A Carer’s Voice on Dignity, Design, and the Power of a Half-Height Shower Door
- kirstiekalonji
- Nov 20
- 4 min read
By Pauline Needle, PROCare's In-House Occupational Therapist (OT) and Former Carer
This Thursday, as we mark Carers Rights Day, my thoughts turn not just to the incredible, unseen heroes in our communities, but to the very practical, personal struggles they face every single day.
I'm Pauline, the Occupational Therapist here at PROCare, and I’m speaking not just as a professional, but as someone who spent years caring for my Nan and, later, my own mother, Pat. I know the exhaustion, the isolation, and the relentless fight for the support and dignity that every carer and client deserves.
Carers are the foundation of our entire social care system. They are the hidden heroes and without them, a huge number of people, like my own mum, Pat, would not be able to remain safely and comfortably in their own home. I had to fight to keep my mother out of a nursing home, , and eventually I had to self-funded the building of an annex onto the side of my property for my mum to remain living at home with my support. But being a carer is a relentless physical and emotional load, and the need for respite breaks and affordable practical support and solutions is critical for maintaining a carers wellbeing.
The Unexpected Power of a Half-Height Shower Door
In my professional and personal experience, providing accessible dignified solutions to very real practical problems is essential for carers and for those they are caring for. This is where a seemingly simple product, our half-height shower door, set shower screens, plays a profound role in providing a safe, accessible home modification and adaptation.
The half height door sets are fundamentally about providing you as a carer a safe access solution whilst you are showering your loved one, respecting mutual dignity for both parties.
They also support:
the carer with access to assist with washing and showering their loved one without getting drenched during the showering process
both parties with some degree of personal comfort
the person being cared for with a very necessary degree of privacy and dignity
the transformation of a vulnerable task into one that helps retains mutual respect
with a small, physical barrier that establishes a boundary during a very intimate personal care task.
PROCare is passionately committed to moving away from the starkly clinical look that has long defined mobility equipment. We understand that these products are being installed in people’s homes. That’s why we’ve developed a range of colour options and the ability to print images onto the screens. This focus on inclusive design helps the home adaptations feel less like a hospital fixture and more like a natural part of an accessible home environment. Crucially, because these screens are manufactured by us, in-house in the UK. So, we can easily bespoke them to your exact needs and deliver them within 48 hours. Our goal is to make independent living possible with products that are both functional and beautiful.
A Partnership for Seamless Adaptations
The efficiency of installing these products is vital to reducing the stress on families who need solutions fast. We work closely with experts like Dan Burton from Danson Developments, a keen installer of our half-height doors, who knows what it takes to deliver high-quality home improvements for accessibility.
Here is what Dan shared with us:
"During level access conversions, we often discover the best door solution only after the old bathroom is out. Thanks to PROCare’s reactive UK manufacturing, we can order the bespoke, made-to-measure half-height doors by noon and have them ready to fit just days later, with no bulky off-the-shelf compensators. PROCare's personal call to run through the order is a lovely touch that gives us great peace of mind."
This quick, bespoke turnaround is essential, especially when people are often battling the complexities of securing funding, such as the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG).
The Carer's Ongoing Struggle
My experience showed me that the fight for support is constant. As a Professional Occupational Therapist with many years of clinical experience, I knew what I might qualify for, yet I still had to fight for information and for my rights as an unpaid carer.
This is why organisations which support carers are essential for finding some real understanding and support. I found the groups and support sessions held at my local carers centre in Hindley invaluable in helping me maintain my own wellbeing.
Having someone who truly understands what it's like to search for a respite bed or navigate the complex social services systems, is invaluable.
The daily reality for unpaid carers is draining, and even with my professional knowledge, it profoundly affected my own mantal health and wellbeing.
My story is one of millions. On Carers Rights Day, let's commit to seeing and supporting these hidden heroes, and provide the practical, dignified home adaptations they need to continue their vital work.