Care home interiors
Straightforward dementia- friendly bathroom design
Stuart Reynolds, head of product and marketing of accessible bathrooms supplier AKW, discusses how - by following some basic guidelines - it is possible to create dementia-friendly bathrooms that promote both dignity and safety, using a person-centric approach to design
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, 70 per cent of people in care homes have dementia or severe memory problems in the UK.1
There are a variety
of issues for those with the condition, including memory loss, ‘fuzzy’ thoughts, disorientation, struggling to follow conversations or instructions and mood and personality changes. The bathroom is one of the most challenging and dangerous places for a person with dementia. This is because dementia can cause someone’s perception of danger to steadily diminish, making the bathroom a dangerous and confusing place. Not surprisingly, people with dementia are twice as likely to fall and these falls result in significantly higher mortality rates than for others in the same age group. In the standard bathroom layout,
hazards are numerous and include trip points, slippery floors, hot water and confusing layouts. For those with dementia, the bathroom can become a challenging and sometimes frightening place that can cause upset, frustration and a reluctance to use it. High surveillance is needed when
those with dementia use the bathroom in
particular, however it is possible to create ‘dementia-friendly bathrooms’ - using a person-centric approach to design - that are safer for residents and support the requirements of carers. Below are the eight major dementia challenges that can be overcome with good design.
1. Protection against scalding Someone with dementia may progressively lose safety awareness and, as a result, they will become more vulnerable to scalding. TMV3- rated thermostatic mixer taps and temperature restricted showers have to be used in care homes as part of the present Health and Safety Executive requirements, but also consider including low surface temperature (LST) radiators or under-floor heating. In addition, exposed pipework exposed needs to be covered, as this can get extremely hot.
2. Fall protection According to research by the World Health Organisation, people with dementia are twice as likely to fall as others in their age group and have three times greater mortality rate three
months later as a result.2 Key things to remember for those with
dementia when laying out a bathroom is the need to avoid sharp edges on any products installed and avoid the use of floor-standing furniture. In addition, look to replace any baths with level access showers to reduce trip hazards and include a shower seat to reduce the likelihood of falling when showering. Finally, choose shower curtains with a
breathable fabric to prevent suffocation if the person with dementia becomes entangled or consider choosing PET plastic shower screens, such as AKW’s Silverdale screen panels - rather than glass ones - to mitigate injury risk in the event of a fall.
3. General confusion For a minority of people with dementia, the reflection of their own face in a glass shower screen or mirror can frighten them and may lead them to believe another person is using the bathroom. Therefore, although it is important to include a mirror in a bathroom, it must be capable of being covered. Ideally, this can be achieved by fitting a roller blind or similar over the mirror.
October 2021 •
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
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