Hi I am in the process of doing up my home bathroom and although my recently diagnosed MS causes me no everyday issues at the moment I am thinking of the future and wonder if I should be thinking of a separate shower cubicle rather than a bath with shower ? Like I say currently have no problems getting in and out a bath just now but should I be future proofing while I’m spending the money or just do what I want just now and not think too far ahead? Any advice on what you would do or have done in a similar situation. Thanks!
go with a wet room, even a cubicle over time can be difficult to get into. wet room is the best option.
We don’t know what is coming (but neither does anyone else!).
After a diagnosis of MS we are forewarned that things may deteriorate faster than normal aging. With the advances in treatment over the last few years we can hope that the deterioration will be less and slower. Indeed I know a lady with MS in her eighties who is living in her own home.
In essence we are in a dilemma.
We were in the situation of wanting to downsize and our guiding principle was hope for the best but plan for the worse and we moved somewhere that has a wet room and wide doors (and has an on-site care team if needed for the future).
In your situation, I think I would go for a low threshold shower first and forego a bath if necessary. We had a stand-alone shower and never used the bath in our old house. This was put in many years before MS raised its head. There were a few days when I used the tip up seat, but it was there when I needed it.
Bathrooms were a big drawback when looking at properties as they are often very cramped.
Enjoy your new bathroom!
As he saw me out of the consulting room after my diagnosis, the neurologist quietly said ‘don’t go home and get the doors widened just yet’.
25 years on and he continues to be right, and while my MS has always been aggressive, there are very good drugs to keep a person well for a good long time. In your shoes, I would get exactly the bathroom that I damn well wanted.
It’s health and finances that I would try to future proof. I mean getting on the most effective treatment available and promptly switching up to something stronger if needed. I would also do my best to work for an employer with a good pension scheme that included good ill-health retirement provisions, and stick to them like glue.
Medication and finances are the biggies. Bathrooms can wait.
It wasn’t planned in anticipation of not being able to use a shower over bath but we have a shower cubicle- a bit short than bath length. We also have a bath and to be honest I don’t think it’s been used by anyone more than a handful of times in the last 10 years.
I would go for a low step shower cubicle and in case it ever gets to the point that you need/ prefer to sit then make the cubicle long enough to accommodate a shower chair