Does anyone know if Medicare will help pay for a handicap shower insert? My mother lives at home and has a 1959 house and the shower is a bath/shower combo and she has trouble lifting her leg to get into tub. Also her balance is not good. We don't have the resources to remodel her bathroom. Thank you for your input.
I do understand the limitations of bathrooms though. I'm guessing most of us don't have massive bathrooms like those in the popular decorating and remodeling programs.
If the problem is raising the legs to lift them in, and you're there, you might be able to put a stool on the floor to help her life her legs.
If not and you do need to have a more accessible shower, contact your local city and ask if they get HUD funds to help residents with critical remodels or fixes. The city I live in used to get these HUD funds; I don't know if they still do or if HUD still has this program.
Funds were disbursed on a fiscal year basis and basically became available to the City around July or August. If none are available or your city doesn't participate, you might contact the Alz. Assn. and ask if they have any recommendations. They're easy to work with and have knowledge of a lot of resources.
In the interim, you can also use no rinse products. Mom can clean up sitting in the living room or wherever she's comfortable. Her hair can be washed w/o water, and she can also clean up w/o water as the no rinse products are applied and dry w/o water. I've used them; they don't leave a residue.
https://www.caregiverproducts.com/no-rinse-personal-care-products.html
You might try asking your moms doctor to order you mom home health to evaluate her. They can send out a Occupational therapist to evaluate her home and recommend what modifications are needed. A shower bench is what they sometimes recommend where your mom would sit on the bench and slide over, putting one foot at a time in the tub from a sitting position. She would need a shower wand to give herself a bath. A round of therapy can really help some with mobility issues. I realize this isn’t what you are looking for but might help in the interim.
Put over the tub bar in ur search engine and you will see all types.