Accessible Homes: Closmat ready to help meet recommendations

A Parliamentary inquiry into decent and accessible homes(*) is highlighting the importance of utilising a universal design approach to make adaptation products appealing to all age groups.

Closomat, Britain’s leading manufacturer of toilet assistive technology, is already positioned to equip housing designers, developers and officers, to meet that challenge (at least in the bathroom).

Its brand-leading wash & dry (smart) toilets feature contemporary design to make them aspirational as well as assistive. Uniquely, they can be personalised to individual user preference and needs, not just at initial install, but retrospectively, as needs change.

“The report made 13 recommendations on improving availability of suitable housing for older people. It states ‘many older people do not like the idea of being stuck with poorly designed and unappealing aids & equipment. One approach… is to take a universal design approach towards products & services to make them suitable and appealing to all age groups’,” observes Robin Tuffley, Closomat marketing manager.

“Fixtures such as wash & dry toilets are becoming more mainstream, and aspirational. A wash & dry toilet gives enhanced cleanliness and hygiene over wiping with toilet paper, and can be operated by almost anyone, independently, irrespective of age or ability. A wash & dry toilet is the enabling, universal design answer to something we all do, on average eight times a day, and something that is very private and personal.”

Closomat was the first company to introduce the concept of shower toilets into the UK, almost 60 years ago. It is now the #1, with the Palma Vita being the brand leader. Closomat wash & dry toilets feature built-in automatic douching and drying, so the user does not have to physically wipe clean with toilet tissue.

Its website now features full cost of care analysis, plus a configurator to enable the Palma Vita to be tailored to individual user specification.

(*) The all-party parliamentary group ageing & older people inquiry into decent and accessible homes for older people summer 2019