In the nineteenth century, elderly people in poverty lived their final years in workhouses, where conditions were harsh. While undoubtedly cases of sub-standard care still exist, since the mid-twentieth century quality of care for the elderly has gradually improved, and now, in the twenty-first century, there are national regulatory bodies and legislation in place to ensure higher standards are adhered to.

Nowadays, whether it is a luxury retirement village, a large nursing home or a small care home, the best establishment, whatever its budget, strives to provide its residents with an environment which offers much more than merely responding to basic physical needs. For residents to thrive emotionally, their spiritual, intellectual, social, and recreational needs must also be met. Methodist Homes, for example, according to their website, “place great importance on nurturing the mind, body and spirit of those we care for, their families and our colleagues of all faiths and none.”

With Britain being a diverse and multi-cultural society, and with residents throughout the country having different individual interests and beliefs, this is a big and complex challenge for the care provider which requires flexible solutions. WuduMate has been involved in helping to design multi-faith facilities since the company started in 2007. Where it is not appropriate for permanent space to be allocated as a dedicated multi-faith or prayer room, or where a resident is unable to access one. it should still be possible to provide residents with facilities which meet their spiritual needs.

Wudu is the Muslim act of ritual ablution before prayer, involving the washing of the face, head, hands, arms, and feet. An architect designing a new care home, or a manager of an existing one may wish to consider including a WuduMate Mobile for use by Muslim staff, residents, and visitors because of the following benefits:

The only wudu appliance to be totally mobile, allowing wudu to be respectfully performed in privacy anywhere.

> Mobile with integral plumbing
> No installation costs
> Lightweight but sturdy with durable wheels, making it easy to wheel around
> Ergonomic chromed steel stool with black cushioned top which discreetly nestles in the unit for safe use and easy transportation
> Quality chromed brass tap providing approximately 14 minutes of running water for wudu

The WuduMate Mobile, while being ideal for use in a care home, is also equally suitable for hotels, hospitals, prisons, police stations, student residences and indeed wherever permanent facilities are either not practical or not available.

To find out more about the WuduMate Mobile and to download technical data please see our Barbour Product Search page: www.barbourproductsearch.info/wudumate-mobile-foot-bath-prod1284468.html

For further information on Best Practice Multi - Faith Room Design, please download WuduMate's guide 'Diversity Matters'