Now our bathroom to wet room conversion is complete I thought I would let you how it has all gone.

In my last post I explained what I thought the wet room conversion could do for me. The most important thing was getting some dignity and independence back. As a wheelchair user, my regular bathroom was just not suitable and made life unnecessarily difficult. I am glad to say that the new wet-room has lived up to and exceeded my expectations.

While the work was being done, the house was a bit chaotic as quite a lot of building work needed to be done. For example the door to be made wider, the airing cupboard had to be removed and a wall was reinforced for fitting grab rails . Now I don’t have to do a really tricky manoeuvre to get into the room; there is plenty of space to just roll in.

So that a pedestal-free wash basin could be mounted on the wall, the existing stud partition wall had to be made stronger. This also meant that grab rails could be fixed firmly to the shower wall.

With no bath in the room, there is so much space. Before, if I went in forwards I had to go out backwards; now I can turn around 360 degrees!

I can now reach things on shelves without asking for things to be passed to me. I can even see myself in the new low-down mirror (some would say this is not a good thing!)

The sink has taps with easy grip handles that I can turn easily. The shower controls are low down and very easily to operate.

I have a new self propelled shower chair. All I do is transfer into this (it is like a wheelchair, but very lightweight and the seat is like a toilet seat) then roll straight under the shower. The first time I had a shower in the new wet-room it was quite emotional. I hadn’t been able to get a shower in over 3 years, so to have a proper shower was just amazing. I stayed there for quite a while – I think my wife thought I had taken root! I really can’t explain how good it is too feel running water again.

The shower chair is great as it means I can also use the toilet easily. I just roll over it, with no need for a transfer onto the toilet. This makes life MUCH easier!

I am very pleased with the new room as it not only helps me immensely, but it doesn’t look like a ‘disabled’ bathroom. I worked closely with the workmen and have exactly what I wanted and needed. I didn’t want something that looked like it belongs in an hospital in my home. Just because I have a disability doesn’t mean I don’t have taste!

I am now in control of my own personal hygiene. That is priceless!

Sometimes life is easy. I have MS, so – like with lots of illnesses – I have good days and bad days. Today is a good day, so I am writing this article about a day last month.

It was Tuesday, and I was struggling to do so many things. The co-ordination, strength and control my right hand was next to useless. I am right-handed so I knew things would be difficult.

It started with getting dressed. I had to find my shoes that just slip-on and have no laces or buckles. Tying up laces would have been a joke, I’m glad I didn’t attempt that one. I didn’t put any make-up on, I like to when I go out, but with one hand that didn’t quite go where I told it to go, I didn’t want to look like a clown!

Breakfast was next. Everything was fine, until I was putting spread on my toast. I dropped the knife twice. My grip just didn’t hold on right. I’ve seen knives that have special grips, that I know would help. But have I got around to getting some? I’ll let you answer that one!

I should have put jam on my toast; I have a gadget that would have helped with that. Well, I have two gadgets actually. The first is a cone shape and is corrugated on the inside. It is made out of a bendy rubber. You hold it over the jar grip and turn. Hey presto, the jar opens easily. This one would not have been right for me on that day. But the other one I have would have been perfect. It is a handle with a strap on one end. You tighten the strap around the lid, then twist. The lid opens.

I made do with my toast and coffee. I only spilt a few coffee granules off the spoon.

I had planned to go to the supermarket that day, and wasn’t going to let my wonky right hand stop me. It is in walking distance, so I set off. No incidents on the way there – phew! I didn’t really have any problems in the store either.

Getting home is always difficult. I use a walking stick to help my balance, but had to hold my stick in the ‘wrong’ hand. Holding it in my right hand just felt awkward and didn’t feel secure at all. My shopping goes on my back in a ruck sack. I find this is the best way, as it keeps me balanced evenly, and leaves my hands free.

Once home with the shopping put away, it was time for a cup of coffee. Yes, you guessed; I poured boiling water on to the floor. I didn’t think. I just grabbed the kettle with my right hand as usual. My hand wasn’t co-ordinated enough to get the water in the cup. I have now bought a kettle tipper. It is just not worth any more near misses. It is great. The best way to describe it is that the kettle fits into a wire cage, that allows you to tip it forward safely.

After a few days, my ‘bad day’ got better and became a good day. I’ve yet to find a decent corkscrew that I can use on those bad days!

The Sunday Telegraph today revealed how bad some councils are at improving homes for the elderly and disabled. Something we are sadly aware of here at City Mobility.

Some councils are taking up to 8 years to provide, often simple mobility aids such as handrails to disabled and elderly people. Mobility equipment is so important for many people – it can mean they keep as much of their indepenence as possible and can help to delay, limit or stop a deterioration in their condition.

About 40,000 people a year in the UK are awarded a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) so that their home can be adapted for them. This usually means things like ramps, stairlifts or handrails.

The really sad fact is that some people are waiting so long for mobility equipment that they can wait no longer and are forced to give up living in their own home and move or are moved to care homes. We think this is totally unacceptable and is the reverse of government promises that vulnerable people, such as the elderly and disabled should get more support to stay in their own homes.

Carole Cochrane, Chief Executive of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, said the failings meant elderly and infirm people were being left trapped for years, often unable to move around even within their homes.

She said: “We see many elderly people finding themselves, effectively, a prisoner in parts of their homes as they wait for basic equipment. It is unacceptable that people have to wait so long for adaptations to their homes.

The Daily Telegraph report was by Laura Donnelly, Health correspondent, and was published 02 May 2010

I need to use a bed lever to help me in and out of bed, and I thought I would pass on my thoughts of what is good and bad about it.

A bed lever is a simple aid. I always called it a bed grab rail, but it’s not really a rail. I suppose a ‘bed grab arm’ describes it best. It is an L -shape, the bottom bit is a wooden baseboard and slides under the mattress. The upright bit is coated metal and makes a rounded handle that sticks up about a foot above my mattress.

It makes transferring from a wheelchair to the bed much easier. You need to have to be able to weight bare, as to use it you need to stand and turn a little. You grab hold of it, like you would grab hold of someone’s arm to transfer into or out of bed. It means I do not need help to get into and out of bed.

Pros

• It makes transferring into bed, much easier and safer.
• I am much less likely to fall; now I use the bed lever.
• As it is a barrier at the side of the bed, it makes me feel that I am less likely to topple out of bed when I turn over!
• It gives me more independence at bedtime.  I do not need to rely on carers as much.
• It is very sturdy as it slides under the bed so it feels (and is) very secure.

Cons

• Like most mobility equipment it is a little unsightly. However it is less intrusive than most aids I’ve seen! And at the end of the day, the most important thing is that it helps me.
• Sometimes it gets in the way when I want to reach to my bedside cabinet, or get something from the floor.
• Sometimes it needs repositioning, which requires lifting up the mattress a little and moving the lever. You need lots of hands to do this so I usually need help.

Overall, I think the bed lever is a great product. It is quite discreet. It is really useful, and makes transferring into and out of bed so much safer. Of all the mobility aids I have, this and my mobility scooter are probably the most useful ones I have.