At Astor Bannerman, we don’t just provide accessible bathing equipment – we partner with families to deliver thoughtful, tailored solutions that meet their unique needs now and in the future. By combining our expertise with a personalised approach, we ensure that every project enhances comfort, safety, and independence for clients and carers alike.
In this case study, we share how we worked alongside a family and their team to create a future-proof accessible bathroom, transforming daily care and quality of life for a child with complex needs.
Accessible Bathing & Hoisting Background
An OT’s client, a 5-year-old with a brain injury from birth and Cerebral Palsy, required a more accessible and functional bathroom to accommodate his growing needs. The family faced challenges with their existing family bathroom, which was too small for wheelchair access and lacked suitable equipment for safe bathing, transfers, and daily care. The client’s parents were particularly concerned about maintaining safe manual handling practices as their son grows.
Project Goals and Requirements
- Provide a larger, height-adjustable bath to help with relaxation, muscle spasms, and sleep.
- Include a height-adjustable basin to support independence for tasks such as handwashing and teeth brushing.
- Install a hoist system to ensure safe and efficient transfers.
Project Process and Approach
The initial assessment highlighted significant space constraints in the original bathroom layout.
To ensure the equipment would meet the client’s long-term needs, the family made the decision to carry out extensive renovations to the upper floor of their home, including the bathroom and bedroom.
This included collaborating with an architect to design a space large enough to accommodate the Kiva Fusion bath, Aquba basin, and hoist system.
Astor Bannerman’s team, led by Business Development Manager Steven Wilson, worked closely with the architect and builders to:
- Provide CAD plans to optimise the bathroom layout.
- Ensure all equipment was installed seamlessly, with minimal disruption to the family.
- The installation process was completed smoothly, with no issues reported.
Solution and Equipment Provided
Astor Bannerman provided:
- Astor Kiva Fusion Bath: A height-adjustable bath offering a bathing, showering and changing option for the client while reducing strain on carers.
- Astor Aquba Washbasin: A height-adjustable basin allowing the client to maintain independence for personal hygiene tasks.
- Astor OT200 Ceiling Track Hoist: Installed for safe transfers between the bath, bed, and other equipment.
- Geberit AquaClean Toilet: Offering a safe way to wash and dry.
This combination of products has transformed the family’s daily care routine by improving accessible bathing, independence, and safety.
Challenges
The main challenge was the limited space in the original bathroom. The family overcame this by choosing to renovate the upper floor of their home, enabling the equipment to be installed in a layout that works now and for the future.
Outcome and Client Feedback
The results have exceeded expectations. The client now has a fully accessible, functional, and comfortable space that promotes relaxation, reduces muscle spasms, and supports better sleep. The equipment has also significantly improved the care experience for both the client and his parents.
The Neatfold stretcher on the Astor Kiva Fusion bath has been particularly transformative, with the client’s mother describing it as an “absolute godsend” for managing care tasks in one location. She expressed immense gratitude for the quality of the products and the support provided by Astor Bannerman throughout the project.
