Noah has been unable to sit in the bath for over half of his life because of the level of support he needs in keep him safe in the water: he has complex needs, including dystonia and fragile bones which impact on his muscle control.
Nor has he been able to participate in many of the activities shared by the rest of the family, including canoeing and sailing with his dad on holiday.
That has all changed since his parents Sheila and Sam discovered the Aqua Liberty supported bathing system on the recommendation of their Occupational Therapist.
Aqua Liberty centres around a base and vacuum posture cushion.
The base can be quickly and easily attached to any bath, and just as easily removed to allow the rest of the household to use the bath.
The cushion is AAT’s Stabilo infinitely adjustable Comfortable Plus cushion, moulded to the exact support shape and fixed using vacuum technology.
Unlike other moulded support systems, Stabilo holds its shape once fixed for weeks yet can be easily and quickly altered as needed- at home, by the family/carer(s).
And because the cushion is detachable from the Aqua Liberty base, it can be used beyond the bath.
This added benefit meant that when the family went on holiday, Noah was more able to fully participate, including water activities.
At the Children’s Sailing Trust’s Trevassack Lake, Noah was able to use his Comfortable Plus cushion in the canoe , enabling him to sit comfortably, safely and properly supported, and go out on the water with his dad for the first time- something previously only the preserve of his brothers.
Noah's mum Sheila:
“We had initially been assessed for the cushion to enable Noah to access our bath, previous seating solutions did not allow for Noah to stretch out his legs and at times the dystonia he suffers from can cause his legs to kick out, if restricted he is prone to fractures. The cushion for us was a no brainer!".
“When we took the cushion on holiday with us, Noah’s smiles said it all. He was able to access the water with his dad and brothers and have fun!
"Particularly special for us as it enabled Dad Sam to take Noah out on the water which is something he does with Noah’s brothers.”
We are so confident about the benefits of Aqua Liberty that we offer free, no obligation assessment/demonstration, bookable on line @ https://www.aatgb.com/aqua-liberty/.
Where relevant, changing the mindset from providing a person to providing equipment that does not need Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding could radically reduce the number of people waiting for care support. It could cut the cost of care.
With the continuing lack of staff, people in need are left struggling to live daily life with any degree of quality.
As importantly, the staff themselves are exposed to greater risk as their workload increases.
Unpaid carers too are being put at risk by having to manage without support.
By using the right equipment- where relevant- to reduce the reliance on carers-paid and unpaid- mean that clients would be more independent and have a better quality of life.
Strain would also be reduced on the care workforce, enabling them to deliver better quality of care for those instances where kit is not appropriate.
Using equipment would reduce the risk of unpaid carers injuring themselves lifting, moving, handling. These actions put further strain on the paid care workforce who have to step into the breach.
And it needs to be the right equipment- that achieves the end purpose for the client, safely, and that can be expediated without delay.
Says Peter Wingrave, AAT Director:
“There is a mindset within social care that if someone is struggling with stairs, then you put in a stairlift (or a through-floor lift). Yet that requires DFG funding, which takes months, years to fulfil.
"Inbetweentimes, the client is left with a compromised living space and little or no privacy if a bed has been moved downstairs- assuming that can be done- or their access to areas of their home- bedroom, WC etc- is wholly dependant on the availability of a carer- paid or unpaid- to help. It also puts that care giver at risk.
"“Most local authority equipment stores have at least one stairclimber, that can be delivered to the client, and their caregivers trained on its safe operation, within days.
"Thus the risk to all parties is minimised, fast and cost-effectively. The need to provide paid care is reduced/eliminated.
"As an added bonus, when that client no longer needs it, the stairclimber can be re-prescribed (recycled) to another, achieving best value and best use of resources from every relevant perspective.”
Our mobility stairclimber is battery-powered devices that help people with impairments safely and comfortably navigate stairs with the support of a carer.
Unlike alternative equipment that is fixed to the structure of the home, our stairclimber is portable. So, when no longer needed by the original recipient, someone else can use it.
We offer a free, no obligation assessment service to determine the relevance of its kit for each potential client, including their care-giver and staircase.
We have an unrivalled safety record for its equipment, stretching back over 20 years, with thousands in regular use up and down the country.
Full details are available on our website www.aatgb.com/sella.
Latest sales data shows that now, not only has almost every Council in Britain purchased at least one of AAT’s stairclimbers, but increasing numbers of Occupational Therapists are ordering units specifically for stores, so the equipment is already available when clients are struggling with stairs.
AAT believes the success is attributable to a number of factors.
These include that provision of a Sella quickly manages the risk for a client with reduced mobility- not just on the stairs but by reducing the number of transfers involved when moving around the home, and the versatility of the Sella- it suits clients and their carers of all ages and sizes and can accommodate almost every staircase design.
“With Sella’s ability to either fit to a wheelchair or include a seat plus the bespoke range of accessories that ensure any client is safe and correctly supported and positioned, it is now the ‘go to’ option for OTs to make stairs safe- as our sales figures reflect,” says Peter Wingrave, AAT Director
“The extent of availability coupled with Sella’s versatility and proven track record for safety means OTs are increasingly confident in its prescription, knowing that each Sella can be re-allocated again and again over its lifespan. This takes a huge pressure off budgets and re-housing.
“They also trust that we properly assess the client and the environment, free of charge and without obligation, and know we will only proceed if it is right. enabling clients to continue to live- and safely access- their homes very cost-effectively. No other stair access product delivers so many benefits in one.”
Details of AAT’s Sella stairclimber, including how it works videos, and the ability to book a free, no obligation assessment, can be found @ www.aatgb.com/sella.
