Bathroom bar & chair??

I took the glass door off the walk in shower. It's easier with just a shower curtain for me.

yes, put the bars in. I didn't and wish that I had.

I agree grab bars - step in the area yourself and see where you would grab if you lost your balance in any direction. I would be inclined to leave out the chair. If needed you can use your own that has adjustable height as his abilities to sit and stand from seated position may become compromised. Hospice brought in a shower chair that included a bar across the front for MIL as she lost much of her ability to support her torso without assistance. It also was wheeled so they were able to get her seated in the bedroom, roll her to the shower, dry, dress and roll back to bedroom without her needing to stand while she was a slippery wet noodle.

If you have the space and money, consider a wet room. If that's not doable, the next best option is a zero entry so he doesn't have to lift his feet should he develop the characteristic shuffling gait or need a wheeled chair.

Definitely get the bars for yourself as much as for him. If you slip and injure yourself in the shower, it could become a crisis situation.

I would skip the built in chair as it's better to be able to walk around him when assisting. A backrest might make him feel more secure. The aides as dad's MCF, used a commode chair with the bowl removed as this allowed them to get to the undercarriage.

You didn't ask but consider a heated bidet/washlet would be on my wish list for dementia care as well.

HB

Grab bars definitely. We didn’t put in a chair and glad we didn’t. We use one of those portable ones with adjustable height. It’s stable and easy to clean. It isn’t slippery like some tiles. You can also move it as needed. We have glass doors but only because that’s what we’ve always had.

Make sure the floor is no-slip.

Yes. I definitely will help

FYI, here is part of the VA potential modification option I am hoping to get. No service connection to his Cat. Dis. priority level, so it would be the minimum benefit level but that should at least get us a roll-in shower with curtain if needed for the small wet-room like zero threshold area I know would work for us. They show a "before" and "after" comparison which I have copied and pasted below. Nothing fancy but works for me. I agree there should be bars even if it is a roll-in shower, since I would be using it at times too, and do not want to slip. Sorry that the images I've copied and pasted today are so giant! I don't know how to change that.

I am posting this HISA information in case it is helpful for someone else. I just learned about this from our VA social worker after asking what was available to make our bathroom safer as he his strength is waning noticeably. Would have been nice to know about this a year or 2 ago, perhaps I could have gotten him acclimated to showering again but…whatever. Better late than never, I suppose. Click on the logo to view info about the VA HISA Structural Modifications program benefits.

Before VA-HISA modifications (above) and After (below)

we renovated the master bath before DH’s diagnosis but fortunately put in the safety things. Yes to grab bars. We have a long horizontal one and a short vertical one. No chair. Just started to need to go into the shower with DH. I’m using a bedside commode without the bucket in place. Works great. And we are able to put it in the position in the shower that works best and he can use the arms on the commode to push himself up. The shower can be used without a door or curtain as long as we’re careful with the handheld. And definitely have a handheld. I thought the one we have had a button to pause the water but I can’t make it work. Probably hard water deposits have clogged it. That is a feature I would like to have. Right now, I’m turning off the water and then have to fuss with adjusting the temp every time I turn it back on. Personally, I don’t like glass doors. I think they take up valuable space, making it more difficult to get in and out. But having no door or shower curtain makes the inside of the shower a little breezy and cool.

Even though I hate to waste water, I've started putting the water on to heat and then get ready so the water is hot and the room is a little steamy when I get back. That might help with his impatience.

Glad you brought up the bidet. I have thought of that if need be in the future. My DH still takes care of his own toileting, but when the day comes I think the bidet is a great idea.