Equipment Information for Personal Care

Managing personal care such as bathing and toileting is an important part of daily life. The range of mobility and independence a person has will dictate the type of equipment they will need in order to help with their washing and toileting needs. It is important to remember when buying equipment or re-designing a bathroom for an individuals needs that consideration is given to other family members who may need to use the same room and to any carers that may be attending.

Staff at Disabled Living aim to help and give advice on products and equipment that may help make daily living both easier and safer.

The equipment centre staff have extensive knowledge of national and local suppliers of equipment and can offer practical advice and details of where to get most disability products.

Disabled Living has on loan from companies, 100's of different types of disability equipment.

If you wish to try the equipment and to speak at length with an Occupational Therapist about equipment suitable for your needs please telephone Disabled Living for an appointment on:

0161 214 5959

Or email a member of the Equipment Centre staff at: equipment@disabledliving.co.uk

In order for staff to give you the right information please include in your email the area where you live or work.

Types of Bathing Equipment.
If you have problems washing there are many types of equipment that can help make this easier.

Baths with doors
Showers
Bath boards
Bath seats
Bath lifts
Grab rails
Shower seats
Specialist bath hoist
Bath mats
Shower trolleys / stretchers
Changing tables
Washing aids-long handled wash aids
Hair washing trays
and many more

Re-designing a Bathroom.
Any bathroom layout must be thought about carefully. It is wise to think about the needs of the user in years to come-bathrooms are costly rooms to kit out and it could prove expensive to convert or add more items after only a few years. To avoid mistakes it would be wise to seek the advice of a professional such as an Occupational Therapist in the first instance. Also, take into consideration others that may need to use the room, such as other family members, as their needs may not be the same.

Types of Toileting Equipment.
Managing toileting needs is important to a persons well-being. It may be that some equipment is only needed for a short length of time whilst others will be needed more long term.

Toilet frames
Toilet seats: raised and padded
Toilet plinths
Commodes
Chemical toilets and accessories
Bidets
Commode and shower chairs
Toilet support systems
Specialist wash / dry toilets
Urinals and bedpans

What other equipment can help with personal care?
There may be reasons why people can not use baths and showers and they may be confined to bed for short or long periods of time. It is still possible to have a bath, wash your hair and attend to your toileting needs with confidence whilst in bed. Hair washing trays, long handled brushes, special nail clippers, angled and magnifying mirrors urinals and bedpans plus many more items can help.

Bear in Mind
Any equipment used must be suitable and safe for the person to use. Everyone will have different requirements and needs, so what may suit one person may be of little or no use to someone else.

Where to get Equipment from
There are now many high street shops that sell a vast range of equipment. But could you be buying something you are entitled to get from either the NHS or Local Social Services? The offer of equipment from these services is limited. So if you are in hospital ask to see the hospital Occupational Therapist, if you are at home, contact your local Town Hall for your nearest Social Services Department and if you are in residential care ask the Care Manager.

Second-hand Equipment.
Almost all equipment can be bought second-hand. This is a good way of saving money if the equipment is in good working order and is a fraction of the cost new. But, do be aware that second-hand goods will have a shorter life-span than new products. Also that warranties will probably have run out or may not be transferable to another owner.

ALWAYS CHECK
The second-hand goods you are buying are in a good state of repair
Check no removable parts are missing
Ask for the original instructions
Ask to see the equipment working
Ask about any contacts the seller may have that could service or repair the
equipment

But perhaps most important of all-don't buy something because it's cheap; buy it because it is safe and suitable for you to use.

Disabled Living advise that people obtain guidance from an Occupational Therapist or other such healthcare professional before purchasing disability equipment.

WiseBuy

Disabled Living WiseBuy leaflets offer practical help on disability equipment. To access the leaflets relating to this page click on the links below (the wisebuy leaflets can be opened using the latest version of Adobe Reader which is available free from the adobe web site).

Meet the Companies

Bathing Made Easy

Free impartial search and comparison website for walk-in baths, bath seats, showers, grab rails and other personal care products for older and disabled people from the Disabled Living Foundation.

Kingkraft
26D Orgreave Crescent
Dore House Industrial Estate
Sheffield
S13 9NQ

Kingkraft have been manufacturing specialist bathing equipment since 1984. The company is now established as one of the foremost suppliers in the assisted bathing market.

Total Hygiene / Clos-o-Mat
Bank House, 182-186 Washway Rd, Sale
Cheshire, M33 6RN

Total Hygiene manufactures, sells, installs and services the Clos-o-Mat automatic W.C.shower toilet combining functions of toilet and bidet with the addition of warm air drying.