How custom showers give seniors more autonomy at home
As Quebec’s population ages, living arrangements for seniors are a prevalent concern. It is said to cost twice as much to provide care in a retirement home as it does in a personal residence. Meantime, studies show that most seniors would prefer to continue living in their homes and communities, even while struggling with limited mobility and a range of age-related issues. That’s why many companies are now involved in developing products and services to help seniors live safer, more independent lives at home. Bain Magique has been a familyowned business in Montreal since 1984, with the Cotton brothers coming up with the idea of installing thermo-formed acrylic bathtub liners over outdated tubs. These custom-made acrylic bathtub liners quickly proved to be an extremely cost-effective and timesaving solution for commercial properties like hotels to update their worn-out tubs. “The liner allows you to update your bathtub easily,” said Bain Magique branch manager Allison MacDougall. “So you don’t have to stare at an avocado-green bathtub anymore, without having to rip everything out of your bathroom.” Around 10 years ago, Bain Magique started getting requests from people who wanted to remove their bathtub completely, and convert it to a shower. “Converting your tub to a shower creates a large space that is easy to get in and out of,” said MacDougall, who pointed out that many new homes are now being built without tubs. “It’s a great option for people who want to stay in their home longer, or just can’t get in and out of their tub easily anymore because of mobility issues.” The tub-to-shower conversion works like a bathtub remodel, but instead of installing an acrylic liner over the old tub, the process removes it completely. A new shower base is installed along with a onepiece, seamless acrylic wall. “The first thing we do is a free inhome consultation,” MacDougall explained. “After going over all of the options — like the colour and style of shower bases, walls, wainscotting, shower doors and accessories — the order is sent to our St-Eustache plant, where all of our acrylic products are custom manufactured.” Bain Magique also offers a range of safety accessories, including smooth or textured grab bars, and fixed or fold-down shower seats. The Bain Magique team manages all parts of the process, and the new shower can be installed in as little as one day. “The biggest concern for most of our clients is getting in and out of the tub,” MacDougall said. “A bathtub can be anywhere from 14 to 18 inches high, which can be really difficult to step over, depending on your mobility issues. A shower entrance can be made to measure anywhere from six to zero inches, for people who need it to be wheelchairaccessible.” Since converting a tub into a shower can mean the difference between living at home safely versus living in a nursing home, it’s not surprising that more people are investing in tub-to-shower conversions. In an effort to help with the process, the provincial government offers a tax credit for home-support services for seniors who are 70 years of age or older. Like the tub-to-shower conversion itself, the tax credit exists to make it possible for Quebec’s aging population to remain at home longer. For more information, visit bainmagique.com.