Washing hands, shaving or for any task involving a basin may appear to be simple for many, but when the height of the basin restricts a person’s ability to use it, then the job can become very difficult.
This is particularly the case for disabled people, wheelchairs users and children, for whom the height of a wash basin is sometimes not user-friendly and can be difficult to use.
Believing that impaired mobility need not necessarily limit a person’s lifestyle, Caredesign, a division of Enware Australia , have introduced a vertically height adjustable wash basin to make its use easier for a person of any height or disability.
To prove their effectiveness in practice, three of these adjustable height wash basins have just been donated by Caredesign to Youngcare Australia, an organisation that have just completed the construction in Brisbane of modern apartments specifically designed to house young Australians with high care needs.
Currently, an estimated 6,500 young Australians with high care needs are living in aged care nursing homes. With no adequate alternatives available, Youngcare was formed to raise awareness and funds to provide care, apartments and holiday/respite housing that can accommodate the needs of these young people.
One of the major causes of young people needing high level care is acquired brain injury, often the result of a motor vehicle accident. In January 2007, Suncorp formed a partnership between Youngcare and Suncorp’s CTP (Compulsory Third Party) Insurance and conducted fundraising initiatives to help Youngcare raise the $4.5 million required for their first purpose-built apartments at Sinnamon Park, Queensland.
These apartments have facilities developed exclusively for the purpose of looking after young Australians who had previously been housed in nursing homes.
The three Caredesign basins have been mounted in different two-bedroom apartments fixed to the wall where they can have their height altered over a 350mm range in order to suit the need of individual users.
“It will be fabulous for the resident to have a tailor-made height vanity basin irrespective of their flatmate’s requirements,” says Youngcare Australia Director, Nick Bonifant.
“It will also make it more user friendly from a staff perspective,” he said, "because standing or leaning over basins for a long period of time can cause back problems for carers. However, with a basin that can have its height adjusted, they can now sit on a chair, improving occupational health and safety requirements.”
The durable, height-adjustable basin package allows for frequent adjustments with minimal effort. Its bracket employs a counterbalanced method of adjustment, operated via a simple hand control lever.
The basin is ideal for use in locations where many people share the wash basin.
The basins can be powered by electric motor, gas cylinder or manoeuvred manually and have been used in locations including hospitals, residential homes and also private homes where others besides people with disabilities use the bathroom.
Caredesign also offer adjustable height shampoo basins, cupboards and benchtops, as well as other independence-oriented bathroom care products. These include ergonomic toilet seats and support arms, wash and dry toilet for hands-free personal hygiene, ergonomic grab rails and shower curtain rails, shower chairs and seats.