Lever A Share Of A Growing Market

Builders can take a share of more than £25m of Government-funded work by tapping into the needs of disabled people.

Figures from the Northern IrelandStatistics & Research Agencymaintain that almost two in everyfive households include at leastone person with a limitingdisability. The Housing Executivein 2010/11 spent almost £26m onhome adaptations, both on its ownproperties and via DisabledFacilities Grants in the privatesector. One of the most commonadaptations is improvement to thebathroom – be it fitting of grab railsby the toilet through to creation ofcomplete level access wetrooms,with a raft of options in between.Total Hygiene, the UK’s leadingprovider of disabled toiletingsolutions, is bringing builders aninnovative package to access ashare of the disabled market. Unlike most mainstream specialistequipment manufacturers, TotalHygiene has invested in giving theProvince a dedicated salesmanager, Andrew Smyth. Living inBelfast, Andrew is on hand toadvise on equipment, and to helpsurvey, design and supply aunique range of toileting aidsavailable from one source with 50years’ heritage. “We go to the toilet on averageeight times a day; it is cheaper forcare providers, and better for therecipient, to have aids to assistwith toileting than to send a carerin to help,” explains Andrew. Core to Total Hygiene’s range isthe Clos-o-Mat ‘wash and dry’toilet; looking like a traditional WC,it features integral douche anddrier, removing the need to wipeclean with toilet tissue, improvinghygiene for both user and carer,and delivering dignity andindependence to the user. Yet itcan equally be used as aconventional toilet by able-bodiedpeople. Uniquely, the Clos-o-Mat Palma isthe only toilet of its kind developedspecifically for disabled people. Itwas the first to achieve WRASapproval enabling legal connectionto the mains water supply. Total Hygiene also offers theAerolet Tilt and Aerolet Verticallifters, which are fitted securelyover either a conventionalpeninsular WC or a Clos-o-Matand replicate the natural motion ofstanding up and sitting down. The units gently raiseand lower the user toposition themaccurately over thetoilet as requiredwhilst enabling thefeet to remain incontact with the floorand maintaining thecentre of gravityabove the feet forbalance. The AeroletTilt is primarily designed for people with balance issues, enabling them to simply lean against the seat and hold the integral arm supports to operate the unit, whilst the Vertical is more appropriate for those with limited or no flexion in the hips and knees. After toileting, the Lift can beraised by degrees to ease accessfor cleansing. The Lift can beadjusted to individual leg lengthand degree of body stability, to aslow as 39.5cm (15 ½”), yet canaccommodate weights up to180kg (28 stone).

Full details of Total Hygiene’s range of disabled toileting solutions are available from Andrew Smyth, email him on Andrew.smyth@clos-o-mat.com call 07525 669485 or visit www.clos-o-mat.com