Dr Eric Gill Society

Premier Walk In Baths for Physically Disabled Persons
Nothing is perhaps more comforting and refreshing than soaking in a bathtub. It helps one unwind and relax stiff muscles and wash away fatigue and stress. But for people with mobility problems and disability, getting in and out of tubs can be really challenging and painful. Traditional bathtubs are around 19 inches high; hence, for a handicap, it poses a big problem for daily use. This is where walk in baths step in. These baths have eliminated any kind of barrier and made bathing a happy and enjoyable experience for the disabled.

A premier walk in bath is especially designed for mobility challenged people. It is for those who find stepping in a regular tub nearly impossible. For people with arthritis, these baths work great. If bathing has turned into a painful proposition due to a disability, it’s time that you invest in one of these walk in tubs or walk in shower.

These baths let you shower in style without depending on anyone for assistance. A walk in tub is fitted with a watertight sealing door on the side through which you can easily step in, close the door and bathe like traditional tubs. The doors open almost on the floor level for easy entry and exit. These tubs are compatible with any kind of bathroom and have temperature controls which lets you soak comfortably.

There are hydrotherapy options in some walk in tubs, which are great for relieving joint and muscle pain. Many of the tubs let you sit and take a shower coming with a moulded seat. People who have underwent a surgery, stroke, hip or knee replacement, or those with balance problems can largely benefit from such a sitting facility.

It’s easily understandable why walk in baths have become so popular these days. There are therapeutic advantages for the body and mind. Apart from the basic ones, many walk in baths have extra features like custom seats, whirlpool jets, heaters, contoured backs, neck rests among others. Depending on the manufacturer, you have a choice of styles, colours and sizes. These baths have become important bathroom features for many homes today, especially if there is a disabled person in the house. Many hotels and resorts are also arranging for these handicap friendly walk in baths for added comfort and convenience.

Bathing is by and large a personal affair. People love to be on their own while taking bath and the same applies to the disabled. These walk in safety baths have provided them with the much-needed independence!

Thus, the handicapped persons can enjoy their bath wholeheartedly while rejuvenating themselves lying in walk in bathtub.

This article was written after prolonged discussion with the senior officials of Kenny Milton Enterprises who explained thoroughly about the mechanism and advantageous aspects of premier walk in bath. These walk in bathtubs are especially designed by keeping in mind the several physical disabilities to ensure total relaxation.

Cope & Unquote – How White Lies Help Those Affected Deal With Dementia
From an early age, parents teach their children that lying is bad. As parents get older, some grow sick with dementia. This is the moment in life where the roles become reversed and suddenly the children find themselves taking care of the very person who once took care of them. When a physician, nurse, friend or other relative suggests that a caregiver lies to a patient to help them feel better, it seems wrong.

Lying to dementia patients can be a smart idea in many situations. Commonly referred to as ‘therapeutic fibs’, telling a white lie to a dementia patient is meant to keep the person happy. Because dementia is such a frustrating disease for the person affected, having to hear negative news or deal with daily frustrations can sometimes be alleviated through simple, harmless lies.

How to handle talking about a deceased friend or family member

One of the most difficult things to handle as a family member with a relative suffering from dementia is death. Dementia impacts the memory and causes the patient to forget about major life events, such as a loss of a friend or close family member. When they ask about this person, being honest can deliver a devastating blow to their mood and psyche.

A white lie may be the best response in this situation. Instead of saying that the person passed away, you can respond by saying that they are with another friend or family member who also passed away. Doing this is not lying, but it is also not being completely honest about why they do not come to visit or send their well wishes. As a family member, you provide a slightly twisted version of reality allowing the dementia patient to understand the situation without delivering news that will result in pain and sadness.

How to handle a dementia patient who does not want to take their medication

For many dementia patients, having to take multiple types of medication throughout the day can be overwhelming and frustrating. They prefer to avoid taking the medication because they do not realize how much they need the medication to function as normally as possible at their phase in dementia.

Instead of arguing and starting a fight that can cause everyone anxiety, some family members opt to lie about the medication. When the medication arrives and it is time to take the pill, family members can say that the pill is a vitamin instead of the medication. This is a harmless way to encourage a dementia patient that they should take the pill and that it will only help, not hurt. Because vitamins have a positive influence on the body and they are taken at all ages, the dementia patient becomes more comfortable and is more accepting of taking the pill.

How to handle a dementia patient who thinks they are someone they are not

Sometimes, past situations and dreams bring up unusual ideas in the mind of a demented patient. For example, for someone who was always social and loved to give back, suddenly believing that he or she is now a volunteer at a day care center may be a very real possibility with dementia.

