BATHROOM
Bathing
Although there are many aspects to successful bathing, the most serious one is transferring into a shower or a bathrub. A transfer bench should be sturdy, light enough to lift, easily cleaned and nice looking. At the other extreme are walk in tubs. Unfortunately, most are still quite expensive but they are very effective in providing safety.
A sturdy transfer bench for the bath or shower is shown below:
Deluxe Shower/Bath Transfer Bench
Constructed of heavy-duty anodized aluminum frame with non-marring, slip-resistant rubber tips, this transfer bench offers added safety and control for the user. The removable backrest and handrail can be adjusted for both left and right applications.
Seat and backrest constructed of high-density plastic with drainage holes.
Estimated Price: $90.00
Ordering Information for Transfer Bench
Toileting.
Toilet use is an important measure of independence. To be considered fully independent, the a person must be able to get on and off alone, be able to handle their clothes, be able to wipe themselves and flush the toilet completely unaided.
If there is an opportunity to replac the toilet with a height adjustable wall-hung model, then the toileting issues will be easier to handle later. Wall-Hung Toilets by the Swiss firm Laufen are from their designer collections, which merge high-end design with ADA-compliancy. When the height is adjusted they work within the guidelines set by the American Disability Act.
Commentary: Most seniors initially choose a seat riser such as the Rubbermaid seat with padded arms.
The Rubbermaid E-Z Lock Raised Toilet Seat With padded arms
Estimated Price: $45.00
Ordering Information for Rubbermaid Toilet Seat Riser
Suggestion: If the senior needs more support than the seat riser handles provide or the seat riser used does not have handles, a good choice is to use a safety frame.
The Toilet Safety Frame
Estimated Price $45.00
Ordering Information for Toilet Safety Frame
Oral Care.
During regular six month dental examinations, dentists not only screen patients for dental decay and periodontal disease, but also for oral soft tissue infections, tumors and other abnormalities.
Toothbrushes.
Commentary: Research by the Cochrane Oral Health Group and others now indicate that powered toothbrushes with an oscillating rotating action are more effective than manual toothbrushes in reducing plaque and gingivitis. Other types of powered toothbrushes produce less consistent reductions in plaque and gingivitis than manual brushes. (The Cochrane Group's study involved 3,855 participants and over 25 different powered and manual toothbrushes.)
Oral-B Professional Care SmartSeries 4000 Rechargeable Toothbrush
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X3s1Zk7-OE
In recent clinical testing, Oral-B electric toothbrushes, with their oscillating/rotating/pulsating action, were found to be most effective in removing plaque. Oral-B toothbrushes work by pulsation (in-and-out movement), rotation and oscillation (side-to-side movement). They also feature a built-in pressure sensor that stops the bristle movement when it detects that you are brushing too hard, something not found in many competitors' models. The Oral-B ProfessionalCare 1000/7400 toothbrush features a two-minute timer with a 30-second beep to signal when to clean another area. It has a long-life battery charge of up to two weeks and indicator bristles that fade halfway when it is time to change the brush head.
Estimated Price: $108.00
Ordering Information for Oral-B Rechargeable Toothbrush
Dentures.
Suggestion: Although the retention of natural teeth is improving, many seniors still have dentures. Dentures should be cleaned regularly and should always be removed at night to prevent inflammation caused by the denture and thrush. These conditions are relatively common with approximately 30% of denture wearers having some form of infection and about twice that many having some inflammation caused by the denture.
VIOlight Dental Cleaner with Sonic and UV Technology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X3s1Zk7-OE
The Violight Dental Spa is uses a combination of an antimicrobial agent, UltraViolight, and High-Frequency Ultrasonic cleaning. It uses water and is battery operated.
Estimated Price: $60.00
Ordering Information for VIOLight Denture Cleaner