Made to Measure Case Studies
Lilly – Bespoke Gel Hoist Protectors
Lilly is 11 and has Cerebral Palsy and experiences involuntary movements in her arms and legs. It is important for Lilly to spend time with her family in their living room.
Lilly enjoys moving and having a stretch on the floor and being with her younger siblings in the living room when she comes home from school. Lilly’s bedroom and ceiling track hoist is upstairs.
A ceiling track hoist was unable to be fitted in the living room and the family did not wish for a gantry hoist fitted in their living area. Therefore, Lilly’s mum uses a portable hoist to transfer Lilly between her wheelchair and the floor. However, during hoisting Lilly’s involuntary movements increase and she is regularly making contact with the hoist, which is bruising and marking her skin.
We designed and made Special Gel Covers that covered the base, battery box, lift arm and spreader bar of the portable hoist. Since these have been fitted Mum advised that Lilly is much safer and she is no longer bruising or marking her skin on the hoist. Mum also said she is less anxious and happier to be hoisted.
Marie – Bespoke Gel Sling Protectors
Marie is 52 and has multiple sclerosis. She is currently using a supportive toileting sling safely. However, she has vulnerable skin and the sling was causing marking and discomfort underneath her thighs while being transferred between her bed, wheelchair and commode.
We designed and made special sling leg protectors to enable Marie to be hoisted more comfortably and safely during daily transfers. She reported that she is no longer marking and is able to be hoisted more regularly during the day.
The sling protectors enabled Marie to continue using the sling with her husband and avoided having to change to a full sling or increase her care package unnecessarily or require additional carers for her daily transfers.
Marie’s husband also advised that the gel covers are easy to clean, which is particularly useful after personal care activities and everyday use at home.
Pressure Care Improvement of Wheelchair Pommel
In this case, we were contacted by an Occupational Therapist whose client was experiencing redness and skin breakdown on the inside of their inner knee areas. This was caused by rubbing on the wheelchair’s padded pommel fitting.
The pommel was attached to the front of the wheelchair to keep the client’s knees apart, but over time it was causing skin irritation and inflammation.
Our solution was to custom-make a specially designed pressure care pad, incorporating our soft Silicone Dimensional Gel for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers.
The Dimensional Gel provides a soft, cooling solution that also reduces the shear forces against the skin and being low-profile, at just ½” in-depth, fits neatly over the pommel without affecting the client’s comfortable seating position.
Our pommel protector benefits from the cellular design of the Dimensional Gel which moulds to the body for continual comfort and pressure-relief and comes with a breathable Dartex cover for the prevention of moisture build-up and ease of cleaning.
To further enhance user comfort, the pommel support strut was also encased in a protective Dimensional Gel Wrap which protects the skin from being damaged by contact with hard wheelchair surfaces.
Equipment we make custom sized gel products for:
