Equipment and Information News from Guideposts Independent Living Centre Team– April 2016Contact the ILC Mon to Fri from 9-00 a.m.to 5-00 p.m. ( 01235 524857 :www.guidepostsilc.org.uk The current GPT ILC contract will cease on 30th September 2016 the ILC is open for business as usual until then. If you would like to contact your MP in support of keeping the ILC open, you will find the contact details highlighted at the end of this Newsletter. New products in the Market Place Designed 2 Enable ( 0800 772 3771 : www.designed2enable.co.uk Designed 2 Enable supply more stylish aids. They have added some patternedwaterproof bedding sets to their web-site. Spring Chicken ( 0800 980 3961 : www.springchicken.co.uk Type in SC01284 (in search box) Brief details: Supply range of aids. Supply the Pooper Scooper, a long handled aid for picking up dog’s mess. You can see other pet related products in the Resource Handbook (see Pets in the Leisure and Holiday section). Drive Medical have brought out some new walkers for people who are particularly short, tall or heavy. They are part of the Nitro range. The Nuevo from Z-tec is lighter at 6kg and also has a height-adjustable seat. A lighter walker can be useful for transporting, but a heavier walker gives more stability. The Wheelzahead folds from side to side and then the upright handles fold down to 67cm x 24cm x 80cm package. It weighs about 8kg. It is compact but getting it folded and unfolded requires good balance, and lifting it from floor to car can be a challenge. It comes with stick holder, tray, two bags and a purse, a comfortable back strap and flashing lights as standard. Cost: £260 Mobility – Walkers General Information Ricability produce a guide to wheeled walking aids: : http://www.rica.org.uk/content/walking-aids The Guideposts have a Wisebuy Guide – Wheeled Walker : http://www.guidepostsilc.org.uk/node/38 The Guideposts ILC have a useful compare and contrast guide for a number of 4 wheeled walkers that are at our centre for demonstration and assessment purposes. See our web-site : http://www.guidepostsilc.org.uk/mobility We do not sell equipment. If you would like to visit, please telephone us to make an appointment to see our Occupational Therapist.
Oxfordshire County Council has produced a short You Tube video clip on how to use a four wheeled walker safely: : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xddkPl_Pz4U&list=PLQ1nw5SDCz64g7vWFjb6CQ1Gs7-WGVjk4&index=31
Occupational Therapists from Oxfordshire County Council can visit you at home. There may be a wait for an appointment. The first point of contact would be through the Social and Health Care Team (0845 050 7666. Equipment can be allocated by OTs. Equipment is allocated on a health needs basis and is not means tested. One of our clients has recommended this aid for getting off compression stockings. The Medi easy off doffing aid. Further information on sock and stocking aids The Centre has a range of aids which might help you to dress and undress. These include aids to help put on socks, aids to help put on compression stockings and some items of clothing (shirts, nightwear). We have compiled a guide to the sock aids we have at our centre. guide to the sock aids People with diabetes can have reduced nerve function due to peripheral diabetic neuropathy, putting them at increased risk to frequent and often severe foot problems with a relatively high risk of infection, gangrene and amputation. A temperature difference between the two feet can be one of the first signs of an ulcer forming. The Siren Smart Sock System currently being piloted works by measuring temperature with thermistors that are less than a third of a millimetre long. Encapsulated in water-resistant resin pods, they are embedded into the yarns of the socks and are too tiny to be felt by the wearer. Connected by conductive filaments to a custom-made Bluetooth device developed by Siren Care, the socks communicate the temperature data via the patient’s smartphone to a doctor’s computer. Pebbell 2 GPS tracker and SOS alarm £168 inc VAT.t Small, lightweight unit works just like a mobile phone, allowing two-way hands-free communication via the central button which also sends a text with location if linked to a smartphone. The device also comes with a range of features, including Google map location, speed sensors and fall detectors, as well as additional security which allows the device to be called silently if the operator believes the users to be in an emergency situation. The company saw the need within telecare for a GPS tracking device that was suited to either Lone Workers or for those living with dementia. Dr Cane swivel cane is an orthopaedic walking stick fitted with a swivel ferrule joint to assist mobility and management of the cane. Black replacement ferrule units are available separately. The cane is height adjusted (73 and 98cm). Also new is a tripod ferrule. The three-footed ferrule enables a stick to balance upright on its own. We have a new kettle at the ILC. Further details can be found on the compare and contrast guide to kettles on ILC web-site. The Breville VKJ318 dispenses hot water in 40 seconds. 