Taking a holistic approach to a child’s needs is improving not only his quality of life, but that of his whole family…
Sebastian Parkhouse, aged 8, has spastic quadriplegia, cerebral palsy and learning difficulties with global development delay. He bottom-shuffles everywhere, and is unable to undertake basic personal hygiene, having to wear pads. But a holistic approach to his needs by Amanda Foy of the North High Peak & Derbyshire Dales Children’s Disability Team is making, she believes, a massive improvement to his – and his family’s – life.
Sebastian’s school already had a Closomat ‘wash and dry’ toilet installed, which Sebastian is being rewarded for using, using pivotal transfer to/from his wheelchair. Looking to the long-term future, Amanda has arranged installation of his own Closomat Palma, with arm supports, as part of a home adaptation.
The Closomat Palma – a WC that incorporates integral douching and drying – sits as low as 410mm as standard, facilitating access and use by children and/or from a wheelchair. Looking just like a conventional toilet, it can be used as such, but has the optional ability, by simple hand or body pressing of the flush lever, to cleanse the user via the douche and drier, without the need for wiping with toilet paper. The adaptation removes the need for Sebastian to share an upstairs bedroom with his brother. Created from the family’s dining room and adjoining workshop, which was used by Sebastian’s father before his death from pancreatic cancer in 2004, the adaptation gives Sebastian a safe space of his own, complete with low level bed, soft area, wetfloor bathroom and the Closomat toilet.
“We have tried hard to take a holistic approach to Sebastian’s needs, now and in the future,” explains Amanda. “Even before it was fully finished, Sebastian was disappearing into his adaptation, enjoying his own space: it is the only place in the home where he can easily look out of the window and see the garden.
“Whilst he needs help onto the toilet, with the supports he can sit there safely whilst he toilets, and understands the reward system school has introduced when he ‘performs’. In the long term will be able to ‘go’ on his own, without Mum, or school, worrying about whether he is properly clean, as the Closomat washes and dries him afterwards. Even now, as the Closomat washes and dries Sebastian after toileting, it improves hygiene for him and his carers.
Closomat is the first choice for disabled people and their carers, to deliver quality, easy to use toileting solutions that bring greater independence, dignity and hygiene.
Stephen Edwards, Head of Sales and Marketing
