Imagine not being able to enjoy the immersive experience of bubbles in the bath, relaxing in warm water.
For a group of young adults with learning disabilities and neurological impairments that pleasure is now a reality, tailored to their individual needs.
It’s the result of determination by their Occupational Therapists at the Royal Hospital for Neuro Disability to find a suitable way to enhance their sensory experiences.
The residential ward at the Hospital has a specialist bath with sensory lighting and bubble jets. The very limited functional ability of many of the ward’s 12 residents meant they were unable to benefit from the bath.
Many of the ward residents had not been in a bath since early childhood. Their complex postural needs and behaviours posed significant difficulty in supporting them safely in the water. Their care teams had to ensure they did not slip, slide or injure themselves on the hard sides.
At a Kidz to Adultz exhibition, the OTs saw AAT’s Aqua Liberty infinitely adjustable bath support system, arranged a trial- and now have the answer!
Aqua Liberty is the first supported bath seat that fits any user and any bath. It comprises AAT’s innovative variable vacuum posture cushions secured to a base. The base features adhesive cups for quick and easy attachment to and removal from the bath itself. This means the seat system does not slip or slide.
The bath seat cushion is precisely moulded to each user, holding its shape without pressure points to support them correctly and appropriately in the water, and adjusted if required by the OT team.
Optional lateral panel to provide side cushioning are also available.
Senior II Occupational Therapist Continuing Care Service @ the Hospital, Ginnie Garlick says:
“Being shaped around them, Aqua Liberty is supportive and comfortable.
"We’ve had great success with it, and, with new residents onto the ward, have repeat ordered.
“The ability to access the bath, experience being immersed in warm water and interacting with the bubbles has greatly enhanced the quality of life of our residents. It offers them a lovely sensory experience.”
You can find out more about the Aqua Liberty infinitely variable bathing system here:https://www.aatgb.com/aqua-liberty/.
And if you want to know how other users have found Aqua Liberty, click here!
Aqua Liberty is only one of our bathing support options. You can find out about others here:https://www.aatgb.com/bagel/
New developments are making it easier to deliver those benefits in a domestic setting, without the cost and disruption of a major adaptation.
They are already proven in practice, with care teams reporting improved user experience and condition as a result(2).
And the same developments in equipment bring advantages to the care delivery team too.
Our Aqua Liberty is the first- and only- bathing system for people with impairments that fits any person, any bath.
Its unique design means it can be precisely tailored to each individual, irrespective of physical and/or neurological conditions, stabilising head, trunk and pelvis precisely and protecting limbs and joints.
Thus, the bather is correctly supported during immersion, in comfort. Blood circulation is improved, joints are offloaded, pain is relieved: the bather is more able to relax. Should the bather suffer from spasm or extension, the Aqua Liberty system can protect susceptible joints from injury.
Infinitely adjustable, Aqua Liberty comprises a sectional base with seat, back and side panels which is secured with ‘suckers’ onto the bath precisely where required. Remouldable cushions are attached to the base panels to achieve the exact, comfortable, pressure-free support.
The diversity of cushions and their unique ability to hold their shape yet be easily reformed to exactly fit and support without pressure points enables Aqua Liberty to deliver a comfortable bathing scenario for almost any bather.
After the hydrotherapy session, the system is quick and easy to remove, freeing the bath for other members of the household or residential unit. It folds neatly and compactly away, optimising space within the bathroom- often at a premium.
The quick-drying cushions can be removed from the Aqua Liberty and used to provide postural support as/where needed.
“The aquatic environment has broad rehabilitative potential, extending from the treatment of acute injuries through health maintenance in the face of chronic diseases.(3), to quote Becker,” says Peter Wingrave AAT Director. “Aqua Liberty is a game-changer in enabling the hydrotherapeutic benefits of immersion to be delivered to clients at home, without major cost nor disruption to the living environment.”
In 95+% of client assessments for Aqua Liberty, it has achieved positive results. Further details and videos of the system plus a form to book a free, no obligation assessments can be found @ https://www.aatgb.com/aqua-liberty/.
ENDS
References:
Suffering from quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy has hitherto meant George was always in a sling to give him the support necessary at bath time.
Our Aqua Liberty has changed all that.
It is the first effective answer George’s parents have found. It means he can relax and soak without them intervening.
Designed and developed in the UK in partnership with Occupational Therapists, Aqua Liberty is the only bath support system that fits any user, any bath.
Fitted with any of our range of infinitely-adjustable waterproof yet breathable posture support cushions, the Aqua Liberty system perfectly holds the bather safely in the water without care assistance.
The cushion- in George’s case the Comfortable Plus trunk/pelvis combo- is moulded to precisely and correctly support without pressure.
The design of the Aqua Liberty system means it is quick and easy to remove. The bath becomes available for use by other members of the family.
This also eliminates any need for the delay, cost and disruption of installing specialist baths and bathing equipment.
When not in use in the bath, the base can be rolled up and stowed away. The cushions can be removed and used wherever else sitting support is required. This could be in a chair/ wheelchair, in the car- or other activities such as flying, beach buggy-ing or canoeing!
"We used to have a similar product to this but it used a beaded system and therefore didn’t mould very well to George’s body shape. Plus it recently broke and the beads went everywhere! Think polystyrene balls all over the wet room floor: I’m still finding them now!
“Until we tried Aqua Liberty, we had to keep George’s sling on the in the bath as he is not able to sit up in the bath without support. He was extremely relaxed and comfortable whilst seated in the Aqua Liberty. He absolutely loves the bath so would make good use of this piece of equipment.”
Mum Karen
We are so confident of the value Aqua Liberty brings, we offer free assessment and free trail of the system. This can be arranged by telephoning 01978 821875, emailing sales@aatgb.com, or clicking the link: https://www.aatgb.com/aqua-liberty/
