Patrick's Story
AGE
64
WASHINGTON
D.C.
RETIRED U.S.
DIPLOMAT
After purchasing a new home, Patrick began planning ahead so he could comfortably live there for years to come. Struggling with diabetes and balance issues, one of the first updates he made was replacing his traditional bathtub.
After a fulfilling career of travel as a foreign service officer, Patrick was ready to retire and settle into his forever home.
He spent more than 30 years traveling the world and serving in places like Japan, Brazil, Korea and beyond. At 64, he decided it was time to put down roots and create a home in Washington, D.C. Patrick and his husband purchased a townhouse and began making arrangements so they could comfortably age in place. Patrick knew he would need a safe and secure walk-in tub in the next 10 or so years, as he “eased into retirement and into more limited mobility,” he says.
“I’ve got balance problems and diabetes, so I was dealing with medical issues that made it a real pain to get into a regular tub,” Patrick explains. “We had the usual low tub in the bathroom, but it was utterly useless. Up until now, taking a bath was one of the more dangerous things I could do in my house.”
He shopped around for a walk-in tub, searching for the best features. Out of all the brands he explored, Patrick appreciated Kohler’s transparency during the quote and consultation process. He also liked Kohler’s easy, start-to-finish approach; not all brands included installation, he says.
The Kohler-certified specialists were able to complete the installation in one day and with minimal hassle, he recalls. “By the time they were gone, that thing looked like it had been there for forever.”
Now, he takes advantage of every feature of the bath with each soak.
“You take a bath and you’re up to your chest in nice hot water,” he says. “You have the massage action on the backs of your legs and on your feet, and then the warm seat and back so that you can rest comfortably while the tub is filling and emptying.”
"It’s like the bath that goes on for days. Like a day at the beach with the waves going in and out.”
Even though he calls himself a “shower guy,” Patrick enjoys the new bathing experience he gets from his KOHLER® Walk-In Bath. “It’s like the bath that goes on for days,” Patrick says. “Like a day at the beach with the waves going in and out. It’s absolutely the best way to get good night’s sleep, too.”
His favorite part of the walk-in bath are the hydrotherapy jets that massage stress points along his body. “Kohler figured it out,” he says. “Back of the legs, bottoms of the feet, the small of the back and then up the spine—you’ve got them in all the right places.”
Even more valuable than the massaging jets, though, is the safety Patrick now feels when he steps inside the walk-in bath. His concerns about falling or slipping are now replaced by enjoyment and relaxation with every use. He regrets only one thing:
“We were saying to ourselves, ‘Why didn’t we think of this before?’”
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