For a carer, a shower is one of the most skilled parts of the shift. You're working in a small, wet space, supporting someone's whole body and keeping everything calm.
For the resident, it's one of the most personal parts of the day. Someone else helps them undress, wash, and dry, and that feeling stays with them. Getting it right matters to both people. The equipment in the room matters more than it might seem, and this article explains why.
What dignity looks like in the bathroom
Dignity is more than a nice extra. Right 3 of the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights says services must be provided in a way that respects the dignity and independence of the individual, and Right 1 covers respect for privacy. [1] Showering is a very practical place to put those rights into action.
The Accident Compensation Corporation's moving and handling guidelines make the same link from the equipment side. They note that using equipment properly improves the quality of care and can help to preserve the dignity of clients. [2]
How the right commode supports residents and carers
Wheeled shower chairs take a resident to and from the shower and can stay in place while they shower. Staying seated throughout means fewer moves between surfaces, which can help a resident feel secure and reduce physical strain on carers. Backrests, armrests and footrests can be removed or moved out of the way, and some chairs tilt to make showering easier. Powered or battery-operated shower chairs are preferred because they reduce the risk when positioning residents. [2]
Not every resident can sit upright for a shower. For those who need to be showered lying down, mobile shower trolleys can be raised or lowered to a comfortable working height for the carer. They're usually too long for shower cubicles, so they work best in open shower areas, which is worth thinking about when you plan your bathrooms. [2]
Choosing the right equipment for your residents
Cubro stocks a range of mobile shower commodes, an electric shower trolley and the Reval Transcare assisted bath, so you can match the equipment to each person in your care.
When a bath means more: hospice care
In hospice care, a bath can be one of the most meaningful moments in someone’s day. For patients nearing the end of life, warm water can ease aching muscles, bring real comfort and offer a sense of calm that feels like home. For family, it can be a gentle way to stay close and part of their loved one’s care.
The Reval Transcare assisted bath makes that moment possible for patients who are frail or have limited mobility. It tilts and adjusts in height at the push of a button, so patients can be settled into a supported, comfortable position, and carers can work at a height that suits them. It brings dignity and comfort into the room at the time they matter most.
Which one suits which resident depends on their needs, your bathrooms and your team. Your local Cubro account manager can help you work through it, including product training so your carers feel confident from the first shower.
There's more to come
Cubro will soon have its own range of shower commodes, shaped by what we’ve learned from care teams and our own research and development. We’ll share more when it’s ready.
In the meantime, if you'd like to talk through what your residents and your carers need in the bathroom, request a quote or get in touch with your local Cubro account manager. We've got the stock ready.
Sources:
[1] Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994, Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights, Rights 1 and 3. https://www.legislation.govt.nz/secondary-legislation/pco-drafted/1996/78/en/latest/
[2] Accident Compensation Corporation. Moving and Handling People: The New Zealand Guidelines, Section 7: Equipment for moving and handling people.