The Clinical Reasoning Behind Assistive Bath Recommendation

Kate Sheehan, OT, who has over 30 years experience in assisted bathing and accessible housing, presents outlines the clinical reasoning behind assistive bath recommendation. • • Many children and adults living with a disability in the UK prefer to bathe rather than shower. Nevertheless many Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) will only provide funding for accessible showering adaptations or wet rooms. This viewpoint can be regularly based on the misconception that an accessible bath is more expensive to specify than conversion of an existing bathroom – in many situations this is simply not true. The clear benefits of bathing versus showering when living with disability may also not be fully recognised or appreciated. • • Healthcare professionals involved with bathing grant applications will assess what is ‘necessary and appropriate’ as part of their duty of care. However if a bath is not provided in some circumstances, a detrimental outcome on lifestyle, well-being and independence may be likely. • • Hence if you decide that a Hi-Lo bath is the right solution for you, your disabled dependent or your client, Abacus has compiled the following points to help justify your opinion. • • http://www.abacushealthcare.co.uk/disability-bathing/assisted-bathing-vs-showering/

Keywords: assisted bathing, disabled bathers, DFG, accessible bath