Universal Design Specialists

1
Universal Design Specialists
Universal Design Specialists

• http//www.universaldesignspecialists.com/

http//www.universaldesignspecialists.com/
2
Walk in Tubs For the Safety of Elderly and
Disabled People

• Walk in tubs offer the best solution for seniors
  and handicapped people. These accessible tubs
  offer safety, security and of course comfort for
  the people with limited mobility. They are
  designed in such way that they offer complete
  safety and convenience as a result of their
  in-swing or out-swing doors and low curb entry.
  When users opt for a handicap bathtub they reduce
  the possibility of falling or slipping as a
  result of the barrier free access and safety
  considerations built into each walk in bathtub.
  These specialized units assure a much higher
  safety level for older users with reduced
  strength and mobility. One of the main reasons to
  install walkin tubs in a bathroom is to prevent
  the accidents so often prevalent as one ages.
• Why to opt for Walk in Tubs?
• Regardless of age, ability or disability, it is
  important to focus on the safety measures in your
  bathroom as bathrooms are responsible for the
  majority of accidents in all homes. People
  suffering from limited mobility may really find
  walk in tubs to be an enormous help with bathing.
  The wide range of handicap tubs available today
  typically include built in grab bars and a
  non-slip floor for added stability. They are
  available with either an in-swing or out-swing
  door and one particular manufacturer even offers
  a very unique sliding door. Most handicap
  bathtubs include wheelchair height seats that
  allow for easier transfer in and out of the
  bathing zone and avoid the need to try and stand
  up from the low position typically with standard
  bathtubs.
• Cont.

3
Improve Your Bathroom with Secure and Comfortable
Handicap Showers
Enjoying a hot shower in the morning or later in
the evening before going to bed can rejuvenate
one and can be highly relaxing for mind, body and
spirit. But imagine being unable to take a shower
because of some disability and having to depend
on others for this simple task. Many of us cant
ever consider being so dependent on others that
we could not bathe ourselves. Nevertheless, there
are many elderly or disabled people who have to
rely on others for taking a shower regardless of
if they like it or not. Having handicap showers
installed in their homes would help make them
independent and when recuperating do so with
safety, confidence and dignity. Designed
specifically for people like them these barrier
free showers are fabricated with exclusive safety
features and incorporate special seats for easy
transfer and sitting while showering, curb free
access which effectively eliminates the need to
step over a potential obstacle entering or
leaving the bathing zone and handicap grab bars
for added support when needed Cont.
4

• For a user with limited reach or mobility, the
  simple act of opening or closing a door may not
  be possible and one may not always have
  assistance from others to do so. It is also not
  desirable to always have to depend on others for
  this assistance. For this reason automatic door
  openers can offer a viable solution in assisting
  with this daily task. An automatic door opener is
  easily installed and requires minimal annual
  maintenance and years of reliable performance
  assuming one purchases a quality unit.
• A handicap door opener offers unrestricted entry
  and exit from both residential and commercial
  establishments by way of a simple wall mounted or
  hand held push button or remote control. These
  controls send a signal to handicap door openers
  to open the door and once the unit times out the
  door will close.
• Taking a shower may prove a real challenge to
  anyone with restricted mobility. Fortunately the
  industry has responded and this is no longer an
  issue.
• Walk in showers and handicapped showers offer a
  variety of features to meet the requirements of
  disabled and senior users. Some suppliers offer a
  roll in shower without a curb that permits
  wheelchair access as well as a no-step entry. In
  commercial applications an ADA shower is required
  which includes min clearances for disabled users.
  In all cases a handicapped shower provides a
  number of advantages which include safe entry and
  exit, an accessible seat, grab bars and a non
  slip surface some of which are not always
  available with standard showers.
• Walk in tubs and walk in showers provide the
  ultimate safety choice when bathing in any
  bathroom and help prevent dangerous and often
  life threatening falls.

5
Bariatric Bathing Options

• Best Bath Systems in Idaho offers some unique
  bathing choices for bariatric users who often
  struggle to find large enough options to
  accommodate their bathing needs.
• For walk in tubs that can be designed by a
  bathroom designer into almost any large enough
  handicap bathroom or universal design project
  they developed the Big E appropriately named
  after Emmette Luter of Mississippi, a dealer who
  sells more accessible handicap bathtubs to large
  users than any of their other dealers.
  Substantially bigger than most other walkin tubs
  it includes the following features
• The Big E model XTW6035 is 45 wider than a
  standard walkin tub and includes their largest
  door with a 24 clear walk through space. It is
  made of a luxurious fiberglass Gelcoat surface
  and secured to a welded steel base for added
  strength. A molded three-sided skirt makes this
  handicap bathtub impervious to twisting and
  warping and includes a limited lifetime warranty.
  While most competitors only offer a lifetime
  warranty on their door seals, Best Baths
  warranty covers the entire walk in tub.
• Another unique aspect of this bathing unit is
  their patented moveable hinged seat that provides
  a recessed stepping area with a hinged seat plate
  creating an alcove for more space in their walk
  in bathtub when entering or leaving.
• Jetted models include a Syllent pump, the
  quietest pump on the market which includes a 10
  year factory warranty. It is designed with a heat
  recycling feature that maintains water
  temperature and eliminates the need for an
  expensive in-line heater and additional wiring.
• Cont.

