Creating a Calmer Culture of Care: How pobroll® Is Transforming Bed-Based Personal Care
- Pat O'Brien
- Aug 1
- 3 min read
In the delivery of intimate care—especially within secure units for individuals with complex dementia—the challenges are as emotional as they are clinical. Traditional bed-bathing approaches can unintentionally trigger distress, resistance, or even aggression, making an already vulnerable moment harder for both the individual receiving care and the staff delivering it.
The pobroll® offers a gentle, dignified solution to the challenges of bed-based personal care, helping reduce behavioural incidents while improving the emotional experience for both staff and residents.
That’s exactly what pobroll® is doing—and the evidence is in.
Proven Impact: Staff Report Major Reductions in Distress and Aggression
In a recent staff survey within a secure dementia care unit, the introduction of the pobroll®—a sensory-soothing, waterproof bed-bathing wrap—showed compelling outcomes:
Significant reduction in resident distress during washing
Fewer incidents of aggressive or defensive behaviours (e.g., hitting, biting, verbal aggression)
Less resistance to personal care tasks overall
These results underscore what care teams are experiencing on the ground: The pobroll® helps make intimate care feel safer, calmer, and more dignified for everyone involved.
Why Bed-Based Personal Care with pobroll® Works: Sensory Soothing by Design
Unlike traditional washing methods that often involve exposure to cold air and a loss of modesty, the pobroll® is intentionally designed to calm the nervous system through warmth, softness, and privacy.
Two layers of high-quality cotton-terry towelling create a soft, comforting touch
An internal impermeable barrier keeps bedding dry, eliminating the need for disruptive linen changes
Sized for a single bed, the wrap envelops the individual, reducing feelings of vulnerability
This sensory-aware design is particularly important for people living with dementia, autism, learning disabilities, or trauma histories—groups who may be more prone to agitation when exposed or overstimulated.
Aligning with the NHS Culture of Care Standards
The NHS Culture of Care standards set a clear vision: inpatient environments should foster compassion, dignity, emotional safety, and mutual respect—for both those receiving care and those delivering it.
The pobroll® supports this goal in practice.
By reducing the use of restrictive interventions and creating calmer, less confrontational care experiences, pobroll® helps inpatient teams build a care culture everyone wants to experience.
Whether used in:
Secure dementia units
Inpatient mental health services
Palliative and end-of-life care
Supported living and long-term care settings
Acute hospital wards or home-based care
…pobroll® enables a gentler, more person-centred approach to hygiene and comfort.
Designed by a Clinician, Backed by Innovation
The pobroll® is the brainchild of Pat O’Brien, a physiotherapist with over 20 years’ experience working in nursing homes and end-of-life care. Driven by the need to reduce distress and preserve dignity, Pat developed pobroll® to transform how bed-based washing is approached across all care settings.
Supported by the Alzheimer’s Society Innovation team, pobroll® is now being trialled and adopted in NHS-funded services and care organisations across the UK.
The Bigger Picture: Clinical Excellence Meets Compassion
At its core, pobroll® is more than a product—it’s a tool for transforming care culture:
Enhancing dignity and emotional safety
Reducing behavioural incidents and care resistance
Improving staff confidence and wellbeing
Lowering environmental impact through reusable design
Supporting restraint reduction and trauma-informed practice
By meeting practical care needs while aligning with national standards, the pobroll® is redefining what good care looks and feels like—for everyone.
Ready to Bring pobroll® Into Your Service?
We believe every individual deserves care that soothes, not startles—and every carer deserves the tools to provide that care with confidence and compassion.
📩 To learn more, arrange a trial, or request a copy of the full staff survey results, contact us here.
Let’s create a culture of care that truly calms.
