Healthcare often revolves around independence and appropriate assistance when needed. Recently, we have installed a significant number of temporary care showers for clients in several Dutch municipalities. We would like to share what makes this solution so valuable and how the collaboration with the WMO consultants plays a crucial role.
Why a temporary care shower?
Before temporary care showers were common, the focus was often solely on permanent adjustments, such as installing an adapted bathroom or a stairlift. Temporary care showers are an easy and interesting alternative. They are:
- Quickly deployable: ready for use within a few weeks, ideal for people who need acute or temporary care in their own home
- Relatively inexpensive: compared to complete bathroom modifications, it saves considerably on costs, and the facilities are often only needed temporarily
- Flexible & temporary: the showers can be adapted to the care needs and the space in which they are placed. And when the (care) situation changes, the shower is easy to remove, and the (rental) house can easily be restored to its original condition.
- Rent or buy: because the situation is temporary, you can choose between renting and buying (possibly with a buy-back arrangement), which provides flexibility and saves the municipalities high costs.
How we at Delfion work
- Inventory
Even during the initial contacts with the WMO consultant, it becomes clear that a good inventory is essential. The consultants know the situation, know what help is needed daily, and what facilities are already available. Together, we determine the best place for the temporary shower, the dimensions, safety requirements, etc. - Proposal + planning
Based on the data, we design a suitable solution, with a clear quote and planning. After approval, we ensure that the installation can take place quickly. - Placement & completion
Our teams ensure professional installation, so that everything meets the agreed quality and the client is satisfied. - Aftercare & evaluation
We check whether everything is functioning properly and whether the client feels safe and comfortable. Where necessary, we adjust details.
Experiences from practice, two cases
- A WMO consultant called us because she wanted to allow an elderly client with limited mobility to continue living at home, but the lady could no longer shower safely upstairs. Within two weeks, we placed a temporary shower in the utility room. Thanks to the pleasant collaboration with the WMO consultant, the process went very smoothly, from indication to completion, at significantly lower costs than a regular adjustment.
- Also in municipality B., we were on a tight schedule. A client came home from a care institution after rehabilitation. The temporary shower ensured that home care was possible without delay. Here too, people particularly appreciated the cost-effectiveness; within budget, without compromising on safety and comfort. Subsequently, the thresholds turned out to be a problem, and with our threshold assistance service, we made all thresholds on the route easily and safely accessible.
Conclusion
A temporary care shower is a very interesting alternative to a permanent adjustment. A well-considered, people-oriented (interim) solution so that clients can continue to live safely at home. Quickly realized, relatively inexpensive and with real added value for the client and municipality. The good collaboration with WMO consultants is indispensable, as they are best placed to assess whether a temporary solution should be considered as an alternative.
Are you involved in policy or care provision via WMO? Or do you know someone with a specific question about this? Delfion would also like to think along with you about the possibilities.