A new hoist and aquatic wheelchair installed at the AC Baths, thanks to a community partnership between the council and IHC Lakeland Association, will improve water access for those with limited mobility.
Taupo District Council's acting group manager of operational services John Ridd said the AC Baths team and mobility groups had been investigating possibilities to improve access, and felt the hoist and wheelchair were great ways to make positive changes.
"These are tools that will be hugely beneficial for caregivers that will enable them to help their clients and family around," he said. "They will allow members of our community affected by limited mobility to benefit from being in the water, which we know is a popular tool in therapy and for physical rehabilitation."
While investigating options for improvement, the team was approached by the IHC Lakeland Association which wanted to find out whether the council had plans to upgrade the AC Baths to accommodate those with severe physical disabilities. Following a discussion, the IHC Lakeland Association funded the hoist and the council funded the aquatic wheelchair.
The hoist is located in a private changing room and will be used to move people to a change table, toilet and shower. The hoist can then be used to lift people into the aquatic wheelchair is used to transfer them in and out of the water on the ramp into the leisure pool.
"We were thrilled the IHC Lakeland Association was able to help out with something that will make such a huge difference to our mobility pool users," Mr Ridd said. "This is a fantastic community partnership that takes an already top facility to a higher level, to include all members of our community."
IHC Lakeland Association chair Karen Fox said many more people in the community would now be able to swim because of the assistance the hoist and wheelchair would provide. "This lift will increase the possibility for all our community to access the pool, and for many will provide the only place where they can enjoy physical movement," she said. "We are sure this facility will enhance people's lives. We can now say that the leisure pool is accessible to all, not just the physically able."
