- It is imperative to look carefully at the client’s requirements including their functional physical, cognitive and emotional needs.
- More importantly you need to look at both the physical and social environment. Many people are not aware of the significant problems people face when they are not seated suitably.
- On assessments not only do we have a thorough understanding of the client’s physical and social needs but how we can tailor the correct dimensions of a chair to the client. These are seat depth, width, height, angle, support and having a facility to offer pressure relief, tilt-in space, variable weight limits, the varying gradients of upholstery, raise facility and back angle recline.
- Once we have identified the most suitable supportive chair we need to take into consideration, the moving and handling procedures, whether this is in a home or a private care home. We also look very closely at pressure prevention and care. The use of restraints and whether it would be appropriate to be using such methods in a particular environment. We also need to look at risk assessments and pin-point which methods will work correctly.
- Liaising with not just relatives but a professional team consisting of: infection control, tissue viability, nursing and care staff, moving and handling and activity providers will ensure that our task is met earlier rather than later.
- If a person has no ability to move or they continually discover, discomfort when trying to adjust their posture it may be time to consider the options of specialist seating to attempt to provide externally what is virtually limited internally.
- Seating has to be a healthy topic when you consider the problems encountered daily with pressure related issues, client’s safety in both the community and home environments and most importantly their psychological status.
- All efforts should be made for the provision of the client’s care, the relationship between staff and the client’s safety.
- Investing your seating decision with Moss Healthcare is worthwhile for these very reasons.
