SAFE SHOWERING

How the bathroom area can be adapted to enable elderly and disabled people to shower independently and safely

CPD learning aims

• To understand how to design and specify a safe showering environment

• To have an appreciation of available solutions that can help elderly and disabled people to shower independently and safety

• To be aware about an unique wireless showering solution, specifically tailored for level access wetrooms, designed to minimise flooding

Mira overview

• Part of US Kohler Co. , one of the world leaders in bathroom design

• UK brands include Kohler, Mira Showers and Rada Controls

• Mira has been the market leader in UK showering for over 90 years

• Introduced the first thermostatic shower in 1937

• Mira design, make and assemble most of the products in the UK

• The company 100% test every single product before it leaves the factory

• Provide a comprehensive and unrivalled after sales service

Impey overview

• The UK's leading wetroom specialist

• Over 250,000 successful installations in the UK

• Lifetime Watertight Guarantee

• Full technical support and training programmes

• Dedicated research and development team

• Certified with Investor in People and to ISO 9001: 2008 and ISO 14001:2004

Whale overview

• Specialist in pumped shower drainage kits since 1995

• Over 200,000 kits installed throughout the UK

• Reliability backed by a 5 year warranty

• Nationwide service support network

• Dedicated Technical Helpline

Seminar overview

• This seminar explores ways in which the bathroom can be subtly adapted to enable elderly and disabled people to shower independently and safely

• It will include the key points to consider when designing a wetroom area and provide solutions to common difficulties

• The presentation will focus on an innovative and unique wetroom product – a shower which wirelessly communicates with a drainage pump. This provides a simple, tidy and reliable ‘anti-flood’ solution

Background

• Bathroom is the key area in the home where the elderly and disabled have most difficulties

• Trend towards showering – almost 90% UK homes have a shower - more people are replacing bath with a shower enclosure / wetroom area

• Care in the community – increasing number of people want to remain in their own home

• Over 75% of people age 65+ own their own home – and have highest % of disposable income

• Cost is often not the first consideration

Over three quarters of a million people aged 65+ need specially adapted accommodation because of a medical condition or disability.

145,000 of them report living in homes that do not meet their needs (DCLG)

Stylish designs

• Increasing demand for stylish (not institutional) designs

• People want to add to value to their home

• Potential requirement to fit in with the needs of other family members

• People do not want to be reminded that they are getting older

Key considerations

• Product features that help with the elderly or disabled person’s ability to shower independently and safely

– Help with motor problems – grip and mobility

– Help with sensory problems – visual impairments

– Help with cognitive problems – Dementia and Alzheimer's

• The correct positioning of the shower products so that they can be used to their best advantage

• The importance of temperature control and safety features that will prevent the risk of scalding

• Practical installation / maintenance features

Help with motor problems

• Shower products that are easy to operate are important to people with restricted use of their hands / limited hand grip

• An estimated 9 million people in the UK suffer from arthritis (Arthritis UK)

Easy to operate showers

• Important shower control features to consider

– Large push button to operate start / stop function

– Separate temperature and flow controls

– Lever designs for easier grip

• Important shower fittings features to consider

– One handed easy adjustment of handset up / down slide bar

– Lever on handset to alter spray patterns

Easy to operate enclosure doors

• Shower doors designed to be easy to open and close

• Smooth operation with air assisted hinges

Easy to use lever lifts door clear of the floor

Gentle push secures door in position

Help with mobility problems

• Safe surfaces are important for people with mobility difficulties

• Around one in three people age 65 or over fall each year, and one in two over the age of 80 (NHS Confederation)

• Due to the multitude of unforgiving and slippery surfaces, an estimated 75% of these falls are in the bathroom

Level access tray with slip resistant surface

Secure shower seat

Easy grip support rail

Level access trays

• Provide 35mm low or level access for easy entry into the showering area

• Slip resistant tread pattern can help avoid falls on wet surfaces

• Anti-trip sloping ramp around entire perimeter provides easy access

• Wheelchair accessible

Shower seats

• Assist elderly and disabled people who require seating during showering

• Must be positioned at correct height and be robust enough to withstand weight of the user

Fold down seat with padded arms Slim fold down seat

Slim shower bench

Wetroom support rails

• Helps stability for disabled and elderly people in a wetroom environment

• Must be positioned at correct height to ensure user reach

Square profile

Fluted

Fold down Polished stainless steel

Help with sensory problems

• 13% of people aged 65+ have difficulties with their eyesight (ONS)

• Important shower control features to consider:

– Audible bleeps

– Large, colour contrasting rotary controls

– Raised area to aid navigation

– LED backlit flow and on/off buttons

– Audible click on temperature lever

– Colour contrasting panel to aid navigation

• Important shower accessory features to consider:

– Support rail in colour contrasting design

Help with cognitive problems

• Dementia is one of the main causes of disability in later life, ahead of some cancers, cardiovascular disease and strokes (Dept of Health)

• It affects 1 person in 6 over 80 and one in three over 95 (Alzheimer's Society)

• Important shower features to consider:

– Intuitive use of product interfaces

– Pre set temperature and flow

– Maximum temperature setting

– Automatic pumped drainage –reduced risk of flooding

Product positioning

• Important considerations for elderly and disabled people that have restricted bending and reach

