Bathroom model to support “ageing in place”

Housing experts are highlighting that, with the number of over 85s in the UK expected to double in the next 25 years, there is a growing priority to create tailored environments where people can continue to live.

The “ageing in place” concept includes factoring occupants’ changing needs into the building design and developing intergenerational living within a single community.

Closomat, Britain’s leading manufacturer of wellbeing-centred bathroom technology, is already delivering the ethos in the bathroom. Its wash & dry toilets are purpose-designed to optimise hygiene and therefore wellbeing and evolve with users’ changing needs.

“Studies indicate that 1 in 4 of us will be over 65 by 2041, and facing many of the issues that affect us as we age- mobility, dexterity etc,” observes Robin Tuffley, marketing manager @ Closomat. “Ability to use the WC is one of the key five basic activities of daily living. More than any other area of a home, the bathroom is adapted, to enable someone to stay in their home. It makes sense therefore to design and build homes that are equipped to evolve with the occupants, rather than require potentially significant modification.”

Closomat’s Palma Vita wash & dry toilet is the only WC on the market in Britain that can be accessorised to address people’s changing mobility and dexterity. Its integrated assistive technology- douching and drying- appeals to the gadget-minded Centennials, is aspirational for Generation X’ers, and delivers enhanced hygiene for older people. A raft of operating options, plus seating and supports, mean that the WC can be easily added to so that each user can continue to benefit from the improved hygiene and cleanliness provided by cleaning by washing rather than wiping with paper.

“A Closomat is the ultimate multi-generational fixture,” adds Robin Tuffley. “It ‘ticks the boxes’ for every generation, whether they live independently or share a household, whether they are able or disabled.”

Closomat is Britain’s oldest and leading provider of accessible toilet solutions at home and away, It was the first to introduce swash & dry toilets into the UK, almost 60 years ago. Its Palma Vita is claimed to be the biggest selling WC of its kind and is the only one manufactured in Britain.

The company is unique in offering, in-house, full support including design advice, supply, installation, commissioning and subsequent service & maintenance. It is the only shower toilet company that manufactures in the UK and that has UK based in-house technical support.