Side Access Bathing Systems are a Marvelous Invention

Kudos to the person having the creative imagination to design side access bathing systems. It is a truly marvelous invention for those that can no longer safely get in/out of the bathtub or shower. It can actually mean the difference between continuing to live independently or having to depend on someone else for many self-care issues.

The Most Marvelous

Personally, I think the best part of the side access bathing systems is the ability to choose between a shower or bath again. How I miss those long soaks in a really hot tub. When my bones ache, it seems like nothing feels better. Imagine being able to sit in a nice hot tub up to your neck and just marvel in the warmth. Lower the level of the water a little and take a good book with you. Read until the water gets cold, or top it off with hot water again, so you can stay in the warmth, until you begin to feel like a prune.

In short, if you have to worry about your personal safety in bathing, you may want to consider one of many side access bathing systems. Some even have whirlpool action to make the experience even more pleasurable for soaking those aching joints and sore muscles. Do not wait until you fall and break your hip. Do not take the chance of lying there for hours or days before someone finds you and can call for help. You should not have to give up your independence for fear of falling in the bathroom, during a process that should be a refreshing experience. Most people take the simple act of showering or bathing for granted. But, you and I both know that the marvelous invention of a side access bathing system can be a real blessing.

                 
                           
                                 Blood drawing chairs for patient comfort make your job easier in more ways than one. After all, most people do not like to have their blood drawn. If fact, they hate the process with a passion. You already have a job that does not make you the most popular person in patient care. So, if you can provide comfort and a method to make it a little easier, your patients will be grateful.

The great thing about blood drawing chairs is the specially designed arm rest to support the patients arm at the best vantage point for you to do your job. The arm rest is at an appropriate level for you to sit right across from the patient. Even the simple act of sitting down and facing the person having blood drawn is somehow comforting. For some reason, the procedure does not seem so intimidating, and the individual can relax, communicate, and feel like you really care for them.

Convenience

 Blood drawing chairs also make your job so much more convenient. You need to be face to face with the individual, if you are going to ask them to give you one or more vials of blood. It is more than a pin prick, and it can take some time. You need to have the patient at ease and as comfortable as possible to make your job a little easier.

If the patient is tense and uptight, it can make it more difficult to get a good vein. At the right angle, as they become more relaxed, it is much easier to do your job. If you can sit down and have him/her seated comfortably, it is also easier to be distracting, so he/she is not thinking about what you must do. 

In fact, if you are really good at your job, and the patient is comfortable, you will be done almost before they know you have actually begun. The whole idea is to make the patient as comfortable as possible, especially if that patient has health concerns that require coming to sit in the blood drawing chair frequently.

In short, based on personal experience from the patient point of view, a blood drawing chair makes an often unpleasant medical procedure much easier to bear. If the source of the stick is comfortably positioned, and the patient can be distracted, it can be over very quickly. Even if you have to draw blood from a small child, if Mom can sit in the chair, and the youngster can use the arm rest, you can grab attention away from what you are doing. It will all be done before the child has too much time to worry and cry, and you can be on to your next patient. A blood drawing chair just makes it a little easier for everyone.

 The Benefits of Blood Drawing Chairs

If you have the pleasure of drawing blood from patients, you know that it is not the most sought after job in the world. You are not exactly the most popular person in the doctor's office or clinic. Patients are coming to you because they are sick and need tests done, or they have health concerns that need careful monitoring. In any case, they are already tired of being poked and prodded. So, if there is anything you can do to make the patient a little more comfortable and your job a little easier, now is the time to take action. For example, have you ever thought of the benefits of blood drawing chairs?

Blood drawing chairs are more than just a place to sit. They are a means of supporting the patient both physically and mentally, while you are doing your job. The chair has a specially designed armrest to position the arm at the most advantageous angle for you to draw blood, while providing the patient a place to rest, while you are taking their blood.

From Personal Experience

But, it is so much more than that, because you and your patient can be seated across from each other, and eye to eye, during the whole process. As a patient who has had blood drawn countless times, it is extremely important to foster an atmosphere of comfort, trust and care, if you are going to take something as valuable as my life blood. 

I need to feel like you are not just there to do your job and get a paycheck. I want to know that you care about my comfort. I also need to be able to talk to you about anything other than what you are doing. Although I am not like some people who will actually faint, I do not like to watch multiple vials of my blood being put into your little slotted carrier.

Despite the fact that I intellectually know anyone who has to draw blood is just doing what the doctor ordered, I want to know that my comfort and care is just as important at this juncture as another other procedure I might have yet to undergo or have endured in the past.

