The benefits of a height-adjustable washbasin

This article includes 2 central points from a talk with the occupational therapist, Catherine Young, who provided several expert insights on the benefits of height-adjustable wash basins for both its users and health care professionals.

1. How does a height adjustable wash basin benefit an old or disabled person?

• It enables them to vary the height of the wash basin and compensate for the loss of physical function, impaired standing tolerance and coordination. 
• The washbasin can adapt to improvement or deterioration in the disabled/older person’s health and physique, strength and stamina. 
• In relation to the needs of a disabled child, the basin can be repositioned and adjusted to support the child’s growth and development. 
• A height-adjustable wash basin may support a rehabilitation program/graded activity. It can assist people to ‘regain’ or ‘relearn’ skills that have been lost or impaired due to illness, injury, and disability. It may also support the ‘retention’ and ‘maintenance’ of skills and function. 
• A height-adjustable wash basin may be an integral feature of managing/mitigating risk issues (person, task or environmental). Support safe moving and handling techniques. 
• The physical accessibility of the basin allows personal choice and independence over water temperature, water pressure and sensory experience. 
• The versatility promotes independence and wellbeing, autonomy over the task, privacy, intimacy, dignity, self-worth, age-appropriate independence and it may address cultural or religious considerations. 
• The basin may enable a disabled person to maintain a role within the household (e.g. parenting role – supporting a dependent to use a basin). 
• Having an accessible wash basin makes the individuals accountable for their own hygiene.