Act-ing on Delivering Total Toileting Independence

Published by Angela May for Total Hygiene in Housing and also in Health

The angst of adolescence is being eased for one teenage boy, through the generosity of a Foundation aiming to enhance the quality of life for mentally and physically disabled people.

 The charity has provided a grant to the parents of a 15 years-old boy who suffers from Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy, to fund the installation of a Clos-o-Mat ‘wash and dry’ toilet in their home.

 The degenerative nature of the illness meant that the boy was unable to walk; his local council funded a downstairs bedroom and bathroom for him, but the Grant did not cover the specialist bathroom equipment the family wanted to enable their son to be as independent as possible. Now, through the donation, he can ‘go to the toilet’ without help.

 The Clos-o-Mat looks like a conventional WC but features an integral douche and drier that washes and dries the user regardless of their mobility and manual dexterity. Accessories such as moveable arm supports, ‘soft touch’ operating pad and soft seats enable tailoring of the unit to individual specification to ensure the user can safely and hygienically toilet with minimal or no assistance. Manufactured in the UK, by Total Hygiene, the Clos-o-Mat is also the only toilet of its kind developed specifically for disabled people, and which has WRAS approval enabling legal connection to the mains water supply.

 A spokesperson for the charity explained, “We donate money raised through profits from our investment portfolio to help assist independent living, through financial assistance, or provision of building modifications and/or specialist aids, beyond statutory funding.

 “We fund a lot of grants for Clos-o-Mats: going to the toilet is something able people take for granted; being able to do that with little or no assistance makes a huge difference to someone who would otherwise need a carer to help them on or off the toilet, wipe them clean afterwards…..”

 Adds Robin Tuffley, Total Hygiene marketing manager, “Everyone goes to the toilet, and on average eight times a day! It has huge psychological benefits if you no longer need to rely on a family member or carer to assist you, restoring your independence and enhancing your basic human rights of dignity and privacy.”

 Total Hygiene has installed over 40,000 Clos-o-Mats, in individual’s homes and multi-user ‘public’ environments, and even on a tall ship! The company is unique in having an in-house team of dedicated installation and service engineers who ensure Clos-o-Mats continue to function: some have been in daily use for over 30 years. Now, the core Clos-o-Mat toilet is complimented by a range of bathroom and washroom accessories enabling single-sourcing of appropriate personal hygiene equipment.