Instead of telling them that they are not able to volunteer at the day care centre, it may be better to allow them to tell the story with pride, as if they were. Doing this can bring them great joy and harms no one. On the other hand, telling the demented patient that they are confused and that they do not have a job as a volunteer at a day care centre can be hurtful.

Therapeutic fibs are best used when telling the truth would cause mental distress, anguish, anxiety or other negative emotions. These emotions can only hurt the patient and do not help in their symptom relief.

It is important to remember that the demented patient is living in a reality different than that of the caregiver not impacted by dementia. Therefore, allowing them to live in a somewhat different world in some situations can be the best move for their health and overall well being.

Krisca Te works with Open Colleges, Australia’s leading provider of TAFE courses equivalent and aged care and disability courses. When not working, you can find her on Google+ or spends the day with her baby boy.

At the age of 37, Andy McCann was physically fit, strong and in good health. Then, mid-way through instructing his weekly martial arts class, he experienced a stroke and was rushed to hospital.

Until then, the word ‘stroke‘ had meant little to Andy, and in this book he recounts the many difficulties in learning to live with his new situation. Funny, poignant and informative, the book is not just a personal story, but also offers a wealth of advice and information for anyone who wants to know more about strokes.

He explores a broad range of issues experienced by stroke survivors, from the very practical considerations of managing financial security and understanding medical approaches and terminology to the more personal challenges of coming to terms with a new sense of vulnerability and dealing with the attitudes of friends and family.

The common thread throughout is Andy’s insistence that he will not be a ‘stroke victim’ but a ‘stroke survivor’, determined to live with his new set of circumstances in a positive way.

This book is a compelling yet practical source of information that will be valued by professionals and patients alike – whether a fellow stroke survivor, a concerned family member or a health or social care professional working with stroke victims.

Reviews

Having read previously Robert McCrumb’s book ‘My Year Off’, following my father’s eventual death after a series of strokes, I found Andy’s book to be inspirational for one main reason : he gives a wholly different perspective to the blight of stroke.

The title of the book says it all really – how can anyone fail to be uplifted by the sheer positive attitude shown by Andy in his bid to ‘defeat’ the problem ; to take it by the scruff and deal with it constructively. He allures in the book to people who, for whatever reason, have suffered strokes but cannot see themselves as anything but victims.

By showing his determination to be survivor, Andy, far from intending to show distain for those to those particular sufferers, is sending out a message to us all that this beast can be beaten. His whole approach to the problem is not meant to be insensitive to those unfortunate to have suffered badly but rather to be inspirational to those of us who have yet to encounter this illness or who are currently in the throes of recovery.

Andy McCann – stroke survivor indeed and an example for us all to follow.

The world is becoming a smaller place, is a common phrase often used by travel experts to describe the growing numbers of global holidaymakers. Individuals with physical disabilities are certainly not excluded from this growing trend, especially when non-discrimination laws and better accessible facilities are introduced across many travel destinations. If you are considered a disabled traveller or even if you have a physical condition that limits your movement we have put together a number of tips and recommendations designed to help plan your holiday.

Disabled travellers often have to use inadequate facilities and are often the subject of prejudice and disinformation. If you travel with a disability, physical limitation or mobility limitations it is useful to plan ahead in stages.

Choosing A Destination – Naturally, the availability of dedicated facilities that cater for special needs will vary between destinations. Depending on your condition and physical limitation, you must take this into account. Aspects such as mobility adopted public or private transport should be evaluated as well as public and private access such as common ramps and steps.

Your Doctor or Healthcare Provider – In many cases you might find it helpful to retain a note from your doctor (on an official letterhead) describing your condition. Should you be required to show evidence of your condition, this letter will help, as well as, it will help in cases where you might need to use the services of a local healthcare provider. They would use this information to provide accurate care.

Booking Your Accommodation – Depending on your limitations, you should ensure that the accommodation you have chosen could cater for your needs.

In particular, look at accessibility and mobility aspects from wheelchair access to simply having a working lift if you find walk difficult. If you require special bathroom facilities you must ensure that these are present.

Most hotels, certainly the bigger chains will be able to accommodate your needs provided you book well ahead and disclose your requirements on time. During the booking phase be as specific as you can about what you can and can’t do and avoid using buzzwords that will make little sense to a non-healthcare professional. You might also consider using a dedicated travel agent who specializes in ‘disabled travel’ or ‘accessible travel”, which is the common phrase such travel agents use.

At The Airport – You should allow for plenty of time prior to boarding to accommodate your transportation within the airport and storage of your aids. Unfortunately, airline and airport staff members aren’t always well trained in this area so allowing plenty of time will eliminate stress.

Flights – The most critical tip that travellers with a physical limitation agree on is avoiding connecting flights. Some airports are massive in size making the process of moving between terminals difficult and long. In addition, the mobility supporting services vary in quality and availability depending on the airport so you can’t always trust this service. However, there is one exception to this. If you are unable to use the plane’s toilets, you should consider shorter flights in which case using connecting flights make sense.

