Hello- my first question here. I will be caring in my home for my 90 year old MIL who has dementia. She's in reasonably good shape physically for her age- she does walk with a walker though because of balance issues. She's in memory care right now, but has to leave because they feel they can't help her any further there. It's the nursing home or my home, so I want to try and see if I can care for her here. She's not a difficult person but has trouble following directions, and I know she's going to need assistance with cleaning herself. Am I correct in thinking that a walk-in tub would be easier for both of us rather than a walk-in shower? In a shower situation- (of course she would have a shower chair) it seems I would have to actually get in there to assist her, which seems messy and uncomfortable. Any insights are welcome. I'll be having a new bathroom put in just for her, so of course I'd like to get it all right. Cost is not really an object. TIA :)
I have a 99-yr old aunt with mod/adv dementia who is barely mobile but aids get her to the shower with her walker and a belt. The bathroom is very small and so is the shower, which has a 1" threshold height, but the seat is right there and the adjustable height, handheld shower head helps control the spray. Best if you get a showerhead that has all the controls on it, not the wall (on/off, temp). If modesty is an issue they can cover her with a thin terry towel, it will act like a giant washcloth and then put a dry terry robe on her right after. People who are soapy are also very slippery, so it may be safer to handle her with the help of towels during the process. Also, my aunt only needs a shower 2x a week. Those tubs are incredibly expensive and then would need to be removed when you eventually sell your home.
Don't forget lots of properly anchored grab bars. And don't let anyone talk you into a shower unit with a built in bench, they are not adequate for accessibility.
Oh... for safety and accessibility plan for a curtain not an enclosure
As for the how to - try searching shower assistance for elderly on YouTube for videos
My reasoning:
there may come a point where she needs a wheelchair
she will likely need assistance doing the actual washing, and soaping up and rinsing off someone will be easier in a shower than reaching down into a tub, especially one of the high walled walk in tubs
once urinary and fecal incontinence become a problem it will be more hygienic to rinse off in a shower that to sit in a bath
Since you are renovating I'd also plan for a bidet sprayer or bidet toilet seat as well to help with toileting