6

• Also known as a walk in showers or wheelchair
  accessible shower, they are often larger than the
  conventional showers so as to accommodate people
  dependent on wheelchairs. Due to the lack of any
  curb on entering they permit a user who is
  dependent on a wheelchair or walker to roll into
  the shower and either transfer to a seat
  installed in the shower or bathe using a
  waterproof chair.
• These ada shower stalls typically include
  special features such as anti-scald faucets,
  lever type hand controls to allow people with
  dexterity issues to operate them with more ease
  and hand held shower heads with longer hoses to
  facilitate bathing in a seated position. It is a
  combination of these features that have made walk
  in showers safer and more secure when compared to
  the conventional units.
• As we age or become less mobile a fear of
  accessing a conventional step over bathtub often
  becomes an issue. Many falls occur each year in
  the bathroom as a result of difficulty in making
  what was once a simple transition yet many people
  still enjoy the pleasure of submerging in warm
  water when bathing. Walk in bath tubs are
  designed for this purpose as they reduce the
  typically high step over necessary to something
  more manageable and safer for most users so that
  one can simply walk in or out without difficulty
  or risk of injury as long as they are able to
  step over a low curb.
• These handicap tubs include a fixed seat at a
  comfortable height and watertight door, either
  out-swing or in-swing depending on the specific
  need. The step over ranges between 4-7 inches
  depending on the model selected which is
  substantially less than the typical 14-23 inch
  step required for a conventional model. There is
  an assortment of options available including
  water and or air jets, neck rest pillow,
  aromatherapy, Chromatherapy and a heated seat
• With these innovative walk in tubs and showers,
  the user can comfortably sit at a height that
  makes it easy to get up and leave the bathing
  zone without the need to raise their entire body
  from a lowered reclining position typically with
  standard tubs.
• Make the bathing experience, manageable,
  comfortable and safe with quality handicap
  showers or walk in bathtubs in your home.

7
Preventing Senior Falls

• According to AARP nearly 90 of seniors want to
  stay in their homes as they age which is no
  surprise.
• Since 2011 and for the next 20 years, around
  10,000 seniors will turn 65 every single day of
  the year. In fact by 2030 our senior population
  is expected to reach 72 million which will
  represent 1 in 5 Americans.
• The most substantial risk and threat to living
  independently at home are falls. Falls are the
  leading cause of injury-related visits to the
  emergency room in the U.S. and represent the
  cause of 75 of the accidental deaths in people
  over 65. Falls also resulted in 85 of the non
  fatal hospital injuries for people 65 and over.
• Fortunately there is a lot of that can be done
  to make homes safer for seniors in preventing
  falls and handicap bathroom design has become a
  major consideration for seniors living with
  disabilities. This aspect is often also
  considered with sustainable home design.
• Beginning on the outside of the home safe entry
  into and out of the home is tantamount. If stairs
  are present and the senior is able to negotiate
  them without issue, hand rails can be installed
  to match the homes décor that offer added
  stability. When stairs are a challenge, stair
  chair lifts, platforms lifts and elevators are
  all options limited only by individual budget.
  Automatic door openers also known as handicap
  door openers are a wonderful option for both
  interior and exterior doors.
• When a pool is present in the home an ada pool
  lift can make all the difference in safely
  entering and leaving the pool.
• Cont.

8

• Other unique features of the Big E walk walk in
  bathtubs include a second drain for faster water
  draining, a heated seat with a 30 minute timer
  for added comfort during fill and drain times and
  an optional ozone sanitation system to eliminate
  any possibility of bacteria build up. This model
  can be designed as a walk in tub shower should
  the need be for both bathing functions in one
  model. It also includes a bathtub grab bar for
  added support while entering or leaving the
  bathing zone area.
• For more info see http//www.universaldesignspecia
  lists.com/walk-in-tubs/best-bath/best-bath-big-e-w
  alk-in-tub-60-x35-x40-soaker.html

9

• Bathrooms are singularly responsible for more
  accidents than any other place in the home and as
  a result walk in tubs showers have become very
  popular. A walk in shower also known as handicap
  showers (with no curb) allow for access without
  needing to step over something. There are also
  wheelchair accessible showers that allow access
  in a wheelchair or with a walker. Walk in
  bathtubs and handicap tubs allow safe access
  while stepping over a low curb through en entry
  door. Regardless of the selection of barrier free
  showers or walkin shower they all provide more
  safe access than standard units and help to avoid
  dangerous falls.
• There are many types of bathroom safety bars. In
  the bathing zone, bathtub grab bars offer added
  support in hundreds of colors and finishes to
  match your personal décor. The same goes for
  other handicap grab bars in other locations.
  Toilet safety rails that fold up and out of the
  way when not in use add tremendous safety value
  around the toilet area. Many choices of bathroom
  safety bars are also available such as the
  Superpole for support in getting up or in and out
  of your ada shower stall.
• Comfort height toilets which are higher than
  standard toilets installed with color coordinated
  toilet grab bars offer safe use in the toilet
  area. A qualified bathroom designer can include
  all the necessary items in your bathroom design,
  rendering it both safe and attractive for years
  to come.
• In the kitchen area and even in small kitchen
  designs there are some fantastic choices for safe
  access. When reach is an issue, adjustable height
  kitchen cabinets are an option. If sitting is
  necessary while cooking a height adjustable sink
  and adjustable height cooktop are all options.
  Here again an experienced certified kitchen
  designer can assist you with all the options
  available today.