It's depressingly common. One of the first things we did when we moved in was install a proper power shower. The flat I lived in for a year only had a mixer tap shower (unusually it worked quite well) and had no hook for it or shower curtain. I had to install these things myself (I didn't ask permission, but since I was actually improving their property they didn't complain).
Not at all! Although there did used to be that metal pole next to the bath that was useful for balance, but that went when we had the thing redone, sadly.
But anyway, this is a sort of adjustable step a couple of feet up the wall that the lady puts her foot on in order to shave her bits and bobs. It's a bit mysterious to me, but seems to work.