Find out why Changing Places are such important facilities.
The summer holidays are a great time to enjoy days out as a family - whether its for shopping, going to the beach, or doing a range of other fun activities.
Imagine not being able to enjoy such simple family days out without worrying what to do if your child needs the toilet - Do you cut your day short and go home early? Or do you change your child on the floor of a public toilet?
While standard accessible toilets meet the needs of many people, there are lots of individuals who are unable to use them. Many of the children we work with who have complex disabilities and life-limiting conditions are unable to use toilet facilities or change continence pads without the help of a parent or carer. Without appropriate changing facilities many children have to be changed in unhygienic and unsafe ways, and risk injury to both themselves and their parents or carers if they are lifted without appropriate hoisting equipment.
Changing Places are specialist facilities which some organisations provide in addition to standard accessible toilets. Changing places include:
- A height-adjustable changing bench which allows individuals to be cleaned and have continence pads changed in a hygienic environment.
- A hoist to safely move individuals between a wheelchair and the changing bench and toilet, without risking injury to them or to their parent or carer.
- A centrally located toilet with space on both sides for a parent or carer to provide support.
- A sink, a privacy screen, and adequate space to move around.
Changing places are not only suitable for children with complex disabilities - other potential users include people with a range of medical conditions as well as wheelchair users, elderly people with mobility or cognitive issues, amputees, quadriplegics and injured servicemen and women. There are currently only 193 registered Changing Places in the whole of Scotland, and just 21 of those are in the North-east and Northern Isles. Find your nearest facility on the Changing Places website.
Charlie House has recently installed a Changing Space in ReCHarge Café in Bon Accord, Aberdeen. While it does not have toilet facilities it does provide access to a height adjustable changing bench, a hoist and sink facilities.
It is located on the upper floor of Bon Accord and is open to members of the public.
Find out more about Changing Places and where accessible facilities are located by visiting the Pamis website.
