A bath or a shower

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by david alan moore on February 16, 2010 at 11:49am

Hi Hank, your suggestion on fitting a special tap unit for a shower could be one way of solveing
the problem, but i found it was hard to get the presure right, as the cold water presure was stronger
than the hot water presure, and with elderly resident this could be a problem, as they could scold
themselfs,or get a shock with the cold water, i am lucky as the flat i have moved into has a walk in
shower. where the flal i moved from did not have this.
David Moore.

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Permalink Reply by Cowboy on February 16, 2010 at 12:24pm

David - I wonder if they do one with a thermostat ? The only thing is, the costs will rise. I was lucky with mine as it was easy to balance but I know some are difficult because of the water pressures. Perhaps someone on the site has an answer to this. --- Hank.

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Permalink Reply by Margaret Goodwin on February 16, 2010 at 2:55pm

The problem with the shower taps is that the hot water tank is on the same level as the bath so there is virtually no pressure by gravity as there is no header tank in the loft.....well, that's what I was told when I attempted to have a shower/tap unit fitted. I applied to Hanover to fit an electric over bath shower unit and they messed me about for months, finally a charity called Anchor-stay put stepped in and installed it for me.
I suggest you ask your EM about the kitchen/bathroom renewal initiative, which is being considered at the moment, before you spend any of your own money. - Marg

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Permalink Reply by Margaret Goodwin on February 16, 2010 at 3:16pm

There is a bath hoist available on For Sale or Free Group

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Permalink Reply by Cowboy on February 16, 2010 at 4:01pm

David I didn't mean the rubber push on type of shower. Mine was a metal unit that replaced the taps.
The hot water here comes direct from a central boiler and it comes with as much pressure as the cold. The heating of the water must be controlled at the boiler as we have been warned that the temperature level has been set high to avoid Legionnaires disease. I admit I'm a bit out of my depth on this subject but I thought this disease only formed in large tanks. At the previous place the hot water pressure was good but I know there was a backup system with a tank in the flat and an immersion heater - but the hot water came from a central boiler under normal conditions.
How is your hot water delivered ? Do you have a pump to supply it to the flats ? Our shower units are electric working off the main water supply. --- Hank

david alan moore said:

Hi cowboy, i have already looked into this, but speaking to other residents on this
subject they also suffer with the problem of trying to get the right presure between
the hot and cold water,for the shower head, i must admit i have not heard of a
Themostat for rubber suctions fitted to the taps, perhaps someone on HW have
heared of this type of thermostat, if so could they please let me know, and i will
inform the residents who would be intrested in having this type of shower unit
fitted.
David Moore.

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Permalink Reply by Cowboy on February 16, 2010 at 4:27pm

Margaret - Roy jumped the gun on this Kitchen/Bathroom suggestion and I have emailed him to explain that it is as far as I know an experiment at certain centres. I've not said a lot because it is a trial. I do pre-reading for In Touch and Hanover as do other volunteers and I read the full proposed literature and I thought it was a good idea if people wanted it.
I'm a bit sad today as my mate across the hall has just died but she was 100 years old and had all her mental faculties.
Her kitchen was immaculate because she moved in when the flats were built and she looked after the place - unlike the previous couple who lived in mine. You see it isn't a get out for Hanover as was suggested as the the units will be changed when it is their time. --- Hank

Margaret Goodwin said:

The problem with the shower taps is that the hot water tank is on the same level as the bath so there is virtually no pressure by gravity as there is no header tank in the loft.....well, that's what I was told when I attempted to have a shower/tap unit fitted. I applied to Hanover to fit an electric over bath shower unit and they messed me about for months, finally a charity called Anchor-stay put stepped in and installed it for me.
I suggest you ask your EM about the kitchen/bathroom renewal initiative, which is being considered at the moment, before you spend any of your own money. - Marg

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Permalink Reply by Margaret Goodwin on February 16, 2010 at 4:52pm

Hi David - a pump to 'push' the water would probably cost as much as a shower unit. The electric shower I have is fed by the mains cold water supply, which has very good pressure here, and is fitted with an anti-scald device. I also have a Merlin bath bench and the combination has proved to be a blessing whilst I have had my broken ankle. Do make enquiries about the Anchor charity, I am sure they would help you if they could. - Marg

david alan moore said:

Hi Margaret, thanks for your comments on shower problems, you are right about the hot water tank
is on the same level as the bathroom, the hot water has some way to travel befor it comes out of the
tap, what would help is if some sort of electric motort could be fitted to push the hot water through the
pipes, but alas knowing Hanover im sure if i put this to them, they would say it would cost to much
money, to install to each flat.
David.

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Permalink Reply by Cowboy on February 17, 2010 at 11:21pm

I've just remembered in my previous flat [Warden Housing] we did have a pump fitted near the hot water tank but I cant remember the process as it wasn't pupping until the water started flowing. --- Hank

Margaret Goodwin said:

Hi David - a pump to 'push' the water would probably cost as much as a shower unit. The electric shower I have is fed by the mains cold water supply, which has very good pressure here, and is fitted with an anti-scald device. I also have a Merlin bath bench and the combination has proved to be a blessing whilst I have had my broken ankle. Do make enquiries about the Anchor charity, I am sure they would help you if they could. - Marg

david alan moore said:

Hi Margaret, thanks for your comments on shower problems, you are right about the hot water tank
is on the same level as the bathroom, the hot water has some way to travel befor it comes out of the
tap, what would help is if some sort of electric motort could be fitted to push the hot water through the
pipes, but alas knowing Hanover im sure if i put this to them, they would say it would cost to much
money, to install to each flat.
David.

