Enware Australia introduces a new range of adaptable nursing benches designed for the care of people with disabilities.

Enware’s nursing bench can be electrically raised and lowered to appropriate heights for the various activities involved in the care of people living with disabilities. Sandor Franken, business development manager for Enware, explains that the adjustable nursing bench can be lowered to a suitable height for transfer from a wheelchair where a person needs to be showered while lying down, and then raised to a convenient working height for the carer.

The nursing bench has prioritised patient comfort and safety with an ergonomic design as well as padded and protected surfaces. The slightly curved form of the bench makes it extremely secure and safe for the patient.

The Enware nursing bench is intended for use in healthcare environments such as disability facilities and hospitals; aged care facilities including shared housing; education facilities such as universities, schools and childcare centres; and leisure facilities including aquatic centres and gymnasiums.

According to Franken, a nursing bench is used for washing a person, changing their clothes or providing care, such as applying bandages or delivering medication. In every instance, carers are expected to follow OH&S guidelines, which mostly include a ‘no lifting’ policy. The nursing bench is typically installed in a disabled bathroom against a wall to allow for proper care of the disabled individual and facilitate an appropriate work environment for the carer including not having to bend down and lift.

Recommended for aquatic centres and gyms, the nursing bench can be used to transfer a disabled person from a wheelchair after a therapy session. The bench can then be raised to allow the carer to assist the person while being showered. The collection tray under the nursing bench allows the water to drain away and not drop onto the carer’s legs.

The nursing bench is also useful in schools and childcare centres for use by carers of children with a disability. When the child needs personal care or cleaning, the carer can take the child to the disabled bathroom where the child is transferred to the lowered bench. The carer can then raise the bench to a suitable height to attend to the child.

The height of the nursing bench can be vertically adjusted by 700mm using the remote control. The lowest height of the bench is 300mm from the floor and the maximum height is 1000mm. Enware also supplies a fixed height model of the nursing bench where the recommended height is 865mm above the floor. 

Enware’s adjustable and fixed height nursing benches come with a weight loading capacity of 200kg. Feature highlights include an adjustable neck support for the patient, optional safety rail, water collection tray to prevent water splashes on the carer or the floor, flexible hose to drain water from the water collection tray, fixing bolts for securing the bench system to a solid wall, and bench, end caps and safety rail brackets covered with polyurethane foam for patient comfort.

The bench is designed for use in both wet and dry areas. An integrated gas cylinder enables the bench to be easily folded against the wall when not in use, to maximise floor space. Accessories for the nursing bench include a shower head, shower mixer, baskets and bathroom accessories.