AN ADAPTABLE BATHING FIXTURE FOR ELDERLY DISABLED USERS

THIS PROJECT WILL DEVELOP, PRODUCE, AND MARKET AN ADAPTABLE TUB AND ROLL-IN SHOWER FOR USE IN CONSTRUCTION OF ACCESSIBLEHOUSING FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED INDIVIDUALS. THE ADAPTABLE BATHING FIXTURE WILL CONSIST OF A ROLL-IN SHOWER PAN AND REMOVABLE STANDARD-SIZE TUB BOWL. THE FIXTURE CAN BE INSTALLED AS EITHER A ROLL-IN SHOWER OR TUB AND CAN BE EASILY REFITTED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE NEXT OCCUPANT OR OFAN OCCUPANT WHOSE NEEDS CHANGE OVER TIME. DURING PHASE I OF THE PROJECT, A PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF THE ADAPTABLE FIXTURE WILL BE DEVELOPED AND EVALUATED BY PROSPECTIVE USERS, HOUSING CONTRACTORS, AND BATHING FIXTURE MANUFACTUUERS. BASED ON THEIR EVALUATION, THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN WILL BE REFINED. IN PHASE II, A PROTOTYPE BATHING FIXTURE WILL BE CONSTRUCTEDAND TESTED BY USERS. ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM CONTRACTORS AND MANUFACTURERS WILL BE OBTAINED. PHASE II WILL CONCLUDE WITH PRODUCTION OF THE FINAL BATHING FIXTURE.