Creating a relaxing environment makes a big difference to daily life
George enjoys bath time now he has an Aqua Liberty to support him
We are proving we're not just the stairclimber people, but experts in other specialised areas too.
We developed Aqua Liberty as a supported bathing solution, working with Occupational Therapists to devise the system.
Now we are now pioneering a scheme to support OTs in fast, appropriate, practical prescription.
Supported bathing that fits any person, any bath
Aqua Liberty is the first- and to our knowledge only- supported bathing system that fits any user and any bath.
It means the client gets the full hygiene and therapy benefits of body immersion in the water, correctly supported and stabilised in the water without pressure points.
It delivers a fast solution that means no need to change the bath, with all its associate cost and disruption.
Social care support and involvement can be reduced or eliminated. It makes the bathing process is less stressful for the care giver.
Other family members can also continue to enjoy bath time.
Its comparative low cost means it can often be funded without the whole Disabled Facilities Grant process involved in bath replacement.
To help OT teams prescribe more efficiently, we are equipping them with all the resources and support necessary.
By training either a member of or the whole team, and providing them with the kit needed, we are empowering OTs to be able to exactly configure equipment to the client’s individual needs, prescribe and order it.
In this way, supported bathing is achieved within days rather than months.
Occupational Therapists are already welcoming the scheme, with our team demonstrating the Aqua Liberty system, and training OT teams every month.
“We are all aware that the delay in organising funding for bathroom adaptations is one of the biggest issues facing OTs and their clients. The development of Aqua Liberty as a supported bathing product, and our OT programme, means that delay, in appropriate circumstances, becomes a thing of the past.
Peter Wingrave, AAT Director
The Aqua Liberty programme builds on a similar scheme we have been operating successfully for more than a year with our Gravity Chair foam positioning system, for children and young people with severe and complex motor and sensory disabilities. Particular success has been achieved in Sefton alongside Alderhey Children’s Hospital, because of the Chair’s effectiveness, simplicity and practicality in prescription.
To arrange an initial demonstration and discuss becoming part of the Aqua Liberty programme, contact our head office via sales@aatgb.com, or telephone 01978 821875.
We can help achieve remedial, appropriate and correct posture support for children and young people with disabilities quickly with our new initiative.
The scheme- devised around our innovative Chilli Bean vacuum posture seat (https://www.aatgb.com/chilli-bean/)-has the added benefits of facilitating rapid prescription throughout the Authority’s Occupational Therapy team and enhancing the individual OT’s professional credentials.
It is already proving a hit with Occupational Therapists, with at least five teams having signed up.
Chilli Bean is a unique, infinitely variable posture support seat.
It can be precisely moulded to each individual user, to comfortably support them and correct their posture without pressure points.
Via its innovative vacuum technology, the precise shape required is quickly fixed, at home, but can be easily adjusted by the carer as needed.
There is none of the delay and cost involved with fixed mould systems.
Under the Chilli Bean Initiative, we will demonstrate the infinite variability of the equipment, to fully equip prescribers in their understanding of its relevance and use.
We will fully train a nominated OT team member in assessment, prescription, fitting and adjustment of the kit, including pressure-mapping.
Completing the package, a full set of Chilli Beans (small, medium, large, extra large plus the vacuum pump) will be loaned to the OT team to accelerate the assessment and delivery process.
“We are all aware that one of the biggest problems in resolving the problems families with disabled children are facing on a daily basis is delay.
“There’s the delay in arranging a mutually convenient date, time for the assessment for the family, the OT, the supplier.
"There’s the delay whilst the equipment is ordered and delivered.
"As the child needs change, there’s a further delay with fixed mould systems whilst the re-assessment process takes place, a new mould financed, ordered and delivered- often, by which time, the child’s needs have changed again and/or the mould doesn’t quite fit.
“The Chilli Bean Initiative eliminates all those issues, enabling a speedy resolution that will support the child or young person- and the OT team- for months or years without no additional cost. Indeed, it enhances the overall service offering for the Authority!”
Peter Wingrave, AAT Director
The Chilli Bean Initiative builds on a similar scheme we have been operating successfully for more than a year with our Gravity Chair foam positioning system, for children and young people with severe and complex motor and sensory disabilities. Particular success has been achieved in Sefton alongside Alderhey Children’s Hospital, because of the Chair’s effectiveness, simplicity and practicality in prescription.
To arrange an initial demonstration and discuss becoming part of the Chilli Bean Initiative, contact our head office via sales@aatgb.com, or telephone 01978 821875.