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Permalink Reply by Cowboy on March 25, 2010 at 8:46am

Hello Sue - I hope John P replies to this because he is more knowledgeable on these things. I have a shower which was already installed when I moved in. I think I'm correct in saying that Housing Associations are not obliged to fit showers if a person has problems with getting in and out of the bath. It is the old story that people who didn't save for their later years get grants but others have to pay for things they need. In our flats we don't have a shower tray we have a shaped floor so that the water is directed towards the drain. This works. When I had a hip replacement I was given a seat that fitted over the top of the bath and this way I could sit on the seat and swing my legs over the bath, and getting out was the same but in the opposite direction.
Margaret on this site received a grant from an organization. I will contact them both and see what they have to say. --- Hank

Sue Thomas said:

Hi,

On behalf of one of my neighbours, I would appreciate your advice for her.

She paid for an Electric over the bath shower to be installed, which between piping and electrical work was not cheap, as she was unable to sit in the bath and then get out. She didn't qualify for a disabled facilities grant hence the reason she paid to have this shower installed.

She has just had a hip replacement and finds great difficulty in getting into and out of the bath to use the shower and is having to use a plastic step to get in and her husband helps her to get out onto the step ( health and safety would definitely not agree on that !)

She has asked our EM if Hanover would remove the bath and install a shower tray, and the answer from the EM was NO.

There seems to be rules for one and not the other on our Estate, and I would value any input from other Hanover residents regarding this. I have told my neighbour to pursue it as not only this neighbour, lots of our residents seem to be paying for their own improvements and general repairs as its only the 'chosen few' get work done by Hanovers Contractors.

Regards,

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Permalink Reply by John E Pallister on March 25, 2010 at 10:43am

Hi,
Firstly. those worried about legionaires desease should look here:



http://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/whatis.htm

Secondly, It would appear that in modern heating systems, because they are classed as a 'sealed system' the landlord has a duty to check for the legionaires on a regular basis.

Thirdly, Because the water preasure system varies so much from area to another, any advice on fitting a shower would have to made by a plumber or heating system engineer.

I hope this helps.

Cheers

John

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Permalink Reply by Margaret Goodwin on March 26, 2010 at 12:03pm

Hi Sue - If she was not eligible for a grant I'm afraid the organisation which helped me may not be able to assist but they are called Anchor Stay Put and are a registered charity. To get a grant you have to be literally 'broke' - which is, of course, the point of it - so you only have to be a few pounds over the basic pension and that cuts you out.

May I suggest that your neighbour tries a bench seat on her bath? This enables one to sit down then lift the legs in - a bit safer than climbing on a step, I think. My bench seat is called a Merlin seat and is fantastic! If her condition is temporary these can be borrowed from the Red Cross for quite a few months at a time - but tell her to contact her doctor's surgery as they sometimes have access to a local supply - which might be quicker for her.

It's very kind of you to help, I hope your neighbour is soon more mobile.
Good luck with your enquiries, let us know what happens. - Margaret

Sue Thomas said:

Hi,

On behalf of one of my neighbours, I would appreciate your advice for her.

She paid for an Electric over the bath shower to be installed, which between piping and electrical work was not cheap, as she was unable to sit in the bath and then get out. She didn't qualify for a disabled facilities grant hence the reason she paid to have this shower installed.

She has just had a hip replacement and finds great difficulty in getting into and out of the bath to use the shower and is having to use a plastic step to get in and her husband helps her to get out onto the step ( health and safety would definitely not agree on that !)

She has asked our EM if Hanover would remove the bath and install a shower tray, and the answer from the EM was NO.

There seems to be rules for one and not the other on our Estate, and I would value any input from other Hanover residents regarding this. I have told my neighbour to pursue it as not only this neighbour, lots of our residents seem to be paying for their own improvements and general repairs as its only the 'chosen few' get work done by Hanovers Contractors.

Regards,

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Permalink Reply by Cowboy on March 26, 2010 at 12:32pm

Sue that seat that Margaret mentioned sounds like the one I used and it was good and simple. --- Hank

Margaret Goodwin said:

Hi Sue - If she was not eligible for a grant I'm afraid the organisation which helped me may not be able to assist but they are called Anchor Stay Put and are a registered charity. To get a grant you have to be literally 'broke' - which is, of course, the point of it - so you only have to be a few pounds over the basic pension and that cuts you out.

May I suggest that your neighbour tries a bench seat on her bath? This enables one to sit down then lift the legs in - a bit safer than climbing on a step, I think. My bench seat is called a Merlin seat and is fantastic! If her condition is temporary these can be borrowed from the Red Cross for quite a few months at a time - but tell her to contact her doctor's surgery as they sometimes have access to a local supply - which might be quicker for her.

It's very kind of you to help, I hope your neighbour is soon more mobile.
Good luck with your enquiries, let us know what happens. - Margaret

Sue Thomas said:

Hi,

On behalf of one of my neighbours, I would appreciate your advice for her.

She paid for an Electric over the bath shower to be installed, which between piping and electrical work was not cheap, as she was unable to sit in the bath and then get out. She didn't qualify for a disabled facilities grant hence the reason she paid to have this shower installed.

She has just had a hip replacement and finds great difficulty in getting into and out of the bath to use the shower and is having to use a plastic step to get in and her husband helps her to get out onto the step ( health and safety would definitely not agree on that !)

She has asked our EM if Hanover would remove the bath and install a shower tray, and the answer from the EM was NO.

There seems to be rules for one and not the other on our Estate, and I would value any input from other Hanover residents regarding this. I have told my neighbour to pursue it as not only this neighbour, lots of our residents seem to be paying for their own improvements and general repairs as its only the 'chosen few' get work done by Hanovers Contractors.

Regards,

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