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Patient Needs
People requiring bathing assistance expect to be
cleaned in a safe and non-harmful manner.
The reality is that patients continue to be scalded in
tubs or experience unnecessary urinary tract
infections (UTI).
The cause of a UTI is the bacteria and fungal
entrapment inherent in tubs or the inability of the
attendant to sufficiently cleanse the perineal area
using a traditional shower chair.
These infections cause fever, dizziness, loss of
mental acuity, decline in independence and falls.
Hospitalization is often required for broken bones,
dislocations and traumatic head injury.
Problems with Traditional Shower
Chair Bathing
It is practically impossible to clean the buttocks and groin areas
of the (perineum) in an effective manner. The manual swipe of
the wash cloth spreads the bacteria and is a major cause of
urinary tract infections (UTI)
Patients become uncomfortable on the typical hard, unstable
shower seat or bench which results in injury to both patient
and assistant.
The patient and nurses relationship is strained from the
anxiety caused by the traditional invasive bathing process.
The Inherent Problem with Tubs
Besides the obvious problems of scalding and accessibility the
foremost problem of the tub bath is the design.
Bathwater does not completely drain from the pump and pipes.
Instead, it remains in the damp, dark environment--the perfect
breeding ground for bacteria--until the next time someone uses
the bath. This water often includes soap film, hair, dead skin,
body oil, dirt, and feces. The pathogens then come rushing out
of the pipes, into the air and the "clean" bathwater. The person
taking the bath is subject to inhaling and ingesting bacteria,
along with immersing themselves in a variety of pathogens.
This has resulted in widespread litigation. Additionally, tubs are
expensive to operate and require more time and water to bathe
patients than any other method. Therefore the tub has been
practically dismissed by long term care facilities and the
healthcare industry.
Relaxing in Filth:
What Your Whirlpool Tub May Be Hiding1
1Waterborne Pathogens -
A List of Infectious Agents That Could Be
Swimming With You
Source: www.awwarf.com/newprojects/factshts.html
“We need to assure our
residents that we are not
introducing infectious agents
to them through tub baths or
unsanitary, manual, invasive
bathing practices”
Base Rate; $223 a Day
Problems for NF’s
The percentage of the top ten deficiencies given in
2007 to nursing facilities for problems which can result
in a negative impact on the health and safety of
residents were: Accidental environment 37%, food
sanitation 35%, quality of care 29%, professional
standards 28%, comprehensive care plan 22%,
housekeeping 20%, Incontinence/urinary care
19%, pressure sores 19%, unnecessary drugs 19%,
and infection control 18%. (Note: Data are for
community hospitals, which represent 85% of all
hospitals)
Staff Injury
Nursing Home Inspections: (2002) The
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
said that it will begin this year inspecting 1,000
nursing or personal care facilities out of 2,500
that reported high injury and illness rates under a
new National Emphasis Program. The program
focuses on specific hazards that account for the
majority of nursing home staff injuries and
illnesses, including ergonomic back injuries from
patient handling and slips, trips and falls.
Litigation
According to the nursing home industry,
plaintiffs' lawyers are targeting a
vulnerable industry, unfairly charging the
homes with causing the deteriorating
condition or death of residents who were
already in severely declining health.
Plaintiffs' lawyers charge that nursing
homes are providing substandard care and
are operating at inadequate staffing levels.
Key Benefits of Automated Shower Chair
•
•
•
•
Reduction of UTI and infection
Reduction of accidental environment incidents
Improved quality of care and professional standards
Increased patient through put (reduced time for
bathing)
• Improved nurses job satisfaction and reduction of
staff injury and risk
• Improved relationship between nurse and patient
• Comfort and dignity are restored for all
Body wash is automatically dispensed and thoroughly rinsed.
Enables showering while in a comfortable, stable seated
position
Seat exposes the perineum to automated dispense
nozzles
Eliminates the need for the manual invasive perineal
swipe
Attendant can supervise and control the process without
touching
Improved care of pressure sores and skin lesions
Improves accessibility and reduces effort to bathe
Increases residents desire to bathe
Mobile and easily adaptable to most bathing environments
Improves Hygiene throughout the facility
Reduces water usage and clean up time
Improves staff efficiency, a true force multiplier
Restores comfort and dignity for staff and residents
Mitigate Liability
The facility can prevent the charge of
causing the deteriorating condition or
death of residents who were already in
declining health.
Reduces the claim that nursing homes
are systematically operating at inadequate
staffing levels.
Immediate Need in Licensed NF’s
• 17,000 facilities
• 107 average bed count (currently 89% aor)
• 30 minute average bathing (shower) cycle =
16 showers in an eight hour day per unit X 7
days a week = 112 showers a week per
• Each resident should be offered 3 baths or
showers per week; 3 X 107 = 321
• 321 / 112 = 2.86 avg. required per facility
• 2.86 X 17,000 = 48,620 Shower Units
Assisted Living Communities
Approximately 75% of the almost 1 million
residents in assisted living facilities are
female. The average age of residents is
between 80 and 83 years old. (These are the
most vulnerable to UTI)
Most people—nearly 79%—who need
Long-Term Care live at home or in
community settings, not in institutions.
Informal Care
More than 65 million people, 29% of the U.S. population, provide
care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend
during any given year and spend an average of 20 hours per week
providing care for their loved one.
Caregiving in the United States;
National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP; November
2009
The value of the services family caregivers provide for "free," when
caring for older adults, is estimated to be $375 billion a year. That is
almost twice as much as is actually spent on homecare and nursing
home services combined ($158 billion).
Evercare Survey of the Economic Downturn and Its Impact on Family
Caregiving;
The typical family caregiver is a 49-year-old woman caring for her
widowed 69-year-old mother who does not live with her. She is
married and employed. Approximately 66% of family caregivers
are women. More than 37% have children or grandchildren under
18 years old living with them.
Caregiving in the United States;
National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP.
November 2009
20 hours per week is the average number of hours family caregivers
spend caring for their loved ones while 13% of family caregivers are
providing 40 hours of care a week or more.
Caregiving in the United States;
National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP. November
2009
Disability Statistics
According to the U. S. Census Bureau, about 49.7
million Americans have a disability, which includes
people of all ages. About two-thirds of these
individuals have a severe disability. Statistical
information about persons with disabilities can be
obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau Web site,
or by phone at 301-457-3242. Additional sources
of disability statistics can be found online at
Disability.gov
.
By the year 2030, more than 70 million Americans will be 65 years old or
older, making up 20% of the population, up from 35 million in 2000. The
long term care industry will serve and care for many of these seniors.
Conclusion
Technology is now available that
improves the bathing experience
for all.
The facility can ensure that they
are providing the best and
safest possible bathing care.
“There is no voice stronger than the still small voice of the human conscience” (Gandhi)