For teenager George, bath-time has always been compromised.
His quadriplegic #Cerebralpalsyhas meant he was always in a sling to give him the support necessary- until now!
It is the first effective answer George’s parents have found, to enable him to relax and soak without them intervening.
Designed and developed in the UK in partnership with Occupational Therapists, Aqua Liberty is the only bath support system that fits any user, any bath.
Fitted with any of our range of infinitely-adjustable waterproof yet breathable posture support cushions, the Aqua Liberty system perfectly holds the bather safely in the water without care assistance.
The cushion- in George’s case the Comfortable Plus trunk/pelvis combo- is moulded to precisely and correctly support without pressure.
The design of the Aqua Liberty system means it is quick and easy to remove, making the bath available for use by other members of the family.
This also eliminates any of the delay, cost and disruption of installing specialist baths and bathing equipment.
When not in use in the bath, the base can be rolled up and stowed away; other family members can still enjoy a relain bath.
The cushions can be removed and used wherever else sitting support is required- in a chair/ wheelchair, in the car- or other activities such as flying, beach buggy-ing or canoeing!
“We used to have a similar product to this but it used a beaded system and therefore didn’t mould very well to George’s body shape. Plus it recently broke and the beads went everywhere! Think polystyrene balls all over the wet room floor: I’m still finding them now!
“Until we tried Aqua Liberty, we had to keep George’s sling on the in the bath as he is not able to sit up in the bath without support.
"He was extremely relaxed and comfortable whilst seated in the Aqua Liberty. He absolutely loves the bath so would make good use of this piece of equipment.”
mum Karen Merry
We are so confident of the value Aqua Liberty brings, we are offering free assessment and free trail of the system. Book yours by telephoning 01978 821875, emailing sales@aatgb.com, or online: https://www.aatgb.com/aqua-liberty/
For almost 3m people(1), daily life can be traumatic, because they are- or living with someone who is- autistic.
How do you reduce the trauma, and create a calming environment to address an autistic or behavioural episode?
The answer can be as simple as a chair….
AAT’s innovative Gravity Chair aka Gravity Positioning System is scientifically designed and clinically proven to help channel a feeling of safety, security, stability and wellbeing.
It provides a positive intervention for children and young adults with autism and other complex needs.
“Assessments with children with needs is fantastic.
"Children who are constantly ‘on the go’ come into clinic and try the seat- often it is the first time that parents have seen their child sit and settle in one place for any length of time.
"It enables them to sit and focus on toys they like or books etc.
"Often these children do not like to be strapped in or restrained, so the Gravity Chair allows them to get in and out of the seat on their terms.
“When children feel safe, secure and comfortable their muscle tone relaxes, allowing them to focus and enjoy play activities.
"They may still require support, but to engage all children need to be comfortable above everything else.
"Children who require supportive seating spend many hours strapped in functional seats and wheelchairs using harnesses or chest straps.
"The Gravity Chair can give them seating away from all that, with only a lap strap required.”
Gravity Chair looks like a normal soft seat; its foam configuration of a low centre of gravity with high arm rests and snug-fitting lateral supports provides good postural alignment with gentle pressure to control hyper-activity, to calm and regulate.
The Gravity Chair design helps alleviate discomfort from spasm and involuntary movement, providing a safe and non-restrictive seating option to ease deformities and contractures. I
ts ‘hugging’ shape helps reduce anxiety and distractibility. Its high arms can enhance fine motor control activities. An optional tilt in space wedge can finitely adjust the Chair’s orientation to gain a more aligned posture when deformities or contractures are present.
On a practical level, it is lightweight so easy to move around as needed. Covers are removable and wipeable. The sitting surface is incontinence resistant.
AAT’s nationwide team of sales managers are trained to support healthcare professionals in undertaking postural assessments, free of charge and with no obligation.
To find out more about Gravity Chair, and book a free, no obligation assessment, click the link: https://www.aatgb.com/gravity-chair/.
Colin McDonnell gets to really enjoy life, with his Stabilo #posturesupport cushions
We enable Colin to explore the world despite his Cerebral Palsy and complex needs
Colin McDonnell, 28, has Glutaric Aciduria Type 1, a rare condition that can cause difficulty moving, spasms, jerking, rigidity and decreased muscle tone and muscle weakness, which was misdiagnosed as Cerebral Palsy. His condition means he has complex physical needs, with severe generalised dystonia and scoliosis. As a result, he is totally dependent on his carers and his wheelchair. The youngest of six children, he lives in Leeds.
