G360 Bathrooms ensure Chris with Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s can bathe safely again

Chris Stringer, 51, from Sutton Coldfield, is now the proud owner of an accessible Alera bath supplied and installed by G360 Bathrooms. Previously, his disabilities meant that accessing a standard bath was impossible. 

As Chris felt unsafe due to his conditions, he was prone to ‘freezing’ and his female carers were not able to get him out of the bath without additional help. 

Now bathtime is a completely different, positive experience for everyone, thanks to G360 Bathrooms. Chris lives in an adapted home and is supported by carers 24/7. He is a positive and engaging individual, despite his challenges which also include visual impairment. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in April 2024, he was finding bathtime increasingly stressful so assisted showering was the only option for him. His retired parents, Peter and Kathryn, were fully aware of Chris wanting to bathe again and the benefits it provided in terms of his mental and physical health. Bathing relaxes Chris and improves his mood. Hence, they started to research specialist bath providers to see if they could find a solution – G360 Bathrooms proved to be the ideal manufacturer.

G360 Bathrooms is part of the Gainsborough Healthcare Group which is Europe’s largest manufacturer of specialist care and walk-in baths. G360 provides a complete 360-degree bathroom service encompassing site surveys, pre-enablement works, installation and after care. It is a ‘one stop shop’ for all aspects of an accessible bathroom or wet room so the hassle of dealing with multiple tradespeople is eliminated. Chris’ parents decided these credentials were ideal for their son, as Peter explains: “Chris’ bath was too high and he was becoming frightened to get in or out. So, we looked online and found a few companies;  however, in April, Gainsborough came and visited us. They were very honest, gave simple explanations, applied no pressure on us; overall, they have been brilliant.” 

Antimicrobial Alera bath

Peter continues: “They brought a bath for Chris to try in the back of a demonstration vehicle.  It had a seat that would lift and lower him into the bath. He tried it so we could all see the function and whether it would work for him; it did and he wasn’t scared. We ordered it in May and it only took a few weeks before it was fitted. This Alera bath has been a game changer for him and his carers.”

The Alera is a fixed height bath with powered transfer seat and unique leg lifter for the bather. At the touch of one button, the bather can be lifted, rotated and seated in the bath without needing to climb in and out. It is a safe and effective solution for individuals who are unable to step in and out of a domestic bath. The transfer seat has armrests for added safety and once in the bath, these can swing upwards so freedom to move is not compromised. Optional therapeutic features are available including AirSpa, Bluetooth sound and lighting. Chris and his family chose to include chromotherapeutic LEDs in their Alera which provide added engagement and enjoyment during bathtime. 

The Alera bath has also benefited the carers looking after Chris. Two of them, Lorna and Courtney, have been supporting Chris for over 10 years and now can assist him without risking muscle strain or back injury. The manual moving and handling aspect of bathing is now performed by the transfer seat as Lorna explains: “It’s made a massive difference to us as we don’t have to lift or lower Chris. And also, the other stresses have gone as when he used to get anxious, he would clam up and we couldn’t engage with him or move him. Our aim is always to keep him calm, like this morning when he had a bath, he was so relaxed. With his autistic tendencies, it is important he has a routine such as bathtime and being able to soak and chill is much better than a shower. 

Lorna wraps up Chris’ story by saying: 

“We’ve noticed that with Chris having a bath every other day, he is becoming more confident and less scared of things.  Having a bath is also a lot better for his hygiene as he wasn’t showering much, whereas, now he washes more often and more thoroughly.  This is important as many people with his disabilities can develop skin conditions. We can see by his body language that he really enjoys having a bath.  He loves the lights and we had a fun bubble battle this morning which was a really positive experience for him.”