It is no secret that I am a big advocate for a nationwide network of registered Changing Places, so this review is bound to reflect that. I knew the ‘Space to Change‘ bathroom would need to be a high standard and function-able. I headed to the Kiwi Properties shopping centre with a friend to review the ‘Space to Change’ bathroom. Ironically, I was on a weekend break from the family and supposedly sitting back and having a well earned rest. However, when you have a passion for accessible travel and inclusion like I do, it’s not surprising that when you’re in the area you have to check things out. My friend had a little giggle when I pulled out a tape measure from my handbag to measure a distance in one of the rooms. Today I was really keen, as a caregiver, to see whether this room had scored high in function and design.
Location
Te Awa The Base in Hamilton is a huge new retail hub in the northern part of the City. Hamilton North is seeing extensive development and fast becoming the place to be if you are looking for new housing, services and good transport links north to Auckland. At the retail hub you will find plenty of mobility parks scattered through its extensive open air parking. It is also right next to the new Rotokauri Transport Hub, where incidentally I’d just popped into review the newly built registered Changing Place, Hamiltons second one built. The first one being at the Hamilton Gardens that happens to be New Zealand’s very first Changing Place.
Right, enough about Changing Places let’s get back The Base and ‘Space to Change’.
How to find the ‘Space to Change’
Like all sizeable shopping centres it can certainly be a mission to find what you are looking for. Often a good place to start is at the Information Kiosks. Here you can usually find interactive screens listing shops, food halls and amenities. On looking for the ‘Space to Change’ at one of these kiosks we came across the familiar Changing Place logo instead. We asked at the Information Desk if they had a Changing Place here, the staff member said ‘yes’ giving us the directions of where to find it. It was on Level One (next level up) via the elevator next to the Hoyts Cinema.
At the elevator we didn’t identify any signage indicating where the ‘Space To Change’ or ‘Changing Place’ was. On leaving the elevator we still couldn’t see any sort of signage. We knew it was near the Hoyts Cinema and alongside the other toilet amenities. The toilet amenities were clearly marked with the familiar icons for ‘men & women’, parent/caregiver room and accessible toilet.
Heading in that direction it wasn’t till we were halfway down the corridor that we looked up and noticed in small words ‘Space to Change’ with an arrow indicating straight on. We couldn’t see anything indicating a Changing Place, so not surprisingly decided the Information Desk and Board were mistaken. However, the Changing Place logo on the Information Board was somewhat of a big error to my thinking. The lack of directional signage and consistent identification makes this bathroom hard to find unless you know it’s there.
We finally found it! A big round colourful rainbow sign with the words Space to Change telling us we’d arrived. I quickly read the orange welcome sign underneath that read “for access, please press the silver intercom button to speak to security to open door” We could see a camera so knew we were going to be judged whether we met criteria for this room. Two able-bodied women with no sign of a wheelchair anywhere hhmn … might just be restricted entry for us. However, on pressing the intercom and not even speaking the sliding door flew open!
The Space to Change Bathroom
The first thing that grabbed me about the bathroom was the generous space the room offered. It is also equipped with the awesome equipment needed for a fully accessible changing facility. The height-adjustable change bed with shower on rail, a ceiling track hoist that spans the room and both a height-adjustable handbasin and a toilet. It’s looking good so far, but then how does the function and layout stack up?
The first thing I noticed was no privacy screen around the toilet for the caregiver and no bins to dispose of incontinence products.
The basin is blocking the space in front of the toilet for the person needing assistance to use it. Remembering the extra space in these bathrooms are for those who need caregivers to assist with toileting. The toilet needs to be accessed from both sides, especially if using the ceiling track hoist and a hygiene sling. Access from both sides and in front of a toilet is fundamental to any Changing Places design internationally.
The fact that this toilet has been placed against the wall with the hand basin indicates that the room has had input from an independent wheelchair user who likes the sink close to the toilet for washing their hands. The Caregiver hasn’t been consulted around the function of the room layout. What we have to remember is these bathrooms are designed for those who need assistance to toilet. We come in all shapes and sizes and for myself being relatively small, as you can see below, shows you how restricting the space is for me.
Having just reviewed the new Changing Place across at the Transport Hub where the attention to detail was impressive. The exposed wires under the height-adjustable hand basin and broken plumbing cover hardly reflected good wear and tear down the track in this room.
Or when I tried to raise the height-adjustable change bed up I had to stop so not to snap the soap dish off.
Turning to the additional items a Space to Change bathroom provides. They provide a hospital grade sluice sink at the end of the change bed and a roll out paper towel for use over the change bed to help with hygiene.
Firstly, the sluice bin is generally for emptying out urine bottles which could be easily done in the toilet. Because of where the sluice is located it makes it very difficult for a caregiver to assist from the end of the change bed itself. It also becomes an obstacle when pulling out the paper towel for hygienic reasons. You have to make sure it doesn’t come into contact with the sluice sink. Then what do you with the paper towel afterwards? There is only one bin and it is beside the toilet, which clearly isn’t designed for paper towels and incontinence products.
Another issue I came across was the short shower hose which couldn’t reach the desired area where it was needed for use. When stretched out to its maximum it would fall upon the face of the person lying down.
I decided to compare Kiwi Property’s ‘Space to Change’ with their Parent and Caregiving Room around the corner designed for babies. This was quite an interesting comparison considering the detail and function of both rooms.
Parent and Caregiving Room
Firstly, look at all the pull out bins with plenty of space to place items. The milk warmer in the corner along with the soap dispenser on the wall for caregivers to wash their hands.
A microwave and paper towel dispenser to dry your hands. Shelves and sides to store needed items at hand.
A separate room with a toilet and sink designed for a toddler and parent/caregiver. Wow, what child has one of these in their home?
Then check out the individual feeding cubicles where privacy and a comfortable chair is supplied. A playroom to keep toddlers entertained while baby gets a feed and a lovely mural to create a more warm and welcoming space. Power switches and side tables beside each chair so you can charge or plug in an item while you feed your baby.
This is a room designed with function in mind. It has a high level of detail that makes this space work. This shows that it is not unreasonable to expect the same level of detail inside the ‘Space to Change.’
Now check out the Changing Place I reviewed earlier for a comparison and it’s only approximately 100 metres away from the shopping centre.