Futureproofed Aries 2000 bath eases Ava’s disability through therapy and family time
| Project: | Crawford family |
| Location: | Bromsgrove, West Midlands |
| Solution: | Hoist accessible Aries 2000 height-adjustable bath |
| Bather conditions: | Cerebral palsy and epilepsy |
The 2m, extra long and spacious Aries 2000 is future-proofed for Ava as she grows
Ava Crawford, aged 5 from Bromsgrove with cerebral palsy, has been able to bathe with her twin sister Olivia for the first time in years, thanks to a new accessible bath from Abacus Specialist Bathroom Solutions.
Mum Samantha and her girls have recently moved from Worcester to a housing association property in Bromsgrove so Ava’s needs can be met more fully. Their new home has been extensively remodelled and extended by the local council with an accessible downstairs bedroom and adjoining bathroom for Ava.
As Ava’s condition means she experiences strong variations in muscle tone, the family’s Occupational Therapist (OT) recommended an Abacus bath to reduce stiffness and discomfort. In their previous house they only had a standard bath, meaning mum Samantha had to manually lift and lower Ava which was becoming unsafe for both of them. Adapted showering was then the only alternative; however, this did not provide a pleasant experience for Ava or offer any therapy. From a young age, it has been so important for the two sisters to bathe together as their bond is so strong. Hence the family needed a ‘hi-lo’ bath with variable height so Samantha did not risk straining her back and a solution that was compatible with a ceiling track hoist. When they moved house, their situation was to improve dramatically.
“Any advice for families looking for bath funding?”
Samantha lifting up the Aries with its powered variable height functionality
Jacqueline (right) gives two Abacus mascots, Trevor the Turtle to Ava and Olivia.
An Aries 2000 bath was deemed the most appropriate bathing solution by Ava’s Occupational Therapist. Samantha was unable to completely pay for the bath privately, as she is Ava’s full-time carer, so had to fundraise herself and apply for charity donations. Abacus was instrumental in signposting her to funding options which led to financial help from Acorns Children’s Hospice and Together for Short Lives. Through Sam’s determination, owning an Aries bath became a reality without the assistance of a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG).
A DFG can be awarded by local councils to pay for housing adaptations. As the Crawford’s home had already been adapted for accessibility, they did not qualify for any more help.
Samantha started conversing with Abacus in Spring 2022. A home assessment of Ava’s needs was completed by David Bertorelli, Regional Assessment Manager, which resulted in the recommendation of an Aries 2000. David regularly works closely with Occupational Therapists to ensure clients receive the most appropriate bathing solution for their individual requirements. As with all Abacus Assessors, he has a demonstration vehicle with several baths on board so the most suitable products can be trialled and identified.
The Aries 2000 is an oversized hi-lo power assisted bath with extra length. It allows carers and parents to assist children with disabilities without bending over or stooping so the risk of back injury is minimised. The spacious design allows a variety of postural and seating aids to be placed in the bath and optional features include AirSpa and chromotherapy lighting. These therapy options were recommended for Ava to help reduce discomfort and increase engagement.
“Our Aries bath means therapy at home”
“What are the main benefits of your Aries bath?”
The new family home was completed in September 2022 and Abacus liaised with the Home Improvement Agency’s contractor to ensure the bath was fitted before Samantha and the girls moved in. When the supportive bath chair was subsequently delivered and the overhead ceiling track hoist was installed, bath time began completely pleasurable for the whole family. From a clinical point of view, the Aries helps to relax Ava so her epilepsy and spasms are less pronounced and achieving sleep is easier.
Everyone was delighted, as Sam says: “The girls absolutely love the bath especially in the winter months. The lights look amazing when the nights are darker. We have a bit of party in there with lots of bubbles and Olivia and Ava enjoy splashing with their mermaids. It’s such a good thing for Ava and Olivia to spend time together in the bath – our Aries enables us to do this. Sometimes Ava prefers to have a bath on her own but most of the time she wants her sister
close by.”
When asked about the difference the Aries bath makes, Samantha says: “I think there are two main benefits for me and my family. The first, which is really important for my daughter, who has dystonia so can be really stiff, is having a bath with the air jets on. This relaxes her muscles and settles her down before bed. When we used to shower, Ava would get cold and this made her muscle tone worse. Having access to a bath is crucial for the whole household so we can all get some sleep.”
“The other benefit for the family is that my girls can bathe together for the first time in years. They have such a strong bond as twins, so it’s vital they can continue to spend time together. To see them playing and laughing for the first time in the new bath was so nice. Our Aries brings us together despite the girls having different lives – they’re equal when bathing.”
Our Aries brings us together despite the girls having different lives – they’re equal when bathing
Samantha found sourcing a grant for the Aries bath a challenge; however, she persevered and was supported by helpful guidance from Abacus. David Bertorelli and Jacqueline Jones-Jackson, Abacus Project Leader, both passed on their knowledge to Sam so funding through charity donations became possible.
Sam continues: “Through talking to Abacus and my OT I learnt so much about assisted baths and how they can be funded. I’d known about Abacus baths for a while and now know about DFGs. The company really helped steer me and I am already passing this information on to other parents with disabled children as we are all one big community. Abacus have a guide to getting a bath through a DFG which I am sharing with families and even our support worker from Acorns – there is real interest in this booklet. It is important they all know the facts, especially as I think funding information is hidden away so getting a grant for a necessary and appropriate bath can sometimes seem impossible.” Finally, in terms of service from Abacus, Samantha is extremely complementary about every aspect as she concludes: “From the very beginning when my OT put me in touch with Abacus, they immediately gave me one person to contact throughout the whole process. Jacqueline was amazing at Abacus. She arranged everything and when we were struggling with funding, she couldn’t have done any more to point us in the right direction. David who came out to assess Ava was also brilliant, he’s so knowledgeable and well connected.”
“Another thing that helped was the preferred communication choices you had which meant I could choose to be contacted by phone or email – when you’re in a stressful situation this really helps. There was always someone available to talk about what needed discussing which put my mind at ease. Abacus organised everything around the bath fitting and made sure it was installed before we moved in. They dealt directly with the housing association which took the pressure off me.”
“Overall, our Aries bath means therapy at home. Ava can have a therapeutic experience without having to go somewhere, which means she can avoid the stress of being out. Home is her haven –
it’s where she is most comfortable and having an accessible bath has reassured Ava even more.”