Making your Job Easier

Blood drawing chairs actually make your job easier. Like many other patients you may have on a daily basis, if I am having my blood drawn, it usually means I might be anemic or I am exhibiting symptoms that make me feel weak and sickly. At these times, it is hard to even hold my arm up and out, let alone be calm and still, so you will only have to poke my veins once. For the patients who have small, thin, or collapsing veins, it is even more imperative that they are comfortable and the arm is at the appropriate angle for you to have the best chance of drawing blood.

In short, unless you are a patient who has to undergo frequent blood draws, maybe you do not think about the benefits of blood drawing chairs. But believe me, any furniture or equipment that can make the patient experience a little more comfortable and your job a little easier is well worth the investment.

Mobility

When mobility is an issue, and you already need help to get around, a bariatric lift can make life a little easier. You caregiver can lift you without injury to him/her or you. In addition, there are special bariatric lifts, if you should fall, that you can operate yourself, even if no one else is around. A bariatric lift could make life a little easier, you might want to consider the innovative solution to
improving  mobility.

For the bariatric patient with mobility issues, it may be necessary to invest in a bariatric gurney. Along with the lift, it can greatly assist in patient care. Especially in hospitals and rehabilitation centers, a gurney can greatly improve the quality of hygiene care.

When you are excessively overweight and have mobility problems, one of the most dangerous rooms in the house is the bathroom. If you slip and fall in the bathtub or shower, the injuries can be devastating.  Even people without physical challenges take nasty spills in the bathroom. But, you can greatly improve the safety factor with bariatric bath/shower benches. You can sit to take you shower and give yourself time to heal properly. 

In addition, if you require the help of someone else to take care of your personal needs, you may want to consider a bariatric commode and shower chair. You can safely take care of elimination and then roll into the shower to get cleaned up for the day.

Finally, you will want to make your bedroom as safe and comfortable as possible. Especially after bariatric surgery, you will be spending a lot of time resting and recovering. You may want to consider a bariatric hospital bed. It will be uncomfortable to lie flat, and it will probably be very difficult, if not impossible, to roll out of bed. A special bed can make sleep possible and help during the healing and weight loss process. You may also want to think about getting a bariatric mattress pad, to help make recovery a little more comfortable and prevent pressure sores. 

 Also, you may want to invest in a   bariatric bedside commode.

If you have been confined to a chair due to injury or illness, you might need the freedom of electric wheelchair lifts. You may be grounded to the first floor, but it does not have to be a permanent limitation. In addition, if you like getting out of the house and having fun with friends and family, you do not have to give up on favorite activities and be stuck at home. You and your wheelchair can be sprung from the prison of your disability with electric wheelchair lifts.

I know I may have over dramatized your situation. But, being in a wheelchair myself, I understand what it is like to be on the inside looking out, when it comes to leaving the house for activities other people take for granted. I also know what it feels like to have a ground-floor room converted to a bedroom, while the rest of the family sleeps on the second floor.

Broadening your Horizons

Do you see your wheelchair as a constraint to the true joy of living? Well, may I suggest to you that with the proper electric wheelchair lift added to your vehicle, your mode of mobility can actually broaden your horizons?

No. I am not making light of your disability. In truth, I would love to be able to hop, skip, and jump my way through life and donate my wheelchair to Good Will or some other charitable organization. But, as the saying goes, "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade."

Seriously, the joy of life does not have to end because you are in a chair. You simply have to find non-traditional ways to experience joy. For example, thanks to the ability to get out of the house, with mobility aids like electric wheelchair lifts for autos, I have danced. Sure, it might have been a spin on the dance floor with my wheelchair, but it was still fun-at least until I got so dizzy I thought I might fall out.

What about you? What kind of freedom and fun can you have again, if you install an electric wheelchair lift on your vehicle? How about a stroll and roll with your best friend in the neighborhood walking path at the park? Use your imagination! With the right kind of lift, you can once again get into your car, and find those magic moments in life that make the best memories.

On the Home Front

Back at home have you been grounded by illness and injury?  Are you confined to a particular floor, when the majority of living used to take place either up or down? Do you miss the basement family room, where everyone once congregated for popcorn and pizza on movie night? How long has it been since you slept in your own bed, or you had the simple privilege of rummaging through your own closet to find the perfect outfit?

Despair no more! If you sanctuary now seems like an impenetrable fortress, get an electric wheelchair lift for the stairs and break through the barrier. 

Yes. A wheelchair can be a frustrating challenge. But, you, and I, have the choice of whether or not we are defeated. So, if electric wheelchair lifts can keep you in your home, and lifts can give you the freedom to go out when you want, it is time to get rolling.

