Sarah Barsby, marketing director, Intastop Ltd, discusses how a properly equipped care home can support residents, preserve and protect the infrastructure of the home, form part of an infection control policy and help create the best possible environment for staff
The environment of a care home is of significant importance, not only from the point of view of resident wellbeing, but also from a healthcare and staff welfare perspective.
A growing number of care home providers are therefore creating homes that enable residents to enjoy a home from home setting and are truly equipped for the 21st century. At the heart of this is an interior that is easy to clean and maintain, making infection control a priority and supporting the legal requirements of operating a care home.
As an ongoing measure to support resident mobility around the home and promote access to bathing areas, Intastop has launched a new range of products to the UK market. Tubocolour grab rails are manufacturedin Italy by Ponte Giulio, one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of safety solutions for bathrooms. They benefit from BioCote antimicrobial and biocompatible protection, which means they not only help reduce the spread of microbes such as bacteria, mould and fungi, but also have anti-slip credentials. This brings a new dimension in safety and infection control to more elements of interior specification in both new build projects and refurbishments.
Particularly suited to a care home environment, the rails help less mobile residents move around the home safely and can also help with sitting and standing from chairs, showers and in other areas of the home where access may previously have been prohibited or compromised. The range of grab rails, shower rails, shower seats and bathroom accessories complements the existing range of door and wall protection for which Intastop is well known.
Protecting buidings
Intastop supplies a wide range of products, all of which are designed to protect and assist and many of which are ideally suited to creating environments in care homes where tangible benefits can be realised for both staff and residents. Many of its wall and door protection products also have antibacterial properties that are ultra long lasting, allow co-ordination with interior schemes due to the colour options available and are easy to fit and maintain, ensuring building maintenance schedules are easy to manage and cost-effective.
It is important that the walls and doors in care homes are particularly hard wearing to protect against the volume of use and the use of mobility aids in the building. However, as a care home is of course a home, consideration also needs to be given to the aesthetics. This is where Aspex Impact Protection Sheet comes into its own.
The bespoke sheet allows the transference of high quality images and logos to create a striking visual display that offers a new level of flexibility to its wall protection. Resting areas or corridors can be adorned with a striking visual image such as a woodland walk or calming meadow that is also durable, long lasting and maintenance free.
Other areas of the home, such as bathrooms and kitchens, require an alternative form of wall protection, such as the durable, hygienic and maintenance free I-Genic range of sheets, which are the perfect alternative to tiles. There is no grout to deal with and the hygienic non-porus surface means that cleaning is easy and effective.
Minor details
It is only recently that technology has enabled us to create a care home environment in which the building itself not only provides a protective infrastructure to ensure residents and staff are comfortable and safe, but can also assist in cognitive care.
Providing stimulating, hygienic wall murals and non-slip grab rails, which are often overlooked when it comes to supporting individuals’ cognitive needs, can greatly support a theirsense of independence and wellbeing.
As a solutions driven manufacturer, Intastop’s range of products also includes door hinges, vision panels and door edge guards, which meet healthcare industry and fire safety standards and can help to complete specification requirements in terms of access, safety, interior protection and most importantly staff and resident wellbeing.
To find out more about Intastop go to www.intastop.com
Intastop will be showcasing its product range on Stand D36at The Care Show, which will be held at the NEC Birmingham from 9-10 October
Intastop Ltd, Holly Street, Kelham Street Industrial Estate, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN1 3TR
Tel: +44 (0) 1302 364 666
Email: sales@intastop.com
www.intastop.com
