Perhaps you've traveled in one of the countries where bidets are used to clean intimate body areas. A jet of cool or warm water cleans the user after he or she tends to that most personal of businesses. Feeling clean and refreshed, the user goes about with a renewed sense of confidence.
While bidets are available here in the US, toilet paper or cleansing wipes are the most common methods for tidying up after said business. Problems with this method include the little flecks of tissue that sometimes stick; irritating hemorrhoids; wondering if one "got everything" after a bowel movement; or the awkwardness of reaching the areas needing cleaning in the first place. For someone in good health without mobility or flexibility issues, these can be challenging enough. But what about someone whose ability to perform this most basic self-care function
has been compromised by a stroke, an injury, or the aging process?
Brondell offers a solution to these problems: the Brondell Swash 1000 Advance Bidet Toilet Seat. Unlike traditional bidets requiring the installation of new plumbing lines, all the components are integrated into an easily installed toilet seat. The water line and power cord with a three-prong GFI plug are included as is a remote control unit. Many customers reported having it up and running in under an hour.
Use of the Swash 1000 is simple. The user tends to business, then he or she (or a helper) simply presses a few buttons on the remote. A nozzle made of stainless steel directs a jet of water to either the feminine or posterior region. In less than 25 seconds, the user's all clean. Next, warm air currents gently dry the user and it's on with the day.
While the idea of a remote controlled bidet seat may sound like a gag from "Monty Python's Flying Circus," it actually would be helpful to someone who had to relearn performance of daily living activities. A patient's sense of independence would be increased since he or she wouldn't have to rely on an assistant for help with toileting. This in turn would lead to better morale, inspiring him or her to stay on the path towards maximum autonomy.
After usage, the Swash 1000 deodorizes itself and sanitizes the nozzles. Its ceramic water heater makes sure that warm water is always ready at the user's preferred temperature.
Other helpful features include the soft closing and lowering heated ergonomically designed seat (also with temperature controls) with a quick release for easy cleaning with a soft cloth and a mild detergent; an intelligent body sensor; and an automatic energy saving mode. The Swash 1000 comes in round or elongated styles and two neutral colors, white or biscuit, to complement any style of toilet and decor.
Not just for customers adapting to challenges, it could be incorporated into remodeling an existing bathroom for a spa-like experience. While heated floors and towel racks are a must, there's no need to install a full-blown bidet. Simply replace the old toilet seat with a Swash 1000 for a touch of luxury at home.
Another benefit reported by customers with young children is easier to clean laundry. Small children might have the basic concepts of potty training down, but need help in post-toileting hygiene. Until then, the Swash 1000 keeps those precious bottoms in good condition.
On top of that, there's the question of environmental impact due to trees being used in the manufacture of toilet paper (54 million a year go into making the 34 million rolls used on a daily basis in the US alone).
Customers reported a 97% satisfaction rate. The Swash 1000 also received the Electronic House 2011 Gold Award for Product of the Year.
Whether a consumer is looking for a valuable tool for a medical condition, adding a touch of luxury to an otherwise mundane activity of daily life, or simply wants to play their part in saving the planet, the Swash 1000 provides a way to fulfill all of these needs.
Fran Jablway
and
Hulet Smith, OT
