Silverchain physiotherapists receive training on wheelchairs, cushions, and hoists from Unicare Health
Wheelchairs, Cushions, and Hoist Training
Wednesday, 6 September 2023
Unicare Health
The Unicare Health training team was thrilled to host a gathering of 40 Silverchain physiotherapists for a training session focusing on wheelchairs, cushions and hoists. The lessons from this training will help them better understand the needs of their clients and provide personalised care.
At Unicare Health, our commitment goes above and beyond for Australia’s leading at-home care service provider, Silverchain. As Silverchain’s preferred equipment supplier, we unicare about educating allied health workers about the clinical benefits of assistive technology. This education empowers allied health professionals to elevate the level of care provided to all their clients.
The physiotherapists at Silverchain are dedicated to offering the highest quality of care to their clients. Wheelchairs, cushions and hoists are just a few examples of the equipment types they recommend.
To better serve each client’s unique needs, it is crucial to understand the capabilities and features of Unicare Health’s assistive technology range. A greater understanding equips allied health professionals to make effective recommendations that align with their clients’ clinical and personal goals.
Today’s session was led by Unicare Health’s clinical educator and trainer, Annette Terranova, who brings 35 years of industry experience to her training sessions. Annette has worked extensively as a clinician and consultant in the aged care sector. Her passions encompass pressure care, manual handling, mobility, and seating.
What to Consider?
This session began by exploring Unicare’s range of baseline wheelchairs, including the Echo Lite, the Breezy Basix and the Tourer. Annette highlighted the advantages of each, such as the lightweight frame of the Echo Lite and Tourer, and the multi-adjustable nature of the Breezy Basix. She pointed out how the Breezy Basix provides flexible support through its tension-adjustable backrest.
During the conversation, Annette delved into what factors to consider when deciding between a manual wheelchair and a transit wheelchair. She also discussed the use of anti-tip bars to ensure safety and stability.
Annette then demonstrated how to fit a Sunrise Jay J3 backrest to a Breezy Basix wheelchair to increase lateral support. The Sunrise Jay J3 is a lightweight and adjustable backrest, with contoured back shells to suit varied positional needs.
However, Annette emphasised that none of these chairs are intended for full-time use. Sitting for too long in the same position increases users’ risk of pressure injury and contributes to other negative health effects.
The session then shifted to the most popular cushions in the Unicare Health range, featuring leading brands like Jay, ROHO, Action and Equagel. Annette disassembled these cushions to examine the materials inside. She then passed them around the room for attendees to sit on, which gave everyone a chance to experience how much comfort and support each of the cushions offered.
The discussion focused on the clinical features of air, gel, foam, and other materials used in seat cushions. Annette analysed the variances in postural stability, pressure care, transfer stability, and the care and maintenance of these cushions. All of these factors are crucial in determining the best recommendation to enhance client outcomes.
Before delving into our discussion on manual handling equipment, we took a quick break for a delicious afternoon tea.
Manual Handling Equipment
Annette brought up an important point about the psychological aspect of manual handling recommendations. It’s not just about the physical and environmental factors, but also the emotional impact on the clients. Clients often struggle with the idea of adopting assistive technology, particularly when it comes to using manual handling equipment. We need to take into account all of these factors to ensure the best recommendations for our clients, especially when they may be in sensitive situations.
Understanding the manual handling process and your equipment is vital. For instance, when it comes to lifting hoists and standing hoists, it is imperative to know where the emergency release is on each piece of manual handling equipment you work with.
Attendees were also shown the correct way to measure a sling against a client’s body. They gained valuable insights on how best to use slide sheets for assisting clients in and out of slings.
The training session offered an opportunity to demonstrate the Ansa Sonata and Ansa Alto lifting hoists. Attendees enjoyed taking the chance to gain hands-on experience with the equipment available.
Annette then highlighted the advanced features of popular standing hoist models like Ansa Salsa and Oxford Advance. These hoists are designed to ensure comfort and ease of use for both caregivers and patients.
After the training session, the Unicare team was delighted to chat with participants to conclude a successful afternoon. The Silverchain team left the building with a greater understanding of wheelchairs and cushions, and the confidence to recommend manual handling equipment.
Thank you
We want to extend our gratitude to the Silverchain physiotherapists for spending their afternoon with us. We are extremely grateful for your partnership, and unicare about upholding our #morethancare values in all our collaborations.
At Unicare Health, we strongly believe in the transformative power of knowledge and are committed to exceeding our partners’ expectations. Thank you for reading, and we hope to see you at another of our sessions soon!
