An Extensive Overhaul

Kiryu-en, a long-term care health facility in Kurashiki, Okayama, since 1994, is located in a quiet area, surrounded by residential neighborhoods. The facility has 100 residents; of those, 70 to 80 residents use the rehabilitation equipment on site each day. The average nursing care level of the residents is 3.5, who have an average age of 87. Most of the residents take assisted baths. Kiryu-en installed a Giusto and two Adagios in the facility’s special bathing room in August 2013.

“We provided a large bathtub with a lift for residents who were able to tolerate a sitting position, and a shower for those who remained lying down,” explained Ms. Hayashi, deputy director of the facility.

“When the time came to replace the equipment in the bathing facility, we asked for residents’ input and checked the different capabilities of each product. In response to the residents’ request for a bathtub deep enough to reach the shoulders, we decided to bring in the Giusto (HK-255) and Adagio (HK-825).”

In addition to the new equipment, the current bathroom underwent a massive renovation, including the large bathtub built into the ground.

Enhancing Safety and Comfort

The color of the Adagio installed in the bathroom on the first floor is light purple, an optional color.

“The height of the previous bathtub’s lift made some residents very nervous,” continued Ms. Hayashi. “Now they are free of any apprehension with the Adagio, which allows them to enter the bathtub in a sitting position with its guided carrier. It is also easier for care personnel to monitor the users closely.”

These personnel also welcome the new equipment, because they no longer need to bend over, which saves a great deal of stress on their backs.

For the Giusto, both caregivers and care receivers are more protected thanks to the easier transition to and from the bathtub. The residents commented that they “have no stress or fear when getting in the bath,” that the new tubs “feel warm, with plenty of hot water all the way up to my shoulders,” that “the jet bath is so comfortable, I’d like to stay in even longer!” and even “the color of the bathtub looks nicer.” Both models of bathtubs are also equipped with comprehensive emergency features to account for any possible situation, such as accidental collapses or slips, which provides even more safety for the geriatric users at Kiryu-en.

More Efficient Bathing Assistance Using Simulated Situations

The special bathing room is currently equipped with one Giusto and two Adagios, and it took some time to agree upon this set-up. Each day, the facility has 17 or more residents bathing during both morning and afternoon sessions, so creating a stress-free work environment for the caregiving personnel was essential.

“We looked at a variety of layouts, keeping in mind both safety and the limited number of personnel,” the staff commented. “We had to consider the best arrangement to allow a caregiver to monitor two other bathtubs while attending to a third, as well as routes for guided carriers or stretchers to navigate the room.”

Once the layout was decided upon and the bathtubs mounted, they simulated a daily session in the special bathing room. “We painstakingly checked our procedures for safe and effective assisted bathing, including what kind of movements were most efficient for the attendant, or which were wasteful, as well as the best order to attend to the baths. We also asked OG Wellness to oversee the correct operation of the Giusto and Adagio, and also for their general advice on assisted bathing.”
While bathing sessions before the renovations took four staff members more than two hours to assist 17 to 18 residents, thanks to the aforementioned efforts, Kiryu-en was able to reduce the time it took for an assisting bathing session to less than two hours. The caregivers are now able to pay more attention to each bather, as well as to prepare the next care-task; the whole job has become more positive and efficient.

A visit to the Kiryu-en facilities reaffirms the belief that updating the equipment for easier, smoother bathing assistance not only increases efficiency but also improves the quality of service and quality of life that the residents receive.

The special bathing room installed three nursing care bathtubs after an extensive overhaul

Installed Equipment

• 

  GIUSTO

  HK-255

  Quantity：1

• 

  STRETCHER (Deluxe type)

  RA-355S

  Quantity：1

• 

  ELECTRICAL LIFTING STRETCHER

  RA-255

  Quantity：1

• 

  ADAGIO

  HK-825

  Quantity：3

• 

  GUIDED CARRIER FOR SITTING POSITION

  RA-825

  Quantity：6

* Additional physical therapy devices were also installed.