Are you saying you don't have a shower head set-up existing where your tub currently is? If so, you need a plumber to come give you an estimate to install this part (and get a hand-held shower head that has the controls on the head itself).
If you have a shower set-up in your tub area, then HomeDepot sells bathtub-to-shower conversion kits and they can provide a handyman to come install it. They aren't Zero clearance, but it's better than stepping over a high edge. It usually only takes a few hours to do the conversion.
Otherwise, if you own the home you are living in (assuming you aren't in a rental) then consider taking out equity to pay for it.
Or maybe consider transitioning to a senior community where they have ADA compliant residences and a continuum of care levels so that you won't have to worry about it in the future.
Razkar, check with your bank to see if you can get a line-of-credit. That way you can make the change, but note the amount used on the line-of-credit would need to be repaid along with interest. One would need a good credit score to qualify.
I would assume that elders who live in a rental with a bathtub would most likely need to use a sliding shower bench . I doubt a rental would allow the tub to be taken out .
You must have been born with a silver spoon in your mouth. My Mom as a widow, received $1700 a month. Her property taxes alone were 6k a year. Out of that 1700, 200 was the pension she received from Dads employer. She "just" lived on that money. The house suffered because she could not afford the repairs. You must not be a widow. Because, when a husband dies, who probably made the top money, you lose 1/3 of the SS you received every month. For me that would be close to 1k. Then the pension, the widow only gets a % of that pension, for Mom that was 40%. Thats if there is a pension, not everyone has one. Lots of Seniors are living pay to pay. They are physically able to stay in their homes and should be able to. Where I live, and its a small town, a 1 bedroom apartment is $1400 a month. Cheaper for me to stay in my paid off home for now.
Any grants given to fix up a house goes by income. I so hope that the rest of your life treats you well, no major illnesses or disasters where what money you have is used up and you have to wonder where the money is going to come from to pay your bills.
im not a widow, but I am struggling, like literally this whole year, Joann. I’m the last of the boomers turning 60 next month, and I’ve been in a walker since April, Joann. My house is officially 860 square feet but due to its location it’s worth over a million dollars. Sometimes realtors for Apple engineers come by as of course they don’t want to live in a “luxury apartment” with a scenic view on a major highway, Joann.
All this is really my responsibility to fix, Joann. That and dh’s who doesn’t own this house but could never, ever, live anywhere in Silicon Valley for what he pays. Yeah, Joann, we’re hanging on but do you think I think younger ppl who’d kill to get this house should pay to subsidize me?
Just no. If this woman needs a walk in or a new furnace or a stove or whatever it’s on her and whatever family to provide these items as opposed to the population at large, most of whom won’t ever have property. They call them “boomers” but old ppl 1938 to 1945 aren’t even, and they like this op think everyone will bend over to help them.
There are a number of affordable benches that slide over the bath tub . Look on Amazon . I think this is what most seniors do who cannot afford the tub to shower conversion . At 86 , you may need to sell your home sooner rather than later anyway . Having no bathtub in a home is a ding when trying to sell .
Ok, so when your roof goes, or there’s a tree you want to get rid of, or when you need a new furnace, do you expect the taxpayers or philanthropy to come help with this for free?
The younger population is beyond fed up with old people who actually have a house, a nice Medicare plan, a pension and ss. All of which are typical at your age, and are more than most of them will get. Do not count on help from the public.
Some of those walk in showers have extra plumbing expenses such as a wider drain to accomodate a faster water evacuation. You might get cold waiting for the water to drain so that you can open the door. Most of those tubs also affect resale value to a home in a negative way. If you end up in assisted care, all you would get is a shower chair and a grab bar.
Call your County Office of Aging to see if they know of any programs. Habitate for Humanity maybe able to help. There are over the tub bars. https://tinyurl.com/edakmsxj
Grab bars... https://tinyurl.com/bddjt3fs
Sliding over the tub shower chair ... https://tinyurl.com/4556z4cb
If you are a Veteran the VA does have programs that will help make adaptations to make your house safer so you can continue to lie at home.
