Abacus Healthcare, a leading specialist in power-assisted baths, has launched a diverse communication programme to educate healthcare professionals, families and disabled bathers about the benefits of accessible bathing versus adapted showering. This educational initiative is aimed at improving the well-being of bathers through greater knowledge and to empower those families and Occupational Therapists (OT) applying for facilities grants.
Abacus Healthcare is a trusted and proven provider of specialist baths for disabled bathers. Supported by experienced assessors nationwide, its range of hi-lo baths with transfer seats and bathing platforms deliver enhanced care, dignity, comfort and safety. Despite a bathing culture in the UK, many Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) approvals and professional recommendations are tending towards bathroom showering adaptations instead of new hi-lo baths. An adaptive shower is commonly not first choice for disabled bathers and their families however Local Authorities may have budget restraints to consider. The viewpoint that an assisted bath can be more expensive to specify than conversion of an existing bathroom to an accessible wet room with adapted fixtures and fitting is not true in many situations. Hence Abacus has compiled professional and consumer-focused material that justifies the need for a bath instead of a wet room – essential information for parents of disabled children or OTs representing clients. This information is based on simple facts regarding legislation, safety, well-being and cost savings. http://www.abacushealthcare.co.uk/why-assisted-bathing-can-be-better Kate Sheehan, an OT with over 30 years of experience, is supporting Abacus with this campaign and comments: “Throughout my client facing work I regularly meet families and disabled children who prefer bathing, however many are only offered a wet room or shower conversion through a DFG. Meeting grant budgets is indeed a challenge these days and all professionals have to consider what is necessary and appropriate, however there is clear legislation to support the case for bath provision. DFG legislation itself actually states that ‘…a bath or shower (or both), can be grant funded…’ which is backed up by The Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 and the Children’s Act 1989. In addition the human rights of a disabled child need to be considered as children in the UK play at bathtime. Play is a fundamental right as per the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989, so the case for supplying an assisted bath, irrespective of budget within reason, is a strong one.” This educational programme by Abacus will regularly provide new information, downloadable guides, videos and advice across its website and social media channels. Abacus will be actively encouraging all healthcare professionals, carers, families and disabled bathers to get involved with discussions on social media regarding the benefits of bathing versus showering whilst using the campaign hashtag. Throughout this activity Abacus will continue to highlight the proven benefits of bathing by linking to its numerous end user case studies – real-life stories demonstrating how assisted Abacus baths deliver significant improvements to daily living. http://www.abacushealthcare.co.uk/why-assisted-bathing-can-be-better
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DISABLED SURVEYOR JETS OFF TO THE BALEARICS WITH A PLANE-FRIENDLY FOLDING TGA MOBILITY SCOOTER8/25/2016 Despite living with walking difficulties, John Phillips, 66 from Bromley in Kent, has been able to holiday with complete freedom on Menorca thanks to a new type of folding mobility scooter – a TGA Minimo Plus.
John, a retired Chartered Surveyor from Bromley in Kent, has suffered with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) since 1980. John's condition has deteriorated in recent years and he now lives with substantial mobility issues. He can only walk short distances and due to neuropathic pain, cannot stand for long. Annually since 1986 John and his family have been taking their Summer holiday flying to the Balearics island of Menorca. John's MS condition reached the secondary progressive stage 10 years ago which sadly means there will be no remission, only decline with worsening mobility and other issues. John's wife Barbara had until this year (2016) been pushing John in a wheelchair from their hotel to the lovely beaches, restaurants and bars nearby, but this was becoming very arduous for Barbara due to the hills and sloping footpaths leading down to the beaches. However, this all changed so brilliantly this year following John's decision in April 2016 to purchase from TGA the new ‘plane-friendly’ folding mobility scooter - the TGA Minimo Plus. Read more....... TGA, the UK-leading mobility scooter specialist based in Suffolk, will be holding a free-to-attend event at its Sudbury independent living showroom, so East Anglia residents with restricted mobility can learn how to own and drive a mobility scooter safely.
