Heating

An adequate level of heating is essential for people with muscular dystrophy; this page details why, and includes information justifying this.

Contents:


Temperature

Muscles are the main source of heat production and maintenance of body temperature; cold muscles do not work as well as warm muscles. Therefore, the severe muscle wasting of neuromuscular conditions, coupled with the inevitable lack of mobility, means that it is essential to provide a higher-than-average level of heating (i.e. 21 - 24°C) in both the bedroom and bathroom. This is particularly important in the bathroom, especially where it has more than one outside wall.

Justification for funding

Grant eligibility is based on medical need only. The validity of the discussion regarding the temperature in the house should be confirmed with the hospital medical consultant if the need has to be established for the central heating boiler and radiators to be grant eligible. It would not be expected that the grant would cover radiators needed in rooms that are not used by the disabled person.

Click here for information justifying the provison of heating   Heating.pdf (33 kb) [pdf]

Individuals, families or Occupational Therapists may use this justification leaflet (from Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s Adaptations Manual, 2nd edition) in any way they wish.  Feel free to photocopy it to submit with requests for funding, quoting the source, if this may help, or to copy any part of the information into individual letters.


Type of heating

The choice is between one or more of the following:
  • radiant heater
  • central heating
  • booster heater/bathroom
  • body dryers
  • bathroom towel rail.

Radiant heater
Most people find it warmer and more comforting to sit by a source of radiant heat, but as these normally would not be left on when everyone is out of the house, they should be supplementary to a satisfactory form of central heating.

Central heating
The source of heat must be constant and controllable. It is important that when the disabled person arrives home, the house is pre-heated to the correct temperature; therefore, the house must have central heating rather than relying on radiant heaters only. Night-storage heaters are not adequate because the heat cannot be controlled or boosted when necessary.

Booster heater/bathroom
In addition to central-heating radiators, it will be necessary to install a wall-mounted fan heater in the bathroom. This is important to allow the instant heat to boost the temperature prior to bathing in the winter, or to be used when the central heating is turned off in the summer.
(Available from Dimplex).

Apres Shower Body Dryer
This can be used as an alternative to the above, with the additional bonus of drying the body independently after bathing or showering.
(Available from Apres Shower Dryers Ltd, Go Independent, Total Hygiene Ltd)

Bathroom towel rail
This is a comforting 'luxury' that can be installed in combination with the central heating radiator, or separately as an additional source of heat.

Heating controls

These must be positioned where they will be accessible and at the correct height if it is necessary for the user to be able to control the system.

Height
Anyone with a neuromuscular condition is unlikely to be able to raise their arms; the height of the controls must therefore be lower than the height usually recommended for wheelchair use.
The ideal height is 700mm from the bottom of the controls to the finished floor level (FFL), although this will depend on the size of the control. This is influenced by the height of the wheelchair armpads; at this height the hand and forearm can be moved sideways and horizontally to reach the control, while the elbow remains supported on the wheelchair armpad.

Space at either side of the controls
 The limited arm movement and inability to reach makes it necessary to approach the controls with the wheelchair parallel and close to the wall. Therefore, there must not be any obstruction 600mm on either side of the controls.

Suppliers' contact details

A number of suppliers and manufacturers have been mentioned. All contact details can be found by clicking the link below. There is the option to download the page as well.

Suppliers' details