Note that crutches, canes and braces will form part of your weight allowance on flights so bear this in mind when you pack.

Medication – If you require medication to help manage your condition you should adhere to airport regulations on taking liquids on board and naturally ensure that you carry enough medication for the entire duration of your trip. You might also find it useful to retain a copy of your prescription on your person should you misplace your medication.

And lastly, ensure that you have a valid medical travel insurance policy that is up to date in terms of sufficient cover.

With the government re-considering who should be eligible to receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and the amount they should be entitled to many people will be unable to use Motability to hire a mobility scooter for a long period of time.

For many people who have lost their DLA or are about to lose their DLA need to find a new option to buy or hire a mobility scooter to maintain the level of freedom they need in order to accomplish every day tasks like buying groceries, travelling to and from the doctors etc.

Are you someone who is concerned about losing your DLA or have already lost your DLA .. no need to worry as a brand new scheme has been put in place to help those who need their freedom the most.

The Mobility Trust has been put together to make owning a mobility scooter as easy as possible for many thousands of people across the entire UK. The scheme is a long term easy payment hire purchase plan and allows users to purchase a scooter for a period of 3 years and own the scooter at the end of it but with all the benefits that Motability offer.

What are the benefits

– The Latest Mobility Scooter of your choice
– 3 Year Fully Comprehensive Warranty
– 3 Year Fully Comprehensive Insurance
– 3 Year Breakdown Cover
– £50 Accessories Voucher
– 24 Hour Emergency Telephone Line
– The Scooter is yours to keep at the end!

The Mobility Trust is an organisation that is here to help making everything about owning a mobility scooter easy .. we even take care of taxing your scooter so you really do not have to do anything.

With a full product range of over 35 scooters to choose from there will definitely be one that suits your needs perfectly.

The Scheme is not just open to people who receive DLA but also to people who would like to take advantage of Motability’s scheme.

Visit the mobility trust by clicking the link below to find out more info on how we help you re-gain freedom at affordable prices.

Thank You for reading!

Trapped
Living in the Belgian Congo with her husband in the 1960s, Fran’s mother became pregnant with a daughter. However, right after she gave birth in the hospital, she felt strange. Unbeknownst to anyone, another daughter was on the way, but before anybody responded, an hour had passed. Because of the delay, Fran was born with cerebral palsy.

Growing up with her siblings in Africa, Fran always felt different. When everyone else was playing and having fun, she would watch and wish she could join in. After the family moved to Scotland and Fran grew older, her hurt turned into anger, self-hatred, and suicidal depression. Then one day, someone looked at her and saw a woman to love, and that was the start of her journey to self-acceptance.

Fran has written the painful truth about her life to help readers understand how disabled adults really feel. In her revealing account, she shows just how hard it is to maintain the appearance of a ‘normal’ life.

More importantly, out of her million and one mistakes have come lessons in real acceptance, peace and joy, which she would like to share with her readers.

Fran Smith was born premature and disabled in the Belgian Congo in 1985. Returning to Scotland in 1992, she spent eight years at boarding school, then qualified and practised as a solicitor for ten years before returning to her first passion, writing.

Apart from Trapped she has written two further books drawing on her experiences with disability. When she’s not catching up on her sleep, she reads, writes, sings in the shower, and dances where no one can see her. She lives with her husband and daughter in Scotland.

 With growing competency and educational standards, it has become hard to find a job that satisfies both your pocket and desires. And if you are struck with any form of disability at any level, your difficulties increase manifold.

Disabilities have been classified into many categories. Broadly, there are minor disabilities and major ones. Depending on the magnitude of your disability, you get the job. With certain disabilities, you can find a job in the open job market as well.

For instance, there are minor disability like a limp in a limb or a highly hunched back that might not come as a hurdle between you and your desired job. But other disabilities like an imputed limb or vision impairment can create colossal hurdles.

However, many of the State governments have provided breathers in the form of special job arenas for the disabled. For disabled people, special places are made, besides the contemporary job market, where they can find good job opportunities. Various places where a person suffering from disability can find a job are:

Sheltered Workshops: If a person is suffering from moderate to severe form of disability, sheltered workshops are the best places to find the job. A sheltered workshop is a place where the disabled can learn to do basic things like packaging goods and assembling items, to name a few. All this is done through a sub-contracted work.

Production Workshop: The production workshop is a workplace ideal for people who have moderate disabilities. Here people learn the art of printing and manufacturing. Such people are predominantly known to work in production line.