Someone wonderful invented shower chairs for safety and comfort. I know, because I use one. I also remember how scary the simple act of bathing could be, before I invested in a chair. How I have kept from falling and causing myself great harm is beyond me. But, now I can actually enjoy a shower and relax, at least until I have emptied the hot water heater.

Can You Relate?

How about you? Do you suffer from mobility issues that make the simple act of bathing the heroic event of the day? Do you worry about falling in the bath and not being able to get help, if you are hurt? Why live in fear any longer, when a shower chair can provide the safety and comfort you should have to provide for your basic needs?

Your Personal Needs

Not all shower chairs are created equal. It does not mean that one is necessarily better than the other. Rather, different styles are made to answer your personal needs. For example, some chairs are more like lightweight plastic lawn chairs-just someplace to sit, if your legs cannot be dependable throughout the bathing process.

On the other hand, you may want a chair like mine or something in between. Personally, I have a very sturdy shower chair. It even has rubber suction cups on the legs to attach to the shower. The seat is also extra long to extend beyond the shower. Then, I can simply sit down and slide across. Now, I do not have to worry about lifting and pulling myself into the shower chair.

 In addition, the chair has a sturdy backrest and handle. Since I have both limited mobility and balance, this type of shower chair gives me more stability and security. After one too many times of picking myself up off the bathroom floor, it can be the difference between remaining independent and taking care of my kids or a lengthy recovery from broken bones and bruises.

How to Choose your Shower Chair

Now that you know there is a vast array of shower chairs, you need to know how to choose the one that is best for you. When you start shopping around, be sure to read all of the specifications carefully. If in doubt, ask.

The first aspect I probably considered is the weight limitations. To be honest, some styles are for individuals who do not have the challenges of excess weight. So, even though it may be difficult to face the facts, be sure to pick a shower chair that will accommodate your weight.

The next thing I check for is the stability. With balance and mobility issues, I need something that I can lean on and shift around. I do not want to worry about the chair tipping and dumping me in the floor, if I lean one way or the other.

Oh yes. A major concern is assembly. Whether you purchase your shower chair over the Internet or at your local pharmacy, you will have to put some of it together. Since I am not mechanically inclined, I needed something easy. Snap together models are available, thank goodness!

In short, someone wonderful has invented shower chairs to make the bathing process both safer and more comfortable. So, please do not risk a debilitating fall in the shower. Have a seat, and enjoy your shower once again.

Do you put yourself in a precarious position every time you take a shower or a bath? Have you fallen and hurt yourself in the past? Have you come to point that you understand it is only a matter of time before you do some major damage to your bones and muscles. Then, you can use one of a selection of bath benches for better balance.

Stop Taking Chances

If you normally walk with the assistance of a cane or a walker, you cannot exactly take your assistive device in with you to bath. Once those rubber tips get wet, you might as well be at the local ice skating rink. At either place, you could end up on your seat and wishing you could reach a phone and call for help.

Of course, the only other alternative is hoping you can maintain your balance long enough to shampoo you hair and wash off your body. Even if you have escaped injury to this point, why take any unnecessary chances. A bath bench can give you the opportunity to relax, do a better job with personal care, and keep you safe from slipping.

No Major Renovation

If you are worried about the inconvenience to other family members, you should know that bath benches require no major renovation to your bathroom. In fact, some styles are totally portable. You simply place the bath bench in the shower, bathe, and take it back out again after you dry off. Most are compact enough to fit neatly beside the bathtub. In fact, it makes a convenient bench for anyone who might want to have a perch while dressing, brushing teeth, or whatever people do in the restroom.

Of course, if you need something a little more stable, that does not require you to move it out of the way; you can always opt to select a style that can be bolted to the shower wall. A wall mounted bath bench will be a little sturdier and not require replacement of the rubber tips on the ends of the legs every once in a while. Also, stationery bath benches will not get in the way of other bathers who want to take a shower. Most people stand toward the center of the tub or shower. If anything, other people will want to experience the convenience and comfort of that bath bench.

On the Road

As someone who also has physical challenges that make bathing potentially dangerous, I have used bath benches. It is much easier and safer than trying to life myself out of the tub. But, I am often in a pickle when I travel, ending up taking "spit baths" out of the bathroom sink at someone else's house or the hotel room, if handicapped accommodations are not available.

So, you may want to get two bath benches - one for your home and one for the road. Then, if you get stuck in a situation where you might have to put your safety at risk, get out the portable bath bench and you are all set.

In short, you should not have to be in fear of your next shower. It should be a time to wash away the grime of the day, while relaxing and feeling refreshed. Do not wait until after a fall to check out if a bath bench can make getting clean enjoyable again.

