Disability rights campaigner Gerry Maguire MBE is enhancing his knowledge of people’s toileting needs through personal experience…
Gerry has cerebral palsy, works part-time for his local Health Trust, and plays a major role in Northern Ireland championing the needs of disabled people who make up 20% of the province’s population – work which has been recognized through his award of an MBE*. Now, he has added toileting needs to his agenda, partly as a result of his own experience, having a Closomat Palma Vita ‘wash and dry’ toilet, supplied by Care & Assist, being installed under a Disabled Facilities Grant at his Enniskillen home.
The Closomat, which looks just like a conventional WC, features integral douche and drying facilities, all operated by simple hand or body pressure on the flush lever. When the lever is pressed, the unit flushes and simultaneously automatically warm-water washes the user, then dries him or her through its built-in warm air drying facility. Gerry’s Closomat features additional options of a soft secure toilet seat, and hand control which enables operation by even the slightest, single pressure on the control pad.
Gerry elaborates, “Everyone has to go to the loo, but often unless you are disabled yourself you do not realize how difficult such a basic function can become: imagine if you have problems controlling your muscles, for example: how do you tear off toilet tissue, wipe effectively? Personally, I was frequently breaking the toilet seat due to the movement involved in manually cleansing, and facing problems ensuring I was properly clean. My Occupational Therapist had heard of the Closomat and believed it would solve my toileting problems. The Closomat is proving very helpful as the cleaning process is done by the unit, and is something I will be trying to encourage through my work.”
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
