Occupational therapist, Kate Sheehan, has been working with washroom manufacturer, Armitage Shanks, to determine what the bathroom manufacturer can do to further support customers in the care sector
The population in the UK is growing rapidly and as medicine, science and healthcare expertise develop, people are also living longer. In fact, according to the Office for National Statistics, in 50 years’ time it is likely that there will be an additional 8.6 million individuals living in the country aged 65 years and over – a number roughly equivalent to the population of London.1
In line with this trend of an aging population, sight loss and poor vision is an issue that must be addressed. Currently, there are more than 360,000 people in the UK who are registered blind or partially sighted and more than two million who experience a level of hindered vision severe enough to have a significant impact on their daily lives. According to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), this is estimated to rise to more than 2.7 million by 2030 and to nearly four million by 2050, due to age related eyesight degeneration.2
For those affected by poor vision and co-ordination, the activities of daily life such as using the bathroom can become very difficult and sometimes dangerous. However, when a person is living with dementia as well as sight loss, way finding and orientation issues are intensified.
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