You can check with your local Senior Service Center and ask if there are programs that might help.
Rather than making changes like that you could do a Shower chair Shower bench Get a hand held shower wand to use, install grab bars. You can get ones that suctions on But they need to be checked each time as they can come lose but they will do until you can get permanent ones installed or if you are in a place where you can not make permanent changes they will be better than none.
You can call 211 and see what might be available in your area as far as any help, or go to FindHelp.org. and put in your zip code and find free or reduced cost resources for various things including financial assistance in your area.
Sorry I can't help with the financial side of things but a tub cut out rather than a whole conversion might be more within your budget. Another inexpensive option would be to use a transfer bench to get in and out of the tub. Don't forget to install a couple of grab bars also.
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If you have a shower set-up in your tub area, then HomeDepot sells bathtub-to-shower conversion kits and they can provide a handyman to come install it. They aren't Zero clearance, but it's better than stepping over a high edge. It usually only takes a few hours to do the conversion.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Cleancut-Medium-White-Step-Bathtub-Conversion-Kit-S-W-M/304971341
Otherwise, if you own the home you are living in (assuming you aren't in a rental) then consider taking out equity to pay for it.
Or maybe consider transitioning to a senior community where they have ADA compliant residences and a continuum of care levels so that you won't have to worry about it in the future.
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You must have been born with a silver spoon in your mouth. My Mom as a widow, received $1700 a month. Her property taxes alone were 6k a year. Out of that 1700, 200 was the pension she received from Dads employer. She "just" lived on that money. The house suffered because she could not afford the repairs. You must not be a widow. Because, when a husband dies, who probably made the top money, you lose 1/3 of the SS you received every month. For me that would be close to 1k. Then the pension, the widow only gets a % of that pension, for Mom that was 40%. Thats if there is a pension, not everyone has one. Lots of Seniors are living pay to pay. They are physically able to stay in their homes and should be able to. Where I live, and its a small town, a 1 bedroom apartment is $1400 a month. Cheaper for me to stay in my paid off home for now.
Any grants given to fix up a house goes by income. I so hope that the rest of your life treats you well, no major illnesses or disasters where what money you have is used up and you have to wonder where the money is going to come from to pay your bills.
All this is really my responsibility to fix, Joann. That and dh’s who doesn’t own this house but could never, ever, live anywhere in Silicon Valley for what he pays. Yeah, Joann, we’re hanging on but do you think I think younger ppl who’d kill to get this house should pay to subsidize me?
Just no. If this woman needs a walk in or a new furnace or a stove or whatever it’s on her and whatever family to provide these items as opposed to the population at large, most of whom won’t ever have property. They call them “boomers” but old ppl 1938 to 1945 aren’t even, and they like this op think everyone will bend over to help them.
https://cleancutbath.com/
I think this is what most seniors do who cannot afford the tub to shower conversion .
At 86 , you may need to sell your home sooner rather than later anyway .
Having no bathtub in a home is a ding when trying to sell .
The younger population is beyond fed up with old people who actually have a house, a nice Medicare plan, a pension and ss. All of which are typical at your age, and are more than most of them will get. Do not count on help from the public.
If you sell this property you can live in IL.
If you end up in assisted care, all you would get is a shower chair and a grab bar.
Grab bars... https://tinyurl.com/bddjt3fs
Sliding over the tub shower chair ... https://tinyurl.com/4556z4cb
You can check with your local Senior Service Center and ask if there are programs that might help.
Rather than making changes like that you could do a
Shower chair
Shower bench
Get a hand held shower wand to use, install grab bars. You can get ones that suctions on But they need to be checked each time as they can come lose but they will do until you can get permanent ones installed or if you are in a place where you can not make permanent changes they will be better than none.