Improving the daily life of someone who has limited mobility due to an illness, injury, or chronic medical condition is an important role of any caregiver. Helping your clients or loved ones with the tasks of daily living, such as bathing, grooming, and getting dressed, allows them to be more comfortable, clean, and feel better about themselves.
Certain caregiver products allow people who are infirm or have limited mobility to attend to some of these tasks on their own, too, giving them greater independence and a sense of accomplishment. Choosing the right kind of personal assistance tools makes your job easier and helps your patients care for themselves.
Today, we’re looking at some of the most popular kinds of support and caregiver devices and how they can help people who are bed-bound or who have limited mobility.
The Nova Bed Wedge is a firm, wedge-shaped pillow that allows part of the body to comfortably rest at an incline. When used under the head, the pillow provides support for the neck and spine at the correct angle, elevating the head to varying degrees depending on how far down the neck and upper back the tip of the wedge is placed.
It’s ideal for improving circulation in the upper of the lower body, such as placing the wedge underneath the upper back to elevate the head and torso or underneath the knees to gently elevate the feet. You can also use the Nova Wedge to elevate yourself into a more comfortable position for reading or watching TV if you aren’t unable to sit up straight completely.
It’s used for easing the symptoms of reflux disorders, hiatus hernia, and snoring or difficulty breathing while lying prone. The gradual slope reduces pain and tension in the neck, back, and shoulders.
The Nova Wedge features a zippered cover made from a cotton-polyester blend, and it’s machine washable. The Wedge can be folded for easy travel. Made from flame retardant material (CA117)
Medi offers a range of garment donning accessories to help patients dress themselves. The Medi Butler is specifically intended to help put on compression socks and stockings. This is a flexible frame that allows someone with limited mobility to don the stockings from a seated position. They don’t have to be able to reach their feet or ankles to place the stockings on.
The Nova Gait Belt allows caregivers to transfer patients more easily. It has an easy-grip handle for superior comfort and leverage. Simply wrap the gait belt around the patient’s waist, using the adjustable straps for a firm yet comfortable fit. The Gait Belts reduce back injuries to caregivers, giving them more control and better leverage when transferring a patient from the bed to a wheelchair or from sitting to standing. It can also be used as a walking belt, so caregivers can help patients move with a walker or cane while providing extra support.