Articles - Page 3 of 4 - Design for Independence

Property search advice after a serious injury

13th March 201715th July 2021by Anava Baruch

Many of our clients have been involved in catastrophic accidents or clinical negligence. They may suffer from brain injury, spinal cord injuries, loss of limbs, cognitive and visual impairments. Some require very extensive care packages to support them in the community. Following the admission of liability, clients are awarded money to ensure their accommodation is suitable for their needs. In many cases, clients need to find a new home for both themselves and their family.

Continue reading “Property search advice after a serious injury”

Staying safe with Epilepsy

13th March 201715th July 2021by Anava Baruch

Staying safe when out and about

There are lots of different types of epilepsy, which means different people will be affected in different ways when they’re out and about.

All seizures start in the brain. Some of them are very minor. It’s important to be aware of all types of seizures – otherwise they may go unnoticed. If you are diagnosed with epilepsy, you will know the different signs and symptoms that relate to your epilepsy.

You may have warning signs that you are about to have a seizure, this means that you can get into a safe position before the seizure occurs. Whereas others don’t know they are about to have a seizure, which makes the situation a lot riskier and more difficult:

Continue reading “Staying safe with Epilepsy”

Occupational therapy advice on home safety

13th March 201715th July 2021by Anava Baruch

Access & Stairs

Two banister rails are better than one.
Ensure your hands aren’t full when you are using the stairs, hold on to the banister rails at all times.
If you need to get things from one floor to another use carrier bags or back packs when possible.
Plan ahead and try to minimise the use of the stairs. If you use certain items frequently, such as a hairbrush or reading glasses, have two of the same, one on each floor.
Avoid leaving objects on the stairs as you might trip on them.
If the bathroom is upstairs next to your bedroom, bathe/ shower before you go downstairs in the morning or just before you go to bed at night.
If you need to use the toilet very frequently and you have only one in your property, check with your GP if your medication can be adjusted in any way to reduce the frequency of use or consider using a commode.

Continue reading “Occupational therapy advice on home safety”

Shower stretchers – a helpful guide

13th March 201715th July 2021by Anava Baruch

Shower stretchers are used for washing people who struggle to sit upright unaided. They are an alternative to using a shower chair with a harness and straps. Carers are able to assist the user with his/her personal hygiene tasks more easily on a shower stretcher than a chair as the user is not strapped in, nor in a sitting position. The shower stretcher allows the user to lie comfortably on the stretcher whilst being washed. An additional benefit of shower stretchers is that they can be used as a changing table.

Continue reading “Shower stretchers – a helpful guide”

Parkinson’s and home adaptation

13th March 201715th July 2021by Anava Baruch

One person in every 500 has Parkinson’s. That’s about 127,000 people in the UK. Most people who get Parkinson’s are aged 50 or over but younger people can get it too. One in 20 people with Parkinson’s is under the age of 40.

Everyone with Parkinson’s has different symptoms, however the most common symptoms are tremors, rigidity and slowness of movement. As well as affecting movement, people with Parkinson’s can find that other issues, such as tiredness, pain, depression and constipation, can have an impact on their day-to-day lives.

Continue reading “Parkinson’s and home adaptation”

Choosing an appropriate solicitor in claims for catastrophic injuries

13th March 201715th July 2021by Anava Baruch

Warren Collins, specialist catastrophic Solicitor at Penningtons Manches in London and Chief Assessor of the Law Society Personal Injury Panel sets out some guidance on selecting the appropriate solicitor in cases involving traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and other cases where specialist accommodation and/or care is required.

Continue reading “Choosing an appropriate solicitor in claims for catastrophic injuries”

Stair lifts – a helpful guide

13th March 201715th July 2021by Anava Baruch

Most people have the misconception that stair lifts are attached to the wall behind them – not realising that the stair lift is actually attached to the stairs. When the stair lift has been removed and the carpet brushed you would not know that it had been there at all.

Continue reading “Stair lifts – a helpful guide”

The importance of correct manual handling

13th March 201715th July 2021by Anava Baruch

All manual handling care plans should be tailormade to the needs of the person that carers are working with, whether they live in a residential home or in their own home. Problems start to appear when carers use generalised techniques and apply them to all of their clients. The risks of getting it wrong are particularly high when the same equipment is used with multiple users, for example at schools, hospitals and care homes.

Continue reading “The importance of correct manual handling”

Accommodation claims in spinal cord & brain injury cases

10th March 201715th July 2021by Anava Baruch

Warren Collins, specialist castastrophic injury solicitor at Penningtons Manches Solicitors looks at the law relating to accommodation claims.

Continue reading “Accommodation claims in spinal cord & brain injury cases”

The disabled facilities grant

10th March 201715th July 2021by Anava Baruch

The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a mandatory ‘means-tested’ financial grant. It helps meet the cost of adapting a property (including mobile homes and houseboats) where a disabled person lives. It is worth up to £30k in England.

Continue reading “The disabled facilities grant”