The Accessible Home Journal Vol. 4 Issue 2 February 2010
A Simple Solution to a Common Problem
Though our focus is on Southern Nevada, we receive inquiries from all over the world. Recently we received an inquiry from Israel wanting to know how to solve a shower access problem. We are always glad to help if we can. This a very common problem. It can be very frustrating as often the client is under the impression that an existing, low threshold is the solution when it is really the problem. It can be costly to fix.
We have a client, a young man, whose wife suffered a stroke and was confined to a wheel chair. He had a shower in his home with a low threshold but found it impossible to cross, safely, with his wife in a shower chair. He had received a quote of $4,000 to replace the existing shower with a curbless or roll in shower. He called us to say, I do not have $4,000. What can you do?
Our answer is shown below. The left hand photograph shows his shower as it exists with a low threshold.
On the right we have added a stainless steel, false bottom raising the shower floor to the level of the threshold. Then we added a short folding ramp from the outside floor up to the height of the threshold. Now he can wheel his wife up the ramp, over the threshold, and onto the false bottom with no problem. Both the false bottom and ramp are easily removed for cleaning. Total cost: about $800.
The lesson here is not to get hung up on just one solution. We have encountered people that should know better that think that the solution to all bathing problems for the disabled is a roll in shower. There is usually more than one way to solve an access problem. The trick is to examine them all first and then chose the one that fits best.
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It is the purpose of ASI to enhance the quality of life for people that may have a debilitating disease, suffer accident trauma, or be frail do to age. Our mission is for everyone to enjoy their home for a lifetime.
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For additional information please contact us at:
Barbara@accessibilityservices.net
702-469-6090
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