There are many routines and schedules if you live at George Pearson Center. One topic that comes up frequently is decision-making and control over personal care, such as showers and going to the bathroom.
The Pearson re-development focus groups are asking residents about washrooms. What would an ideal washroom look like? Here is an image to begin the conversation.
Residents have described the need for private washrooms. There are many universal design elements that could improve washrooms and personal care routines. Washrooms could have sliding pocket doors instead of doors that open into the washroom. This would save space because wheelchairs would not have to turn around. There would be a pedestal sink so wheelchairs could slide underneath. The toilet would be accessible with an adjustable height. Shelves would hold personal care items. A handheld nozzle would be easy to reach, and have controls at waist height.
This conversation is more than just about washroom design. Staffing shortages at GPC impact personal care routines.
In the 2008 Envisioning Home report, residents said they “understood the need for a routine within GPC but many criticized the inflexibility of it. Residents consistently gave three examples in which the routine challenged the reality of GPC as home: being able to have a bath or shower more than once a week; being able to go back to bed for a rest and then get up again during the day; and having to remain in bed on days when they were to have a bowel routine. Residents wanted a greater degree of control over these aspects of their lives (Envisioning Home, p.12).”