The Fun of Portable Wheelchairs

In the grand scheme of life, the fun of portable wheelchairs can bring a new independence and appreciation for life once again. Yes, no rational individual would prefer to experience every day from the seat of a chair. But, if there is no other alternative, it is not time to mope. It is time to make the best of what life has to offer and enjoy every chance to participate in your own existence.

I know, it may sound overly sentimental and strange, but I live my life from the seat of a wheelchair, and it can be fun, if you let it. For example, if you have a portable chair that allows you to leave home and attend special occasions, have you ever considered dancing? Well, let me tell you it can be lots of fun, even if it is not done in the customary way. However, be forewarned. If you tend to get dizzy easily, you may want to take long "walks" in the park as an alternative activity.

Oh yes; you do not walk either. But, you probably have friends and family that do like the occasional stroll. What is stopping you from joining them? Your community probably has a park with a biking or walking path. So, get yourself a pair of biking or motorcycle gloves to protect the palms of your hands, and get some exercise. 

If you have limited motion in your upper body and tire easily, did you know that motorized portable wheelchairs are now available. The chair can still fold away in your trunk, but you will have that boost of power to enjoy those outing and climb those challenging inclines.

Do you like to go shopping, out to eat with friends, or work outside the home in a traditional work setting? With a portable wheelchair, you may continue to do so, even if your legs do not comply. Simply because you are in a chair does not mean you have to sit at home and watch the world go by out the window. 

Even if it means undergoing physical therapy, to strengthen your upper body, it will be worth the effort. For example, check on the Internet for handicapped accessible vacation destinations. Whether you need a portable wheelchair for long distances or full-time, there are plenty of places you can have fun, see the sites, and participate in life.

In short, if you and I could have the choice, we would run and jump, climb the nearest mountain, walk through the mall, and 101 other activities we miss. But, it is not healthy to dwell on what we cannot do. Instead, think about all of the things we can do, thanks to the portable wheelchair. In truth, no one has more than one life to live. So, it is incumbent on us to not waste the one we have with our friends and family. 

Everyone is handicapped in one way or another. Our physical challenges are just a little more noticeable. So, give up wishing for what cannot be, and find ways to have fun with your portable wheelchair.

Portable Wheelchairs Equal Independence

For me, portable power wheelchairs equal independence. Having a wheelchair that I can easily transport from place to place has made my quality of life very good. Before I had the chair, almost everything I did was more difficult and definitely painful.

I was born with cerebral palsy. Since I was raised to become as independent as possible, if I wanted to do something, I generally figure out a way to get it accomplished. For over 40 years, I have walked with forearm crutches and I definitely was not going to digress. But, as I got older, it also became more difficult to get around safely.

Going shopping became a real chore. By the time I walked the distance between my car and the store front, I was already exhausted. Then, I did not care if I bought anything or not. I simply wanted to sit down and stay put, before I fell down. Additionally, my husband did not like it when I used a chair for trips to a mall or someplace where walking is too hard, even under the best of circumstances. So, I avoided using a wheelchair like it was equal to the plague!

The Safety Choice

Then, one day, after I was compelled to become a single parent, I was told to sit down, or I would eventually fall down and break myself. Then, who would take care of my children. So, I swallowed my pride and convictions and began using a portable wheelchair 6 years ago.

Wow! What a difference in my quality of life! In truth, I wish I had done it sooner! Now, I can take my kids shopping, and we can stay there until we get done. Sure, I still get tired from wheeling from place to place, and I probably tend to rest more than individuals who are not physically challenged. But, I can actually do more than I ever could, standing on crutches.

Independent

As a matter of fact, I can go places by myself. I do not have to depend on anyone to get my wheelchair out of the trunk. My portable wheelchair folds and is lightweight. I can actually pull it in the car over my lap, and roll it on/behind the folded down passenger seat. It may not look ladylike, but I can take myself anywhere I want to go, as long as the destination is wheelchair accessible.

So, now you know about me. What about you? Do you struggle with mobility issues that adversely affect your quality of life? Do you wish you could be a little more independent? Then, maybe you should consider a portable wheelchair. For the disabled who are not capable of lifting anything too heavy, portable wheelchairs have been streamlined to weigh as little as possible, while providing safety and support. 

How can you be Independent

In fact, you can now find models that are 30 pounds or less, without the attachments. Using the car itself for leverage, you will not actually have to lift that much weight. If you have never had to accept using a portable wheelchair before now, your doctor may recommend physical therapy to help you learn how to safely transport yourself from the sofa to the wheelchair, or teach you how it is possible to pack up the car and go on a road trip, if you so desire.

Life is so much easier and safer since I sat down in my portable wheelchair. I should have done it sooner. But, even if you only need a rolling seat once in a while, or all of the time, a folding wheelchair can give you back the independence you have been missing for a long time. I know.