Fittings
Baths and ceiling hoists: building dignity into design
Dave Hyde, project manager at Medaco, explains the importance of integrating fittings such as assisted baths and ceiling hoists into the earliest stages of care home design
As care homes evolve to meet the needs of a growing and ageing population, new build projects are setting higher standards for safety, accessibility, and wellbeing. Among the most transformative features in this new design landscape are assisted baths and ceiling hoist systems, technologies that shape not just how care is delivered, but how residents experience daily life. Thoughtfully integrated from the earliest
stages of design, these systems redefine comfort, safety, and dignity. Yet they demand careful coordination between architects, contractors, clinical teams, and specialist suppliers. When done right, the result is a home that truly supports its residents physically, emotionally, and practically.
A shift in care design thinking Modern care homes are moving away from institutional layouts and clinical aesthetics. The best new builds now resemble boutique hotels or contemporary apartments, with warm materials, generous space,
and domestic comfort. But beneath this homeliness lies an infrastructure designed for high levels of care – discreetly embedded systems that enable mobility and maintain dignity. For residents with limited mobility,
transfers between bed, chair, and bathroom are moments of vulnerability. These everyday movements carry risk – both for the individual and for carers. Ceiling hoists and assisted baths turn those challenges into safe, seamless experiences. They are no longer optional extras they are integral components of person-centred design. In the past, care home bathrooms were
often adapted after the fact, retrofitted with lifting equipment and reinforced fixtures. New builds today flip that logic – accessibility is planned from day one. Structural supports, room layouts, service routes, and ceiling fixings are designed with mobility in mind. This approach reduces future costs, prevents disruption, and ensures that every resident present or future
36
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com April 2026
can receive the care they need in a space designed for it.
The bath reimagined For decades, care homes treated the bath as a clinical necessity rather than a sensory experience. But as understanding of holistic wellbeing has deepened, the role of bathing has been redefined. Assisted baths are now seen as therapeutic tools places for relaxation, comfort, and dignity. Modern designs incorporate powered lifts,
reclining or height-adjustable basins, side- entry doors, and temperature-controlled fittings. These features allow residents of varying mobility to bathe independently or with minimal assistance, reducing the need for strenuous manual handling. The result is greater safety for carers and an enhanced sense of autonomy for residents.
The ceiling hoist revolution While the assisted bath restores comfort, the ceiling hoist restores independence. Ceiling
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47
