks, but hoping in the next few years they think of folks that want to include them in a remodel and have way to tile the front, use my own faucet, etc. I'll need to visit a showroom and check them out.... Thank you so much for your help! Keep me posted if you see anything else!

@Helen, haha yes, I'm definitely going to wait and let them perfect the issues. I'm thinking I'll be hitting the market just right once they work out the bugs. Thanks for the heads up! ;-). Maybe I'll keep looking at Japanese soaking tubs (with a seat and with jets)..... The last time I took a soak with my Epsom (magnesium salts), I slipped around so much and could barely get out of the tub and I'm not that old, go to the gym, athletic.....haha

People laugh but getting stuck in a tub is not that uncommon. I know of three people who got stuck and needed assistance and I am assuming that's the tip of the iceberg since I have a limited circle of people who would discuss such an embarrassing situation.

My parents lived in a retirement community and their neighbor was stuck for three days. I remember that because my mother was incensed that the woman's immediate neighbor hadn't noticed a pile up of newspapers and alerted someone since people looked out for each other - i.e. let people know if they were going to be away so that if they weren't spotted, people would check because there were potential issues.

My neighbor got stuck but luckily she had her cell phone within reach and had to call for assistance.

There was a third woman in my building who got stuck in the tub but I don't remember how she was rescued but she was lucky since she also lived alone.

If you add an attractive shower curtain, they really aren’t all that hideous. And when you really need one, their functionality is far more important than their aesthetics at that point!

This family had 3 members who benefitted from the walk in in the tiny bath. Two 50 something’s with back problems who benefitted from the more upright position and jets, and one 80 something parent who loved soaks but couldn’t manage a regular tub.

Walk In Tub Freedom · More Info

Walk In Tub Freedom · More Info

Style was less important than their physical needs. The handshower allowed for hair washing and tub cleaning. Choosing the solid surface panels for the surround meant easy cleaning for it all.

No, this will never be at the top of any of Houzz’s most saved inspiration pics. But it met their needs. :-)

Wow Helen, and 3 in your close circle. It is a scary thought for anyone, esp those alone at the time. Good thinking on always having a phone close by the tub just in case. Or set up Alexa so you can call for help. LOL

The walk-in tubs make sense, but I've heard people getting stuck in those as well, door getting stuck, taking 3 minutes to drain, etc., etc. The commercials make them look so 'easy' to install, but my plumber said we didn't have the right drainage/pipes to handle the emptying of the tub, etc (we were considering for my mom as well).

I hadn't taken a bath in a long time, but needed to for an injury and I was a little shocked how difficult it was to get out, and I was alone too. I can image the fear and how an elderly person (who honestly has no strength) to pull themselves out.

The idea of a walk-in tub is awesome....

Living alone without at least people checking in - people really need to build a support system that notices when something is off.

In my building there have been a few unnoticed deaths in which the people led isolated lifestyles so that their deaths went unnoticed for awhile. Really if one doesn't have a 9-5 job and lives alone, it could be awhile for absence to be noticed. How many of us would contact the police if their friend didn't return a text or email or whatever. Unless we had some kind of mutual check in arrangement, most people would assume the other person was busy.

The last unnoticed death took so long to get noticed that much of the body had disintegrated into the cement subfloor. The cement floor had to be jackhammered out because the odor of cadaver couldn't be removed.

@The Cook's Kitchen, I hear you for sure! I too agree the look is not the most important. I'd rather have a great tub with good features and one that does the job.

I like the idea of that shower curtain to cover it up slightly.....thank you! I'll figure out a way to incorporate into a remodel and tuck it in a corner, and/or do a beautiful tile surround with niches, etc. Handheld for cleaning for sure is a must. The free-standing tubs are soooooo beautiful to me, but realistically I know I'd never use it.... Thank you for your pics and yes, those are not 'inspiration photos' by any means, but practical! LOL But, I'm hinting into the Kohler/Am Standard designer universe to make something pretty... If not, they can hire me.... ;-)

@Helen, I agree. So sad. Many people do live alone and we do need to have a check-in system.

As much as I don't want to have intrusion in my home with Alexa, etc., maybe it is a good idea to have for emergencies? An accident can happen to anyone alone...

Reading this, I wonder if having something like the Echo in the bathroom could be helpful to people who live alone. The stuck person could shout out a request to make a phone call.

I agree grannsmith18! I'm not into invasive, listening technology in my home, but Echo/Alexa/Echo are probably smart for people who live alone, just in case....

Or wear your cell phone in a little bag that is around your neck, tied to your belt, or somewhere on your person - and keep it nearby during bathing/showering. I stepped out of the shower 15 months ago to get something off of the counter. In getting that foot back over the tub side, I lost my balance, slid, and slammed the standing leg's knee into the tub side. I knocked my tibia out of place so far that eight hours later, when I decided to go to the hospital, it was still displaced. Not that the docs did anything about it. They never even mentioned it, they simply called it a sprained knee. I only learned of it a month later when we went to see a surgeon and picked up a copy of the x-ray report.

I did not have my phone in the bathroom and had to get myself up off the bottom of the tub and onto my feet. I then had to get to the bedroom to a phone with no counter to lean on once I left the bathroom. I grabbed walls and did as much wiggling of my good foot as I could to make my way. I phoned my husband and begged him to come home, which he did as soon as he got the message. He helped me to dress and get comfortable and got me ice. Since I have a connective tissue disorder and have dislocated my knee before, I knew what had probably happened. I checked for bulges and watched for swelling. It was not until late evening and increasing pain that I decided to go to the hospital. There, all they wanted to do was check for broken bones! Soft tissue - they said was not for them to worry about.

It took me about four months to walk without my walker, six months to feel confident walking. I don't know how I could have done it on my own. My dog would have had to go live elsewhere until I could let her out. I had a week or more using a bedside commode and eating all my meals in bed. My husband came home each night and took care of me.

Now, the wheelchair accessible shower I have been planning for 5 years is done and I have grab bars everywhere within reach in there!

@nancyinmich, that is so terrible! I'm so sorry you had to go through this experience and injury! Your story is a good one to share since manufacturers need to take note and make safer products and materials. I love my gorgeous polished marble floors in my bathroom, but I have mats everywhere, so I step from mat to mat (and the bathroom isn't that big). I won't do marble floors again, too slippery.

Back in the day, my grandmother and many in the 50'-70s generation carpeted the bathroom floors, and the kitchen was indoor/outdoor carpet too (LOL).. I had it in every bathroom in my condo which I took over from my grandmother after she passed. I thought it was so weird since it got wet/dirty easier, but now understand why. When you are older, safety is of upmost importance, not style or look....