There are no more tears at bathtime for young Ted Betts.
The six year old is, to quote mother Fab, “a unique case”. He is immobile from the waist down, cannot walk and has just had major hip surgery. His delayed learning disabilities result in spasmodic movement, including bucking forward. As a result he is permanently in need of structured seating and support, making daily life hard, and bathtime almost impossible. But no longer: a simple yet effective bath support means he is supported, and comfortable.
The support in question is an AAT Stabilo Bath Board System, suggested by the family’s Occupational Therapist who had experienced the Stabilo system with another client.
Stabilo focusses on a combination of vacuum posture cushions, that can be infinitely and minutely formed around the person to provide postural support without pressure. The supporting bath board is shaped to easily lift in, out and fit the bath, with adjustment to suit each user. Made from wetsuit material (neoprene) and Velcro-fixed into position, each cushion can be infinitely and minutely adjusted to hold their shape whilst providing the ability to reconfigure quickly and easily to accommodate physical changes in body shape, muscle tone etc.
“It’s the only bath seat- and we’ve tried loads- that really supports him. All the others were so uncomfortable, bathtime would always end in tears,” said Fab. “It’s brilliant! Ted loves it. Because he tends to buck forward, off the shelf systems crush his private parts. With the AAT one, we’ve cushions for his head and torso, and moulded a pommel, so each part of him is properly but comfortably supported. You just mould it once and it stays in the shape.
“We’ve been trying to find equipment that works since he was little. I’ve only had the Bath Board a couple of weeks, but this is one thing I won’t be giving back.”
You can find out more about the Stabilo bath board here:
https://www.aatgb.com/bath-support-system/.
To find out more about AAT’s range of postural support systems, for bathing, sitting, sleeping, lying, travelling, and book your free home (in -person or virtual) assessment, visit https://www.aatgb.com/posture-cushions/.