TGA Mobility, Woodhall Business Park, Sudbury, CO10 1WH. 15th September 11am-3pm. Free entry, ample level parking and free refreshments. Owning a mobility scooter provides independence to people who have difficulties with walking or general mobility. However, it is essential that existing and potential scooter owners choose the ideal model for their needs so confidence, comfort and safety is maximised. TGA have been supplying quality and reliable mobility scooters for over 30 years and consider the suitability of their products, along with owner safety, to be top priority. Hence TGA is hosting a free event that will offer all the latest advice regarding safe mobility scooter driving along with guidance on owning the ideal model for individual lifestyles. With ownership of the right mobility scooter and heightened road safety awareness, the benefits of driving a mobility scooter can be limitless. Professional TGA advisors will be on-hand throughout the event to guide scooter drivers around the fun mobility scooter test track. This will be a friendy and relaxed driving experience which will give scooter users a better understanding of their own capabilities in terms of steering, reversing and negotiating day-to-day obstacles. Crossing roads in a considered manner and understanding aspects of the Highway Code will be explained in a simple manner so drivers and pedestrians can all benefit from improved safety. This is not a driving test with a pass or fail score, it is simply an awareness programme that offers an informal certificate of completion at the end. Whether locals own a mobility scooter or not, or are interested in trying one for the first time in a safe place, then all are welcome as TGA will have its complete range of quality scooters available for test drives. Representatives from Motability, the popular leasing scheme, will be available along with assessors from Autochair, the car- boot scooter and wheelchair hoist specialists. Daniel Stone, TGA Managing Director commented: "We are always committed to supporting our customers both locally and nationally to ensure they remain safe and can enjoy hassle-free freedom. Our forthcoming free safe scooter driving day is indicative of the essential advice and guidance we provide through our three decades of mobility experience. We would encourage everyone with a need for greater independence to visit us on the 15th September as this fun and relaxed event coincides with our showroom summer sale." TGA, a leading UK mobility scooter and product specialist, has been delighted to assist a customer with a 21-year-old TGA Wheelchair Powerpack that is still providing assured performance and reliability.
Each model within the TGA Powerpack range comprises of motorized unit and wheel(s) that can be fitted to the underside of a manual attendant controlled wheelchair. The powered propulsion of the Powerpack ensures pushing a wheelchair is strain-free and the risk of back or muscle strain is reduced for carers - especially when negotiating slopes, kerbs or uneven surfaces. The Solo, Duo, Heavy-duty and PLUS models have been enhanced over a period of 25 years and are proudly built in the UK. TGA is renowned for a successful engineering heritage, which is reflected in the quality, reliability and performance of the Powerpack. A Powerpack recently refitted by TGA to a wheelchair is testament to this proven track record - 21-years-old and still functioning as if new. Miss Samantha Davis, 27 from South East London who lives with Cerebral Palsy, uses a wheelchair and is cared for by her father, Gary Davis. Before owning this Powerpack Gary was responsible for pushing his daughter manually in a wheelchair, which was challenging in their locally hilly area near Crystal Palace. However by chance they...read more A specialist Abacus power-adjustable bath (Hi-Lo bath) will provide safe and comfortable bathing for many users living with disability. If access to a standard bath is difficult or impossible, then a specialist Hi-Lo bath with powered functions will assist disabled bathers so they can get in and out more easily.
Abacus Hi-Lo baths can include powered bather transfer seats, height adjustment, integrated changing/drying platforms, additional adaptive features and bespoke postural supports. All these functions deliver a more enjoyable bath-time for disabled adults and children and provide safer working heights for carers and parents. By eliminating manual lifting and lowering of disabled bathers carers can avoid potential back injury or muscle strain. Healthcare professionals such as Occupational Therapists also appreciate the many benefits of safe access to a specialist bath for their disabled clients – in terms of improved wellbeing, dignity and care. However when applying for a Hi-Lo bath through a Local Authority facilities grant, many families are only offered funding for an accessible wet room conversion. This commonly is not the preferred solution for disabled bathers and carers. Most children and adults living with a disability in the UK prefer to bathe rather than shower. Neverthelessmany Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) will only provide funding for accessible showering adaptations or wet rooms. This viewpoint can be regularly based on the misconception that an accessible bath is more expensive to specify than conversion of an existing bathroom – in many situations this is simply not true. The clear benefits of bathing versus showering when living with disability may also not be fully recognised or appreciated. Healthcare professionals involved with bathing grant applications will assess what is ‘necessary and appropriate’ as part of their duty of care. However if a bath is not provided in some circumstances, a detrimental outcome on lifestyle, well-being and independence may be likely. Hence if you decide that a Hi-Lo bath is the right solution for you, your disabled dependent or your client, Abacus has compiled the following points to help justify your opinion. Find out more: http://www.abacushealthcare.co.uk/di...-vs-showering/ Emily Skerrett, 33 from Bude in Cornwall, is a talented disabled horse rider who has been selected to represent Great Britain in Para-equestrian dressage and will now be able to perform even better thanks to the support of TGA and a folding Maximo mobility scooter.
