PUBLICATIONS
Independent Living Volume 22 No 3
published in September 2006
Featured Articles
Dips & Dunks - accessing pools and spas
Pools and spas are great for exercise and relaxation so getting in and out easily by using assistive technology will help maximise their use.
Twenty percent of Australian homes have a backyard pool or spa. As people get older they find it increasingly difficulty getting into and out of their pool. Younger people with disabilities use pools and spas as relaxation and therapy. Finding easy ways to move into the water and out will maximise use of owning a pool for exercising, relaxation and social occasions. Rather than having the pool remain idle, the long term social, safety and health benefits of adapting existing pools will usually justify the cost.
Private & Confidential - continence products
Continence products help provide comfort and dignity. Selecting the right product depends on the user’s needs and understanding the many choices available.
Prior to considering any continence product, the cause of the incontinence should be ascertained by a qualified health professional. Most incontinence can be improved, if not cured, with appropriate diagnosis and treatment. If treatment is not possible, then products will be necessary. The right product should increase the user’s self esteem, not reduce it. Comfort, fit and look will affect the user’s acceptance of the product.
Potholes & Pitfalls - wheelchairs in remote areas
Prescribing wheelchairs to suit people in remote locations requires equipment with robust components, and an understanding of lifestyle, culture and maintenance issues.
In urbanised areas, a wheelchair generally helps maximise the user’s independence. Within remote and rural Aboriginal communities, however, the challenges for independence are far greater for wheelchair users and their carers. In these communities, a lack of resources has a multiplier effect on the whole prescription and supply process.
Night Angels - electrically adjustable beds
Understanding the differences between the types of electrically adjustable beds and their features helps to make bed selection a little easier.
With the increasing popularity of electrically adjustable beds and an increasing range now on the market, choosing a bed can be a confusing exercise. There are four basic bed groups: standard beds, Hi-Lo beds, low beds and special purpose beds.
