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Sorry I can't help with the financial side of things but a tub cut out rather than a whole conversion might be more within your budget. Another inexpensive option would be to use a transfer bench to get in and out of the tub. Don't forget to install a couple of grab bars also.
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Reply to cwillie
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You can call 211 and see what might be available in your area as far as any help, or go to FindHelp.org. and put in your zip code and find free or reduced cost resources for various things including financial assistance in your area.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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If you are a Veteran the VA does have programs that will help make adaptations to make your house safer so you can continue to lie at home.

You can check with your local Senior Service Center and ask if there are programs that might help.

Rather than making changes like that you could do a
Shower chair
Shower bench
Get a hand held shower wand to use, install grab bars. You can get ones that suctions on But they need to be checked each time as they can come lose but they will do until you can get permanent ones installed or if you are in a place where you can not make permanent changes they will be better than none.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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Call your County Office of Aging to see if they know of any programs. Habitate for Humanity maybe able to help. There are over the tub bars. https://tinyurl.com/edakmsxj

Grab bars... https://tinyurl.com/bddjt3fs

Sliding over the tub shower chair ... https://tinyurl.com/4556z4cb
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Reply to JoAnn29
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Some of those walk in showers have extra plumbing expenses such as a wider drain to accomodate a faster water evacuation. You might get cold waiting for the water to drain so that you can open the door. Most of those tubs also affect resale value to a home in a negative way.
If you end up in assisted care, all you would get is a shower chair and a grab bar.
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JoAnn29 Jul 15, 2024
I think you mean a walk in tub. OP is talking about a tub being converted to a shower.
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Ok, so when your roof goes, or there’s a tree you want to get rid of, or when you need a new furnace, do you expect the taxpayers or philanthropy to come help with this for free?

The younger population is beyond fed up with old people who actually have a house, a nice Medicare plan, a pension and ss. All of which are typical at your age, and are more than most of them will get. Do not count on help from the public.

If you sell this property you can live in IL.
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Reply to PeggySue2020
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lealonnie1 Jul 14, 2024
Ooooh, I have a tree that really should be removed. Who can I call to dig it up for free? I'm 67.
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There are a number of affordable benches that slide over the bath tub . Look on Amazon .
I think this is what most seniors do who cannot afford the tub to shower conversion .
At 86 , you may need to sell your home sooner rather than later anyway .
Having no bathtub in a home is a ding when trying to sell .
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Reply to waytomisery
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Example:
https://cleancutbath.com/
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Reply to elisny
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To Peggy Sue

You must have been born with a silver spoon in your mouth. My Mom as a widow, received $1700 a month. Her property taxes alone were 6k a year. Out of that 1700, 200 was the pension she received from Dads employer. She "just" lived on that money. The house suffered because she could not afford the repairs. You must not be a widow. Because, when a husband dies, who probably made the top money, you lose 1/3 of the SS you received every month. For me that would be close to 1k. Then the pension, the widow only gets a % of that pension, for Mom that was 40%. Thats if there is a pension, not everyone has one. Lots of Seniors are living pay to pay. They are physically able to stay in their homes and should be able to. Where I live, and its a small town, a 1 bedroom apartment is $1400 a month. Cheaper for me to stay in my paid off home for now.

Any grants given to fix up a house goes by income. I so hope that the rest of your life treats you well, no major illnesses or disasters where what money you have is used up and you have to wonder where the money is going to come from to pay your bills.
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Anxietynacy Jul 15, 2024
Joann , what about a reverse mortgage? I know very little about them so haven't suggested it to anyone.
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I would assume that elders who live in a rental with a bathtub would most likely need to use a sliding shower bench . I doubt a rental would allow the tub to be taken out .
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Reply to waytomisery
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Razkar, check with your bank to see if you can get a line-of-credit. That way you can make the change, but note the amount used on the line-of-credit would need to be repaid along with interest. One would need a good credit score to qualify.
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Reply to freqflyer
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Are you saying you don't have a shower head set-up existing where your tub currently is? If so, you need a plumber to come give you an estimate to install this part (and get a hand-held shower head that has the controls on the head itself).

If you have a shower set-up in your tub area, then HomeDepot sells bathtub-to-shower conversion kits and they can provide a handyman to come install it. They aren't Zero clearance, but it's better than stepping over a high edge. It usually only takes a few hours to do the conversion.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Cleancut-Medium-White-Step-Bathtub-Conversion-Kit-S-W-M/304971341

Otherwise, if you own the home you are living in (assuming you aren't in a rental) then consider taking out equity to pay for it.

Or maybe consider transitioning to a senior community where they have ADA compliant residences and a continuum of care levels so that you won't have to worry about it in the future.
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Reply to Geaton777
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Habitat for Humanity does modifications in my town. They do a lot of this kind of stuff (more than building houses.)
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