Emily has been riding since the age of 4. She was originally born in Cheltenham however moved to Cornwall in 2011 to be nearer grandparents as she lives with disability and has two small children. Emily has ''Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) - a group of rare inherited conditions that affect connective tissue and also has a total wrist and hand fusion, dysautonomia and movement disorder. This results in a variety of mobility difficulties that means Emily needs crutches to walk and hence caring for her horses is a challenge. Pre-competition and day-to-day activity can sap her strength when in the stable yard, tacking up or accessing event show grounds, resulting in less energy to perform in the arena. Despite these difficulties Emily has achieved many remarkable results in Para-dressage and also regularly competes against able-bodied riders. She has managed to fight back from severe illness following her pregnancies when she was unable to ride and did consider giving up equestrian sports altogether. Read more.... TGA Minimo Plus mobility scooter: lightweight levering/lifting into a car with the seat attached8/17/2016 This short video demonstrates the low weight required to lift and lever the Minimo Plus mobility scooter into the boot of a car.
The weight shown includes lifting the whole scooter with the detachable seat still attached - less than 12kg to lift. https://www.tgamobility.co.uk/range/scooters/minimo-plus Tel: 01787 882244 Email: [email protected] Joan (67) and retired school caretaker Fred Blois (72) from Heathfield, East Sussex, have recently discovered greater freedom thanks to ownership of two folding, bus-friendly TGA mobility scooters and the support of Stagecoach South East.
Mr and Mrs Blois are a lovely couple who are both new owners of a pioneering type of folding mobility scooter a TGA Minimo Plus. As they both struggle with walking and general mobility, these new scooters will ensure they remain independent and have the ability to travel on public transport. This is essential as Fred is struggling to drive and they live in a rural area with limited amenities nearby. Joan read about the new lightweight Minimo Plus and felt it would be ideal for both their needs however it was important to check it would be suitable for bus travel before purchase. Hence she contacted her local bus operator, Stagecoach, to ascertain whether this scooter would be permitted to travel and how she could test its suitability. Stagecoach invited her down to the Eastbourne Depot and with the support of a TGA representative present, Joan and Fred where able to test drive and take a brief safety assessment in and around a whole bus. Joan says: 'TGA and Stagecoach have been so helpful to my husband and I. The fact that Shaun from TGA brought a Minimo Plus down to the Eastbourne bus depot so we could try it on and off a bus was fantastic. Richard at Stagecoach was also excellent as he showed us the safe way to get onboard using the ramp and how to park it inside. We also tried read more..... Beth who lives with Cerebral Palsy, has recently begun using R82’s Mustang – an anterior/posterior gait trainer which allows a growing child to develop stepping and walking skills and achieve proper positioning
The Mustang is designed to assist gait in a wide range of abilities and is particularly suitable for children with Cerebral Palsy. Offering flexibility and ease of use, it is highly adaptable to cater for a child’s changing needs as they grow. The anterior position is ideal for users unable to fully weight bear on their feet, or if motor skills are reduced and the user needs support around the trunk and pelvis. The posterior position can be used for those children who have improved gait development, more advanced trunk stability and who are capable of bearing their full weight. Read the full case study here: http://www.r82.co.uk/media/443573/12...6bethv1web.pdf Find out more about R82 UK paediatric products here: http://www.r82.co.uk/ |
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