A more comfortable daily routine

Meet Mienke

Living with cerebral palsy, Mienke relies on a wheelchair and requires support throughout her daily activities. Her condition stems from being born prematurely and experiencing a lack of oxygen, resulting in muscle spasms and severe stiffness affecting all four of her limbs.

Despite her physical challenges, Mienke leads an active and meaningful life. She is a writer who uses her voice to raise awareness about accessibility and living with a disability. For Mienke, inspiring others through her writing gives her energy and a sense of purpose.

However, managing daily hygiene routines with severe physical limitations requires the right equipment. To help maintain her active lifestyle, Mienke needed a solution that provided support and comfort during personal care. Her search led her to the Etac Alto, a powered mobile shower commode with height and tilt adjustment.

Easily adjusted to provide optimal posture and stability, the Alto allows Mienke to sit comfortably without pain, ensuring both caregiver efficiency and a far more enjoyable hygiene experience.

The challenge

Mienke's condition presents posture and stability hurdles during daily care. Due to muscle spasms, she requires all-round support to prevent sliding to one side or losing her balance.

Before finding the Alto shower chair, sitting during hygiene routines was often a painful experience for Mienke. Because of this discomfort, she was unable to sit in a shower chair for extended periods, making daily care stressful and physically demanding for both her and her caregivers.

Mienke van Alphen alongside Etac sales representative Marjan Kiers, who helped her find the right solution for her daily care.

The solution

Mienke has now transitioned to the Alto shower commode, a decision that has transformed her daily routine. Thanks to the Alto’s soft seat, back support and extensive adjustment features, Mienke can now enjoy a lovely shower in complete comfort. The Alto’s smooth powered adjustments allow her caregivers to tailor her positioning precisely to her body's needs, completely eliminating the pain she previously endured. 

Marjan Kiers, the sales representative who consulted with Mienke during the selection process, says: “When we looked at what Mienke needed from her new powered mobile shower commode, the Alto felt like the right choice. Seeing how happy she is with it, particularly the level of comfort, is really rewarding. A shower should be more than just a daily necessity. It should be a comfortable and enjoyable part of the day.”

“As Etac’s first powered mobile shower commode, Alto is an important part of our portfolio”, says Maria Clettborn-Persson, Product Manager. ”It brings together what we see as essential to good product design: comfort and dignity for the user, combined with safety, ease of use and good ergonomics for the caregiver. The positive response from the market reinforces our belief that these are the things that really matter in everyday care. Ultimately, it’s about creating a better experience in everyday hygiene routines for everyone involved.”

“Since I started using this shower chair, my body has been well stabilised by the back support, and I no longer feel any pain when sitting.”

How the Alto transformed Mienke’s daily life

The Alto has made hygiene routines easier, safer and far more comfortable:

Pain-free sitting and proper support

With its comfortable, soft seat and well-designed back support, the Alto provides complete stability for the entire body. This stabilizes Mienke, prevents her from sliding to one side and allows her to sit upright comfortably for longer periods without developing back pain.

Exceptional adjustability

The Alto features a wide range of adjustment options that Mienke and her caregivers use daily. The tilt-back function offers greater relaxation and freedom, while the height adjustment enables her to sit comfortably at washbasin level or enjoy a relaxing shower.

Reduced strain on caregivers

The shower chair can be raised quite high, allowing caregivers to work at an ergonomic height during showering and care tasks. Additionally, the Alto is lightweight and remarkably easy to manoeuvre. It fits smoothly through standard doorways and turns effortlessly in small bathroom spaces.

More energy to focus on her passions

By transforming a cumbersome routine into a supportive and enjoyable experience, the Alto preserves Mienke's energy, allowing her to focus on what matters most to her – her writing and advocacy work.

“I like the Alto very much because it means I can enjoy a lovely shower. The seat is very comfortable and soft.”

A voice for accessibility

For Mienke, comfort and support during daily care are the foundation for an active, fulfilling life. By relieving her physical discomfort, the Alto frees up her energy to focus on writing columns that make a difference in society.

Mienke’s story shows how thoughtful design and the right assistive equipment can eliminate daily pain, restore comfort and empower individuals to keep uplifting others. As Mienke puts it: “I hope to inspire other people, and I think that is a wonderful thing to do.”