Taking place throughout September, this year’s World Alzheimer’s month theme is ‘Remember me’ and Bristan has been lending its voice to the campaign.
The international month-long campaign takes place every September, helping to raise awareness and challenge the stigma that surrounds dementia. Launched in 2012, this year has marked the sixth global World Alzheimer’s month and the theme of ‘remember me’ aims to highlight the importance of early diagnosis of dementia.
One area of the home where Alzheimer’s can have its most significant, and potentially dangerous, impact is the bathroom. Here, Chris Tranter, Specification Product Manager at Bristan, provides four top tips when specifying for those who are suffering with Alzheimer’s:
- A touch of familiarity – When it comes to specifying brassware, crosshead taps, with clear hot and cold indices, are especially well-suited for household members with Alzheimer’s as they offer a more familiar style, therefore making them easier to use by those with memory issues. What’s more, long handle controls are ideal for multi-generational homes as young children and the older generation can use them easily and safely.
- Shower safety – Scalding is a very real danger for vulnerable people and can occur in just five seconds. Ordinarily electric showers can pose a risk of scalding if water is drawn off from another outlet, even if a maximum hot water temperature has been set. The practical suggestion is, therefore, an electric shower with in-built thermostatic controls. The Bristan Joy Care, for example, which is designed to meet the stringent BEAB Care accreditation, incorporates safety features, such as large, easy-to-move dials, raised markings and audible clicks when settings are adjusted, making it safe and easy-to-use for those with Alzheimer’s.
- Timing is key – To help prevent flooding should taps or showers be left on accidentally by those with memory issues, timed flow controls can be installed, turning off the flow once a set period of time has passed. This means that carers or other family members can rest assured that users with Alzheimer’s can’t cause any harm to themselves, or their surroundings.
- Hazard-proof wet rooms – For the ultimate in safety, the integration of a wet room can provide a variety of benefits designed to help those with memory issues. With no need to step into a shower tray, the risk of tripping is minimised and non-slip flooring can reduce slipping from occurring. For added safety, there are plenty of cleverly designed fittings that provide aid for vulnerable users without impacting on the rest of the family. A wall-mounted fold-up shower seat, for example, is practical and unobtrusive, and safety grab rails can also be installed to aid stability. These features allow the user to feel comfortable in their surroundings, preventing accidents from taking place.
For more information, visit: www.bristan.com/specifiers-home
