The Adult Day Health program my husband attended had nicely accessible showers and staff to assist with showers. We have a walk-in tub at home and didn't need that service, but it was great for many program participants. I don't know if a shower-only program was available. It is an option worth check out in your area.
I would check with local nursing homes. I know the ones here also do daycare and would probably be willing to assist. They have whirl pool tubs and showers that make the job SOOO much easier!!
I got a shower chair for my mother that had an extension outside the shower. She could sit on the extension and then I would help her get her legs over the tub. This worked for the time that she was living with me.
Another tub option is a bench which fits across the back of the tub. She could sit down on the bench and then swing her legs around. If that doesn't work, there is always the gym or the YMCA...
Great bath chairs exist that swivel in n out of tub and raise up n down inside the tub. Not too cheap, but look pretty neat. Transfer benches r less expensive. Glad ur mom wants to take a shower! My mom was a daily bather all of her adult life-now she tries to claim she only bathed once a week! NOT!
Whay about maybe suggesting a bed bath ...plus depending on your area there are organizations thY hhave mobile bath aids that are pros with help the elderly in this area good luck and god bless
Another option, from time to time, is a foam that I found for my mom that doesn't need to be rinsed off. It can be used on the hair or the body. We found it at a really good local pharmacy, but I would think it could be found online. And I've found similar things at camping supply stores. I'll try to post the name of it when I find it out. It might not be what you want to use all the time, I'm not sure. But it might help during the in between times, or while you're trying to figure out a long-term solution.
FYI: A goodly number of elderly become hydrophobic as they age. I have yet to find someone who can give me a definitive reason. Is it fear of falling? Maybe a fear of being stuck in the tub and no one to help them out? Perhaps it's the lessening of the olfactory senses.....maybe they forget the importance of hygiene along with some of the other things they have forgotten how to do. This is just something to keep in mind when your loved one looks at you as though you have grown horns on your head when you say "bath time"!
On this topic. I had two drains installed in the bathroom floor. I put tile across the floor of our bathroom and better edging. I can actually shower her with the wand while she sits out of the tub in a chair. I also installed a bidet toilet to clean her bottom well. Now obviously it is a slipper mess when we are done, but the water goes down the drain. I mop up with the dirty clothes and the damp towel. It isn't too bad, and won't require a re-do remodel when she is gone.
I had the same problem after an injury though I am not elderly and with having tended to two elderly relatives, they too had the same problem. This is easy to fix. There is this product that is literally a step you can step on to help you get in the tub and to get out. I got them at Wal-mart. They hold up to 350 pounds and are very sturdy. Put one outside and one inside the tub (remove the inside one while showering or bathing then return it to get out) . Just visit www.walmart.com and look for bath aids or type in bath steps. They also sell some cool bath benches and everything can be shipped to you!
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