‘Total’ support for disability rights
NEWLY-FORMED DISABILITY RIGHTS UK – now Britain’s largest pan disability organization led by disabled people – is already leading the field in disabled rights provision, right through to basic needs support for staff and visitors to its London headquarters.
The charity, created from the merger of the Disability Alliance, RADAR, and National Centre for Independent Living, has had a Closomat Palma ‘wash and dry’ toilet and Aerolet toilet lift installed in the washrooms. The equipment has been supplied by manufacturer Total Hygiene, and will be supported by the company’s service & maintenance package.
A couple of members of staff has specifically requested we install a Closomat when we moved into the new HQ. It will be of huge benefit to everyone – staff, trustees and visitors – giving them dignity, and the ability to go to the toilet with little or no help, says Disability Rights commercial manager Sarah Cosby. Staff and visitors using it are saying it is working brilliantly.
Looking like a conventional WC, the Closomat Palma features built-in douching and drying. Whilst it can be used traditionally, the toilet is easily used by anyone with limited manual dexterity, balance or similar disability; after toileting, they remain seated and apply gentle pressure to the flush pad. This triggers simultaneous flushing and douching, followed by warm air drying, ensuring they are effectively and hygienically cleaned without hand/body contact.
The Aerolet toilet lifter is positioned over the toilet, be it a conventional WC or Closomat Palma, and replicates the natural motion of sitting down and standing up. It automatically and smoothly lowers the user over and onto the toilet and then raises them to standing, enabling their feet to remain in contact with the floor and maintaining the centre of gravity above the feet for balance – all controlled by the push of a button via integral arm supports on the lift.
The Closomat has been available in the UK through Total Hygiene for over 50 years. Manufactured at the company’s headquarters in Manchester, the unit is the only one of its kind specifically developed for disabled people. Today, over 40,000 are in regular use in home and ‘out of home’ environments, with some in daily use 30 years after first being installed.