Open Market: People who are afflicted with slight to moderate disabilities can try and find a good job in an open market. In doing so, they can take the help of various job placement organizations. These placement organizations will help them in locating a suitable job of their interests and needs. More.

For acquiring a good job, an important prerequisite is good education qualification. But besides contemporary form of education, people with disabilities can also look for an option in the vocational field. Through this, they can learn certain skills of basic livelihood before stepping for a job in the corporate world.

The population of the disabled in the UK is about 10 million; according to the statistics from the UK Retail Industry Association, the total consumption of the disabled is about 80 billion pounds each year (RMB 760 billion), equivalent to 10% of the total national consumption. In order to facilitate their lives, the United Kingdom provides various services for the disabled, it also designed clothes for people with disabilities in accordance with their physical needs.

AbleWear specialises in the design and manufacture of clothes for wheelchair users, or for anyone who has problems in finding clothing that fits properly.

After extensive research – and with the kind co-operation of wheelchair users, carers and professionals – they have built up a unique collection of garments that ranges from waterproofs to underwear, offering clothes for every occasion.

Throughout design, manufacture and administration, the staff at Able2Wear work as a closely-knit team. Several wheelchair users have played an important role in their team over the years, testing garments and acting as models at their photography sessions. Although the photographers were anxious about the battered state of many of their wheelchairs they knew you would be reassured by the chipped paint and frayed cushion covers!

The designers innovative ideas and their expertise in the design of waterproofs for wheelchair users are unequalled. Testament to their abilities is the string of prestigious awards won by them over the last few years, including:

* ECMOD Award for Business Excellence
* British Clothing Industry Award
* Scottish Design Award
* Queen Elizabeth Foundation Award
* British Healthcare Industry Award
* Millenium Product Status
* Glasgow Business Award

The design team has an on-going programme of new product development, and they look forward to adding to their range regularly, so do keep visiting them to see our latest garments.

One way of keeping in touch is to sign up to receive their newsletter which will bring you information on their latest designs and special offers – and they hope that it will also become an informal meeting place where Able2Wear customers can exchange views and suggestions, and even post photographs of holidays, weddings, graduations, sports achievements etc – in fact, develop into something of an A2W Club that reflects the genuine interest and care we have for their customers, and the warm friendships that they have enjoyed with many of you over the years. They don’t have a first publication date yet, but hope to launch some time in the future.

When someone is disabled, it is not quite easy to lead a normal trouble-free life. Not only the physically challenged, even the aged and the invalid need certain aids or accessories to carry on with their day-to-day activities. These accessories are helping the handicapped and frail cope with disability and lead a better life with independence and self-respect.

There are many times when you lose your precious body part from accident or sudden injuries. Thereafter, life isn’t easy anymore. But, as we all know, life goes on and instead of ruing the situation, we should focus on coping with the present situation. Many times, a victim getting disabled from accidents develop inferiority complex or become extremely depressed and cranky. They develop bitterness and refuse to take anyone’s help.

Along with losing his body part a disabled person can lose his job and interest in doing daily activities. However, some people are born disabled. But it is not at all practical to curse your ill fate all the time. What can change your life and circumstance is switching to accessories specially designed for disabled people which can make your life way better.

There are many companies which manufacture handicapped compatible products and accessories which comfort and aid disabled people. There are bathroom aids for handicapped, kitchen aids, manual, electric cars for disabled and various other accessories.

Various advanced technologies are in use for blind people these days in gadgets like mobile phone, calculators, televisions, laptops etc. Special speaking software are being used in these devices which enable one to hear everything and whatever is typed are transmitted to others via a clear voice. These technologies have given the disabled a lot of independence and ease to communicate with others.

Bathroom aids have come as a blessing for those who are invalid or less mobile. Previously, walking on the wet floor or stepping in and out of tubs etc. was impossible for the disabled. But now, with plenty of bathroom disability products, using the bathroom, taking a shower and getting in and out of tubs have become very easy and comfortable.

Bath grab bars, bath tub with safety handles, raised toilet seats etc. are popular bathroom accessories for the handicapped. Then there are walk in baths, which have simplified bathing experience for the aged and disabled. These can be installed inside any regular bathroom. Getting in and out of these baths is absolutely effortless.

There are specific bedroom accessories for the handicapped like bed cane with organizer, adjustable bed rails, comfortable home wedge, eye wear glasses etc. These accessories have made moving around the bedroom and getting in and out of bed easier. For driving, there are specific accessories like car caddie.

There are numerous accessories for the disabled. These accessories have provided the physically challenged with independence, confidence and the desire to live a better life!

This article was written after thoroughly discussing the advantageous aspects of handicapped products with the senior officials of Kenny Milton Enterprises. They are especially renowned for providing various bathroom aids for handicapped, awesome electric cars for disabled along with other products at really affordable prices.