2 litre capacity with large aperture for refilling. Variable dispense feature so you can use 9 different sized cups, and a stop button. Has a blue illumination upon boil which may be helpful for those with visual impairment. Has a removable drip tray. It costs around £50 and is available from various sources including Argos and Tesco.d Did you know that the (clk è local Red Cross)not only loans out items of equipment but also sell some small aids? These include: Male Urinals, Female Urinals, Bed Pans, Long Handle Shoe Horns, Raised Toilet Seats (2”, 4”, 6”), Bath Boards, Bath Seats, Commode Pots, Sock Aids. Local suppliers Map (clk è Map) Local suppliers may stock small items like long-handled hairbrushes or elastic shoe laces to larger items such as bath lifts, riser-recliner chairs, mobility scooters etc. You may wish to telephone your local supplier first to ensure they have an item in stock. Holidays As the warmer weather comes, thoughts turn to holidays. We have found a few interesting web-sites which we have added to our holiday factsheets which can be found on this page of our web-site: http://www.guidepostsilc.org.uk/holidays Bimblers : www.thebimblers.com Brief details: Web-site with information written by a couple who describe themselves as “Britain’s most unlikely travel bloggers” as one of them travels in a wheelchair. Information on Disabled Holidays, Accessible Tourism, City Breaks, Wheelchair Friendly Walks, Hotel Reviews, Travel Tips. Accessible Kiwi Tours : http://toursnz.com Brief details: Company based in New Zealand who care and cater for families and individuals of all ages with special or specific needs when visiting New Zealand. Cater for all people including the more mature and physically challenged. Disabilities requiring wheelchair hoists are no obstacle. Ability Adventures : www.abilityadventures.co.nz Brief details: Ability Adventures specialises in New Zealand holiday adventures for mature travellers and people with impairments, whether it be with sight, hearing, mobility, learning or special medical needs. Holidays tailored to ability, interests, time and budget. Options of fully-guided tours through to self-drive. Small group travel (normally 2-6 people), couples, families, groups of friends and individuals. Larger groups by arrangement. Go Provence : www.goprovence.co.uk Brief details: Provide supported holidays for adults and children with learning disabilities. Based in The Gorges du Verdon, Provence, South of France. Holidays that mix outdoor adventure, excursions and relaxation. Holidays are all-inclusive. Leisure Options : www.leisureoptions.com.au Brief details: Leisure Options are based in Australia. They create barrier-free holidays for people with physical and intellectual disabilities. Relaxing oradventurous holidays for people with all ranges of abilities from the independent to those requiring 1:1 support. Leisure Options travellers include people with acquired brain injuries, people requiring a travel companion, the frail or elderly and families in need of respite support. Some other services or devices which were new to us: Service Call : www.service-call.net Brief details: Service Call is a system designed to make it easier for a person with limited mobility to use petrol stations, banks, supermarkets, shops and many other services. You simply aim a small infrared transmitter to activate the Service Call receiver fitted in thousands of service providers’ windows. There is a database on the web-site which lists places where the device is installed, which includes quite a few petrol stations in Oxfordshire. Older Drivers : www.olderdrivers.org.uk Brief details: Web-site which has been set up by Rospa (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) which provides hints and tips on safe driving for the older driver. There is a self-assessment checklist which helps you to consider whether your driving is changing. Have you ever thought of visiting NAIDEX free Equipment Conference http://www.naidex.co.uk/Content/Consumer Dates 27th–28th April 2016 healthcare, consumer, NEC Birmingham Product Categories to see at Naidex
Moving & Handling, Wheelchairs, Bathrooms, Info, Advice and Charities, Access & Adaptation, Beds, Chairs & Furniture, Cars & Transport, Scooters & Walking Aids, Leisure & Sports, Assistive Technology, Daily Living Aids, Kitchens, Children’s and Sensory, Personal Care, Communication & Telecare
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Guideposts Independent Living Centre If you have found any new products or innovations, that you would like to include in the next News Update please let me know. Kind regards Jennie Lea, Manager ILC Ann Rowe | Guideposts Trust Independent Living Centre, Abingdon Resource and Wellbeing Centre, Crabtree Place Audlett Drive, Abingdon, OX14 3GD Click here for the ILC Resource Handbook; offering information on local and national resources to assist you with making informed choices about equipment and services. Please consider the environment before printing this email Guideposts Trust Limited Registered in England No 1282361 This message is confidential. It may also be privileged or otherwise protected by legal rules Every effort is made to ensure that the information given is accurate, up to date, useful, unbiased and non-offensive. However, Guideposts Trust, or any Associate Organisation, cannot accept any liability or responsibility for any errors, omissions, perceived bias or offence taken in any information provided. Any references to goods and services should not be taken to constitute an endorsement of these goods and services. No warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, is made in relation to any information. Use of the information provided is voluntary and your responsibility.
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