Gainsborough provides assisted bathing and hoisting for new care home

Gainsborough have designed, supplied and installed a range of assistive bathing and transfer products at the prestigious new Hartwood House care home in Lyndhurst, Hampshire.

Gainsborough was chosen to provide assisted bathing and hoisting in the high dependency wing of the building so residents could be transferred with dignity and in safety. 50 residents required care for conditions such as Dementia, Alzheimer’s and restricted mobility from old age.

The Glide ceiling track hoists, Kent and Ascot hi-lo baths that were selected assisted vulnerable residents in the specialist Dementia care unit. They helped carers with their patient cleaning routines and when transferring individuals around the building.

Gainsborough successfully resolved several challenges during the build so that solutions were still delivered on time and within budget. Steve Williams, Highwood Group Product Manager explained:

“As the lead contractor for the build, we benefited from a positive working relationship with Gainsborough right from the start. The Gainsborough team was on-hand to provide guidance and support throughout the specification and installation stages. We had to address a few construction issues before the installation of the ceiling tracks. Nevertheless the Gainsborough team was able to fully support us in order to provide an appropriate solution.”

Commonly the hoisting of residents between rooms involved the transfer of a sling from one lift motor to another, as track rails end at dividing walls. With Glide 200, single rails that run uninterrupted between rooms were made possible at Hartwood House resulting in the need for only one hoist unit. This provided several benefits in terms of cost saving, better efficiently and greater dignity for residents.

During 2012, initial site surveys were undertaken by Gainsborough technical engineers to check all specific requirements. Gainsborough’s AspectTM design programme ensured rooms were designed appropriately in terms of ergonomics, wheelchair access and resident safety. Gainsborough then completed additional feasibility surveys so that final plans were approved by early 2013. Both contractor and Gainsborough installers were then able to begin with the same objectives.

Once fully operational, an Area Sales Manager attended on site to provide staff training and Gainsborough now provide maintenance. Overall the installation was a great success and Hartwood House can now provide world-class care for many years to come.