Dignified Bathing Vital to Successful Long-Term Care Facilities

Dignified Bathing Vital to Successful Long-Term Care Facilities

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Dignified Bathing Vital to Successful Long-Term Care Facilities

Residents and their families look closely at the care and respect given in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Bathing, eating, toileting and genuine care are critical components to consider when looking for a place to live out the last chapter of one’s life. Rane Bathing and Accessibility has committed themselves to creating the best possible bathing solutions for healthcare settings for over three decades.  A lovely, safe, functional tub that is easily accessible for both the bather and the care-giver goes a long way to demonstrate sincere care for the staff and residents of your facility.

Safe Rane Tubs for Healthcare Facilities

Rane has more experience than any other company since their founder was a pioneer in designing and crafting Walk-in Tubs and other accessible Bathing solutions for the healthcare field. Safety is built into every aspect of Rane Tubs from the walk-in doors, to the anti-scald valves, to the slightly reclined seating contoured to comfortably fit human anatomy. Depending on the model, Rane tubs allow care-giver access on one, three or all sides of the tub offering greater access for assisted bathing without straining the caregiver in ways that produce back injuries.  Rane’s policy of “no trips, slips or falls” is woven into every factor of their accessibility tubs—including those that need lifts or transfer assistance.

Respect and Dignity for Bather in Healthcare Setting

Rane’s thoughtfully-designed Accessibility Tubs may put safety and function at the top of the list, but the lovely style of Rane Tubs exudes an exquisite upscale look. Your residents, their families and your staff will feel like they have stepped into a personal spa. Rane’s designers have incorporated ways to take the chill factor away as your residents don’t have to sit in a cold, unfeeling tub while the water fills up to get them warm. Many tubs offer a prefill option that allows warmed water to quickly soak the patient while seated in a comfortable slightly reclined contoured seat. There is also a fast drain so a warm towel and bathrobe can quickly cover the modest bather. Many features allow residents to bathe as independently as possible granting increased respect and dignity.

Make Bathing a Pleasant Experience in Your Long-term Care Facility

Bathing can be a dreaded chore for both resident and care-giver, but a lovely Rane Tub can make it feel like a day at the resort. Add a little artwork, flowers and respect for privacy when possible and a Rane Tub can add to your facility by relaxing nerves, soothing sore muscles, improving circulation, stopping the spread of infection (note Ranes’ built-in sanitizing stations for easy use between bathers). You will have happier residents, families and staff. Contact Rane Bathing and Accessibility today for more information.

Desquamation & Skin Care in the Elderly

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There has long been a call for more focus on preventing and management of impaired skin integrity—especially in our elderly population, which is always increasing. With so many long-term facilities serving our aging citizens, this is the time to educate and implement more ways to promote healthy skin in facility residents. Better management of healthy skin can actually prevent wounds and disorders while improving the quality of life. Desquamation is the normal shedding or flaking off of the outer layers of skin as new skin cells take their place. It often shows up at a higher rate in the geriatric population. Rane Bathing and Accessibility wants to partner with healthcare facilities to improve all aspects of bathing, which includes skin care for residents in your facilities.

Causes of Excessive Desquamation & Skin Disorders in the Elderly

  • With aging, skin is unable to produce and maintain the moisture it did at a younger age
  • Skin becomes thinner as certain cells flatten due to lack of natural moisture
  • Sitting in front of a heater or keeping the room very hot takes away moisture from skin
  • Not enough water intake. The elderly often don’t drink as much water as needed
  • Taking baths in hot temperatures or for prolonged times
  • Using soaps or skin products with too high of an alkaline level
  • Cold winter weather or very dry air

Educating Staff and Residents about Skin Care

  • Proper Skin Care prevents skin wounds and disorders
  • Increase water intake which improves overall health-not just skin
  • Baths can hydrate different skin cells and plump them up
  • Hot baths and showers should be switched to lukewarm water
  • Use a soap substitute or a product with a pH level between 4-7 (often marked “for sensitive skin”)
  • Limit baths to 30 minutes or less
  • Blot lightly with towel as opposed to rubbing skin dry
  • Apply the correct moisturizer while skin is still slightly damp from bathing (traps moisture from bathing inside the skin)
  • Know the difference in moisturizers: Lotions– have the highest water content with no greasy residue, but evaporate more quickly needing more frequent application; Creams– have an oil in water base and have less occlusive base than oil; Ointments– consist of water-in-oil (typically lanolin or petrolatum) base and have the longest lasting effect on skin moisturizing than lotions or creams but leaves a greasy residue.

Rane Bathing and Accessibility, a pioneer in Walk-in Tubs, is highly-respected in the healthcare field for its innovative designs and solutions in accessible bathing for residential and facility use. They are dedicated to making baths safer, more accessible, more comfortable, and healthier. Contact Rane today.