AWARDS
Therm-Oz Thermostatic Showers are proud recipients of the following awards:
Assistive Showering Technology
What role do thermostatic mixer showers play in assisted living?
Until now, options for assisted living showering products have been restricted to Australia’s two tap manual systems for showers or single lever action mixer taps. Both options will have advantages and disadvantages over each other whilst assessing which option best meets your client’s needs. Clients potentially more vulnerable to scalding from hot water include amongst others; children, older people, people with reduced mental capacity, people with reduced mobility, people with temperature sensitivity, people who cannot react quickly enough to prevent injury.
However, neither option would be the choice in most other countries around the world, as ‘point of use’ thermostatic mixer shower valves would be fitted as standard policy to reduce the risk of scalding. The Therm-Oz Thermostatic Shower Valve is fully approved to be legally installed by licenced plumbers in Australia and is included as AS4032.4 – 2014 in the Australian Plumbing Code AS/NZS3500.4: 2018.
Why the Therm-Oz thermostatic shower valve is Perfect for Assistive Living
It is an extremely safe and effective shower, offering many benefits over your limited choices to date.
The simple to operate handle turns the shower on or off in a smooth ceramic disc quarter turn action. There is no risk of a long lever handle in a confined showering space being knocked out of position and altering the temperature suddenly. This can lead to Thermal Shock as large areas of the body are exposed to water whilst showering. Any sudden movements to avoid the discomfort of a change in water temperature on a slippery floor and in a confined space increase the risk of severe injury in the event of a fall. The risk of fall due to thermal shock is greater for people with mobility impairment or compromised balance, such as older people and people with a disability.
The temperature is set at 38 degrees centigrade and can be adjusted for cooler temperatures in an easy action, or if the safety button was chosen to depress and over-ride the feature, then the temperature would operate up to 45 degrees centigrade only.
The valve itself has Cool-Touch technology to ensure the outer surface remains cool to touch and ensures no risk of burning. The advantages of the Therm-Oz thermostatic mixer shower are many, including being able to turn the shower off whilst maneuvering in the shower enclosure to save water, realising that when the shower is turned back on within a short time, it will immediately deliver the chosen temperature as before.
We would encourage you to take the time to familiarise yourselves with the advantages of an exposed thermostatic shower valve, in the hope that it may offer an opportunity to attain independence and improve safety whilst showering for some of your clients, more effectively, speedily and affordably, than the options that you have been able to recommend to date.
“The ease and simplicity to use it is a massive bonus.”
For self-managed NDIS plans, the NDIS Assistive Technology Team classify the thermostatic shower as a Category 3 Item. Discover more about how you can use our thermostatic shower valves to support those with disabilities.
How do I as an OT assessor obtain a quotation to submit to NDIS for approval?
As the Therm-Oz thermostatic shower valve is currently classed as a Category 3 item (please see NDIS note above) then an assessment as per current NDIS guidelines will be required to obtain NDIS funding for your Therm-Oz thermostatic mixer shower.
Complex home modification (CHM) assessments: