You are an angel without wings. Alzheimer's Disease is only tolerable when you accept her reality, with a humor (my grandma thought all men were dentists, hee-hee). As your mom kind of moves backward through her past, perhaps your style clue is her lipstick...Hollywood style perhaps? ;-)

Everything will be coral color ! Great insight into her personality!

Often Alzheimer patients are fearfull of water as my mother was. When you install a showerhead be sure one part can be held in your hand so you can control the direction of the water. Best wishes on your journey.

I would suggest putting a seat or bench into the shower so your Mom can be comfortable while showering. My Grandmother was scared to death of the shower (born in 1899, showers not invented then!) until my Aunt put a bench in it for her to sit on. Make sure everything she needs is at a low enough level for her to reach unassisted, perhaps a pretty plastic basket to hold her shampoo, soap, etc.

Here's an ideabook on safety, and one on universal design: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/bathroom-safety-features-that-support-your-style-stsetivw-vs~1061289 https://www.houzz.com/magazine/how-to-design-an-accessible-shower-stsetivw-vs~4492518

I would suggest going to the National Association of Remodeling's (NARI) website and search for a remodeler in your area who is certified as a Universal Design Certified Professional (UDCP).

www.nari.org

I would steal the space from one of the closets to give yourself as much room as possible. You will need it as time progresses and you need to assist your mother even more. From the pictures the space is small so you can do things, such as the wetroom pictured above, that removes barriers and creates more usable space.

National Association of Home Builders (nahb.org) also has listings of remodelers in your area that are Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS) that can assist.

I think you've gotten some great advice so far and a CAPS specialist could definitely help. Some medical supply places also make house calls. I agree with a low curb or curbless shower (you can look into collapsable thresholds which are vinyl and give when you step on them but then pop back up to hold water) a seat and handheld sprayer, lots of grab bars, a wall hung or floating vanity that a wheelchair or regular chair could go up to. I love your idea of coral but keep in mind bright colors can be disorienting so maybe a softer shade she would enjoy and would keep with that girly feel. Also a comfort height toilet and perhaps a heighted seat (they come as thick as 8") or even a bidet seat for some dignity in cleaning oneself.


Bless you as you walk your mom through this journey.

Thank you all very much. It is my pleasure to do this and I do it from the heart, if the shoe was on the other foot I know she would have taken care of me :)
There is no insurance to go through.

I absolutely plan on hand held shower and a softer flo shower head for her.
I like the floting toilet and if I can afford it would like the tankless toilet to give her more room, sink should also be floating thinking ahead great idea.

The bidet seat is a must on my list.
I love the wooden bench in shower concept it is much warmer in feel.
I need some sugestions for non slip flooring that has a style to it, if its not pretty she will not use it.
Coral color is out for sure..... that was just a coment about her lipstick color which by the way she makes her care givers wear too :) She loves anything turquoise so that is the color I was thinking of looking into, a sofe tone. Boy did I learn fast how color effects her!

I apreciate the coments and please keep giving me the sugestions.

I have such a stupid low budget not even funny.

If the budget is that tight, perhaps you don't need to gut the room. Depending on what your current shower is made of, and if things can be reinforced, the folding wooden shower seat just screws into the wall, grab bars can be added and a diverter can be used on the showerhead to feed a handheld. Changing the toilet and adding the bidet seat and a fresh coat of paint may be enough for you. If you are going foward with the whole room, when you are tile shopping, look for the little wheelchair/ada symbol which should have a nice slip resistance to it. In the shower area a mosaic with lots of grout will help give traction. You may also want to put down some additional rubber mats and make sure there's always somewhere to sit.

Also a single lever style faucet, easy on older hands and you can adjust temp with one hand and still have a hand free for her.

Coral and turquoise, a woman after my own heart. :)
Be sure to look into medicare, sometimes they help with medical supplies.



http://https://www.houzz.com/photos/braircliffbathroom7-traditional-bathroom-new-york-phvw-vp~1093997