I don't have any experience in this matter, but I do have a thought.

It seems to me that one has to sit (naked) in the tub and then fill it with water, and then after bathing, remain in the tub naked while it drains. I think I would be chilled if I had to do that.

A walk in shower with a nice sturdy bench and hand rails seems like a better option. I think it might be esthetically nicer as well...particularly if the home is sold in the future.

I have no idea of the cost involved in these two options or what your budget will allow, but I hope you find the perfect solution.

I think it will work well for you as long as you have the inline heater to keep the water warm and you can always have a large towel or robe handy by the tub to cover up as the tub empties. I have a large jetted tub and sit in it every night for about 1.5hrs while I read quilt magazines or a book. It really helps relax me and Dr. recommended it since I retain water. Said the jetted action helps force tissue fluid back into my blood vessels. Thankfully I have no issues with my knees or legs so can get in and out easily. Good luck!

Tub drains fast - 2 to 3 mins only. The walk in tub is shorter than a regular tub, so you can have a towel behind your head to wrap around you if you choose as the water drains.
I want to be able to SOAK with jacuzzi jets! You can not do that in a walk in shower.

I am 76, have arthritis really bad and I have a walk in shower with a nice shower stool. Have hand held shower head with long hose. Works great for me. Not near as expensive as the walk in bath tub. You can also have bathtub cut down and made into a shower and the cost of that is usually about $1000. When they are finished it's a really nice and pretty installation. Looks like it came from the factory that way.

I will also be watching this thread to see if it is a workable solution for both my mother and husband.

Thanks for posting the subject and thanks for all the good tips. After hearing some down sides, including the cost, I agree the walking shower and bench is the way I'd go for sure. :D :D :D

I'm not up on the workings of walk in showers. Sound good if one can afford it.
When I had 1st knee replacement, GH put grab bars in the tub.When I had 2nd knee done, he added 2 more,including a long one on the wall.3 mos ago, I had 1st hip replaced. Poor guy...was so scared I'd fall. Then we saw an ad on tv...where they cut a step into side of tub tub.Looked into it & the man we talked to was putting doing it in a new nursing home, so we could see it.

Decided to have it done & works great.I can turn around when using the tub shower, have a flexible hand held shower head that has several diff choices with a long line.
I have room for a shower seat if/when it's needed.Works for me & DH thinks it's way safer than having to step in/out of tub.Here's a pic.

The cut out in the tub works great. I live in a large retirement home and most of the apartments have them. It gives us lots of space for our stools and benches. We all have additional grab bars, also. The call cords are right next to the tubs/showers for emergency.

I think you need to decide if you just want to get cleaned off, in which case the shower would be enough, or if you have pain and want to use it to help ease your pain, in which case the walk in tub could help do that. I'm thinking my friend said she got some help (from medicare?) on the cost. If you're wanting one, check with medicare and your doctor before you get one. She also said hers fills and drains real quick. She starts drying her arms and goes from there by the time she gets to her legs its empty.

I would go with a shower some have a place to sit down and are so easy to step into. There are more options check out what is available.

I already have a walk in shower, I want to be able to sit and soak in a bathtub!
I can't do that in a regular tub due to back injury from years ago, my knees are no longer stable so kneeling or squatting is impossible.
Walk in tubs solve that problem and would allow me to have a bath 2 - 3 times a week with jacuzzi jets instead of always showers.

I was looking at the walk in tubs but heard that it is a downside to selling the house. So I am going to put in a large glass in shower with built in seat and massage jets then on my deck will put in a hot tub. The deck side hot tub will be nice entertainment when my daughter and her DH and the 2 boys want to use it. Of course one of the rules will be that I must be in it at the same time. Will probably live in it all year long.

I did the same for my late DH.

Don't think I will be buying one since I just read in todays newspaper about 2 women getting stuck in them.

took my tub out and replaced it with a huge walk-in shower. I just don't take baths!! Sorry!!

Agree..seems to me you would get chilled waiting for water to drain.

I checked into it after my 3rd back surgery but they were soooo expensive. If you need one it's awesome that your getting them. I think they're great!

My neighbor ordered one on-line and my husband installed it for her. She loves it for the jets. It maintains the temp of the water for her to soak as long as she wants to. I tried it - and liked that part of it but didn't like the drain time. So mixed reviews here.

My mother dated a guy for about 15 years, when he turned very ill, she moved him into her house and we redid the bathroom for him. We made a wheel chair ready shower for him. We could wheel the chair right in, transfer him from the wheel chair to a chair inside, it had two shower heads, both could be hand held if needed. It was all tiled. My mother could stay right in the shower to help him and not have to actually take a shower. This was a much cheaper option then the one your talking about. We thought of the same thing..until all the water drains.. ur getting kinda cold..cold water..not being able to dry off while it drains also.

They are ok... keep a book by the tun so you can read or do something during the filling and draining time. All you can do is sit there and wait. In my opinion a walk in shower with a bench is a much better solution and not as expensive. I had to use one when visiting and thought at that point - this is not for me. It could very well be the solution for some folks tho. This is a big decision - to make - good luck!!

When you decide to buy a walk in tub. Be sure to read about costumers feedback and BBB complaints. You should also ask the company to furnish you with reference on their previous clients. A company who acts professionally will have no trouble finding clients willing to recommend them. I search google for walk in tubs client testimonials and found, http://comfortwalkintubs.com/walk_in...timonials.html

A friend of mine had one installed and loved it! They ended up moving to another state. Real estate representative kept telling her the tub was a 'major negative' in showing the home. Finally they had the tub removed, a regular tub put back in, and the house sold.