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bathroom - Handicap shower remodel

4 months ago

I just need advice on a handicap shower door. Already installed shower seat. Should a tempered glass door or a shower curtain be used for a handicap person.
The shape is just like a tub style opening.
Use an electric wheelchair, but able to walk some. Balance is an issue. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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Comments (9)

millworkman
4 months ago
I would say a curtain, it can moved to either side, you would have entire width of the shower open to help the handicap person if necessary.
crhumphrey
Original Author
4 months ago
TY My concern is falling in the shower. Don't need assistance showering.
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Missy Bee
4 months ago
Crhumphrey….but if you fell in the shower and were injured someone would need to enter the shower and then probably get you out.
millworkman
4 months ago
And a shower door will not stop anything. You will either break the glass or the door itself will come crashing down. Either way increases your risk for getting hurt.
Helen
4 months ago
Where are your grab bars? Do you have one at the entrance to balance when exiting and entering along with one to grab.

In theory a shower curtain makes it easier for a third person to assist if you ever need help showering. This can happen even if you are still mobile if you come home from a hospital stay. For example, my neighbor had a shoulder replacement and Medicare sent an attendant three times a week to help her shower and wash her hair.

On the other hand, glass is more aesthetic especially if you have invested in a beauitful tiled shower. However, in the event that glass is no longer functional you could remove and replace with a shower curtain.
Sigrid
4 months ago
Generally, a shower curtain covers a wider opening than a door and wider is better. You do want to pay attention to drainage. A classic shower has a lip that the shower curtain is inside of, you don't want a lip and you don't want water to leak onto the floor and make it slippery (or make your bath mat soggy. This can be done with attention to drainage.
remodeling1840
4 months ago
Define “ handicap”. There is a vast difference from being profoundly deaf to having vertigo to having one leg to being blind to having spatial problems to needing a wheelchair to suffering spinal injury to…….. “Handicapped” covers a vast array of disabilities. This is like asking for help planning a menu without telling us someone is allergic to spinach and some else can’t chew solid food. There are different solutions to adapt to each disability. You will get better help with a specific problem.
Helen
4 months ago
@remodeling1840 OP stated her disability was mobility and balanced related as she used a wheel chair but could manage to walk limited distances.
remodeling1840
4 months ago
Is it temporary? Will it progress? You need to go to your local glass company to look at glass shower doors with different arrangements and look at the ease of operating each kind ( bypass or door and fixed panel). Discuss with friends and family the ease of using their showers. Try them out for your particular situation. My DH is just home with a total knee. Some of the things that worked when he had his hip replacement last summer are not as helpful for this knee recovery. Only by trying out several different potions. It is less expensive to start with a shower curtain and, if that isn’t useful, install a glass shower door. It would be a shame to spend one to three thousand dollars on a door and have it taken out to be replaced with a shower curtain.

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