– Reach to shower unit and showerhead

– Wall mounted shower seat / support rails positioned at correct height

– Open out shower enclosure doors offer wider access

– Longer length slide bar and hose for greater flexibility

Safety and comfort

• Scalding accidents result in almost 30 deaths and over 200 scalding accidents in UK bathrooms every year (BMA)

• Important shower control features to consider:

– Thermostatic temperature control for added safety

– Adjustable maximum temperature settings – if temperature ever goes above pre-set level, the shower turns off automatically

– Phased shutdown – gradually flushes hot water from the tank after shutdown, making it safer for the next user and less prone to limescale damage

Temperature control

• A temperature of just 51°C will burn the average adult in 2-6 minutes, and even faster with elderly adults and children who have thinner skin

• Electric showers with BEAB Care Mark approval can provide stable outlet water temperatures under normal supply variations.

• In addition they can protect from scalding under rapid and abnormal supply variations, without adjustment by the user

• The TMV Scheme certifies Type 2 thermostatic mixing valves for the domestic market and promotes the safe use of hot water in domestic premises. TMV2 approval uses BS EN 1111 and 1287 as a basis for the thermostatic valves performance tests

Other practical considerations

• Installation

– Is the shower compatible with the existing plumbing system

– Is there adequate electrical supply provision for the electric shower

– Are there any limitations regarding cold mains water supply pressure

– Floor construction – where gravity drainage is not an option pumped shower drainage is required to achieve level access

• Maintenance

– How easy is it to clean

– What is the cost of running the shower system

– Does it need regular servicing

– What happens if it stops working

– What is the guarantee period

– Are replacement parts readily available

Summary

• The inclusive bathroom consists of a number of key elements

• It is important not to just concentrate on the main problem that is causing difficulties

• Each element can make a difference to how a person can perform everyday showering unaided, for example

– Level access shower tray that is safe and accessible

– Shower enclosure that is simple to open/close and enter

– Easy to operate shower control, positioned at the appropriate height

– Secure and comfortable shower seat

– The correct type and position of support rails

UNIQUE WETROOM INNOVATION

A wireless connected electric shower and digital waste pump system

Why wireless pumped drainage?

• For level access wetrooms where gravity drainage is not an option

• Particularly suitable for elderly and disabled people with cognitive problems

• Automatic operation – works with the shower

• Fail-safe automatic shutdown to prevent risk of flooding

• No wires to cause concern of potential connection failures

How it works

1. Internal flow sensor in electric shower measures the flow rate going to the shower head

2. The flow rate information is sent wirelessly to the digital pump transformer

4. Matching the pump speed to the shower flow rate ensures that gulley suction noise is minimised

There is no set-up necessary – gives ‘plug and play’ operation

3. The transformer alters the speed of the pump to match the shower flow rate

System features and benefits

• Low noise – pump operates to flow rate of shower minimising noise

• Proven pump reliability with 5 year warranty

• User helpline for Technical Support

• Network of trained engineers covering the UK

Industry leading electric shower

• Inclusively designed for elderly and disabled

• Widely approved – RNIB, BEAB Care, WRAS

• Delivers thermostatic temperature stability

• Adjustable maximum temperature settings

• Extra long slide bar and shower hose for added flexibility

• Friction clamp bracket – can be adjusted with one hand

• Easy grip lever control

• Push button start / stop

• Large, colour contrasted controls

• Phased shutdown for added safety

• 9.0kW power rating

• 2 year guarantee

Wireless digital waste pump system

• Robust performance - all shower waste passes freely through pump

• Maintenance free - no pump filter is required, no internal cleaning

• Practical design - valve integral to pump prevents odours escaping

• Quiet performance - includes quiet wet floor gulley and pump matches flow rate of shower to reduce pumping noise

• Pumped gulley designed to prevent blockages

• Includes patented diagnostic system

Simple operation

Installer benefits

• No physical link up between the shower unit and the pump

• No trunking or conduits – ensures a tidier finish

• Simple to set up – units register in less than 30 seconds

• Flexibility – signal range up to 5 metres

User benefits• Quiet operation - pump speed matches the shower flow rate - ensures

suction noise is limited

• No interference with other wireless devices - unique serial number between the shower and pump

• Built-in memory – in the event of a power cut the shower and pump remain registered once power is restored

• 5 year warranty – digital pump

• Nationwide service support

Summary of key learning

• Understand the key considerations to be taken into account when specifying showering adaptations for the elderly and disabled

• Recognise the suitability of different products for different customer requirements

• Be aware of the benefits of a wireless pumped drainage system in the wetroom area and understand how it works

Contact details

• Kohler Mira Ltd., Cromwell Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 5EP Telephone: 0844 571 5000 Web: www.mirashowers.co.uk

• Impey Showers Ltd., Conquest Business Park, Ilton, Somerset, TA19 9EA Telephone: 01460 256 080 Web: www.impeyshowers.com

• Whale Pumps Ltd., 2 Enterprise Road, Bangor, Co. Down, BT19 7TA

Telephone: 0845 069 4253 Web: www.whalepumps.com