Through the William Merritt Centre in Leeds, an assessment for our infinitely variable Stabilo vacuum posture cushions was arranged, to facilitate Colin’s ability to fully participate in wider family activities, including foreign holidays.
Our Stabilo cushions are essentially mouldable beanbags, that are precisely shaped to support without pressure, and the moulded shape fixed be removal of the air inside.
The cushions can be infinitely and easily altered, at home, by the care team, and with no additional cost (unlike fixed moulded systems). A range of standard shapes and sizes are available, but we have the capability to create one-off, bespoke cushions.
Colin details his experience:
“I was so excited that there was something that might let me be able to go on holiday, to fly to foreign destinations, but what about my high tone and postural needs?
"We quickly eliminated some of the options that would not be suitable for me. Gareth (AAT’s Sales Manager) was very patient, but we did it!
"The Comfortable Plus Duo [a combination seat with corset back, modelled headrest and lateral supports https://www.aatgb.com/comfortable-plus-duo/ worked for my back giving me trunk and head.
"Gareth was able to make the Grande mattress-sized cushion [https://www.aatgb.com/grande/] bespoke, making it long enough to come up the sides, for my pelvis and make a pommel. He could offer us a solution that we were all happy with.
" I wanted to go to Disney World, but Mum said that was too far, I chose Fuerteventura for a trial run. The Comfortable Plus worked a treat! I felt supported and comfortable. I even had a nap, and was asking when we could book for the US before we even landed back in the UK.
"When in Fuerteventura I didn’t have to just watch everyone enjoying the beach: we put my Comfortable Plus on a beach wheelchair so I was able to join in.
"The Comfortable Plus has opened so many experiences beyond the wonderful holiday.
"The family gets very excited when they see snow and go straight for the sledges. My sisters knock a few pieces of wood together, add the Stabilo cushions and off I go….
"I am not sure what is next, the cushions have opened up so many possibilities,
"As they say, ‘Watch this Space!’ The world here I come!”
If you think our cushions could enable you to participate more in life, we provide free, no obligation assessments. Book yours here:https://www.aatgb.com/posture-cushions/
Unique equipment is helping staff at a Mencap residential unit make one of their residents more comfortable and relaxed in her daily needs.
The female resident has complex mental and physical disabilities.Her disabilities mean she has to bathe rather than shower. The submersion in the bath- aqua therapy- is also an essential part of her physical and mental treatment.
The problem
The issue- until now- for her carers has been how to safely and comfortably support her in the bath. This would optimise her ability to relax and obtain the full benefits of the aqua therapy, as well as ensuring her hygiene. However, all the systems hitherto available involved rigid, mechanical restraints, which she would resist, or they would have to remain fixed in the bath, impeding use by the other residents.
Her Occupational Therapist called in AAT to support in finding a way to help both her and her carers. The result has been the prescription of an AAT Aqua Liberty bathing support system.
The solution
Aqua Liberty is the only vacuum support cushion system that fits any bath and any user. It is also unique in being developed in the UK in partnership with disabled people and Occupational Therapists.
The lightweight adjustable system comprises a central, flexible backpiece that fits any bath. It is quick and easy to secure into position, and to remove. Any of a range of “mix and match” vacuum posture cushions is then easily attached to the backpiece, to provide infinitely remouldable, adjustable pressure-free support for the bather.
To accommodate the woman’s requirements, AAT advised the prescription of its Comfortable Plus Duo cushion.
Combining a corset and and seat in one, the Comfortable Plus Duo delivers correct torso and pelvis positioning, stabilising her vertically and laterally, holding her in place without pressure. By making use of vacuum technology, the cushion can be precisely altered by her carers to deliver optimal comfort as needed.
Whereas the resident uses the Comfortable Plus Duo cushion only for the bath, it- and the range of vacuum posture cushions that interface with the Aqua Liberty system- can be dried and used in the wider environment, to provide appropriate postural support on seats, wheelchairs, car seats etc.
“Since we’ve been using the Aqua Liberty, this resident actually gets the benefit of her aqua therapy. She is relaxed, and content. Aqua Liberty has been the ideal answer for us as a care team.
Jane Turton, home manager
To find out more about the Aqua Liberty system, including booking of free no obligation assessments, visit https://www.aatgb.com/aqua-liberty/. You can also arrange a free trial of the system.
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