Occupational therapy students gain a better understanding of assistive technology with Unicare Health
Our open showroom training sessions give students a chance to get hands-on with assistive technology, guided by expert clinical trainers. During one of our recent sessions, we showed a group of future occupational therapists around our brand new showroom and experience hub. Here, they enjoyed an interactive guided demonstration showcasing a wide range of products and solutions. By directly interacting with the equipment, these students left better prepared to tackle equipment challenges in their future roles as occupational therapists.
Open Showroom for OT Students
Wednesday, 3 April 2024
Unicare Health – Assistive Technology Collaboration Centre, Bentley
The world of assistive technology can be confusing to navigate. But, for many students, the best way to learn is through hands-on experience. Our clinical trainers, Annette Dumble and Ilissa Liew, were thrilled to share their expertise on the features, functionalities, and applications of equipment, leading the students through engaging discussions.
Pressure Care Mattresses
The session kicked off with Ilissa highlighting the features and functions of nursing care beds, and exploring how different pressure care mattresses offer unique properties suited for individual needs.
For example, foam mattresses like the popular Optimal 5zon offer a lightweight solution for preventing and managing pressure injuries. The castellated foam pattern on the mattress surface promotes greater contouring and conformity, offering users enhanced pressure relief. For heels and other pressure injury-prone areas, the support surface features smaller sized castellated foam cubes to facilitate deeper immersion and envelopment, further enhancing pressure redistribution.
For more advanced pressure care needs, an alternating air mattress like the Neo Cx19 may be the optimal choice. Alternatively, those who require a supportive combination of air cells and foam can opt for a hybrid mattress such as the Curocell Area Zone or Curocell Cirrus.
Ilissa conducted a detailed Q&A session that delved into the features and functions of each mattress type. This discussion also covered how to identify the ideal pressure alternation settings to achieve optimal results for the user’s specific needs.
Hoists and Slings
Next, Annette took the lead in showcasing our range of hoists and slings. She took care to provide students with hands-on experience to help conquer any fears they may have about manual handling equipment. With this in mind, Annette introduced the clinical benefits of lifting hoists, including the Ansa Alto and Ansa Sonata. These hoists are designed with caregivers in mind, making them incredibly user-friendly while also minimising the risk of errors during transfers. She also highlighted our popular industry-leading standing hoists: the Ansa Salsa and the Oxford Journey.
Annette also demonstrated the benefits of different types of slings and lifting hoist accessories like yokes and pivot frames, and helped attendees to understand the difference between 2-point and 4-point yokes.
After the talks wrapped up, students enjoyed the chance to interact with assistive technology in the Unicare Health Experience Hub. While enjoying a delightful morning tea, they explored our range of handy home care products, like kitchen aids, dressing aids, and bathroom aids, to assist clients throughout their day.
Thank You
Thank you to all the students who attended our free informational session. We are grateful for your enthusiastic participation and positive feedback. We hope the knowledge and skills you gained here will prove invaluable as you move forward.
Remember, our dedicated support team is just a phone call away if you have any questions about equipment recommendations, trials, or need further assistance. We unicare about providing you with the resources and guidance to help you succeed. Your engagement and willingness to learn are truly appreciated. We look forward to seeing you again and continuing to support your growth and development.
If you’re a current student, we would love to see you at our next free open showroom session.
Lastly, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on our latest training opportunities. Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you next time!
