Slings come in different designs and have different roles in supporting a disabled person to transfer from a wheelchair using a hoist. These vary from the stalwart universal sling, used by many health professionals working with the elderly, to the easy fit sling suited to people with more complex hoisting requirements. Let’s look at some […]

Picture this for a moment – you’ve just left your home and your final destination is over thirty kilometres away, but you’ve no idea how to get from A to B and you’ve not planned any of the route or what mode of transport you’ll take to get there? That is why you need accessibility […]

It is entirely unacceptable to assume that wheelchair users have any more difficulty with managing incontinence than a non-wheelchair user.  It is also just as unacceptable to recommend that wheelchair users simply use pads or other forms of incontinence product to ‘manage’ the situation. Unfortunately, however, the latter is something I have experienced frequently within […]

There is little doubt that being both admitted to and discharged from hospital can be an anxiety provoking experience.  If you are reading this blog due to an impending discharge or recent discharge experience we hope you are recovering well and that you feel both in control and fully aware of your abilities and disability […]

The Invacare BirdieEvo hoist is what is commonly known as a full-body hoist.  This means that it is used for lifting the person up in a sling without weight bearing with the objective being to move the person from A – B. The need for a BirdieEvo-hoist is when the user becomes unable to safely […]

It’s fair to say that many (if not all) of the health tips listed in this article will be applicable to anyone who is reading – not just wheelchair users. But the fact that being in a wheelchair can often bring with it it’s own set of health complications, it’s perhaps even more important that […]

What do you need to know to make an informed decision on wheelchair tyres and rims? Manual wheelchair frames are designed differently for a variety of functions; including everyday use, recreational and competitive sports activities. An important part of the wheelchair assessment and prescription process is choosing the best wheelchair rims and tyres to compliment […]

Being aware of the importance of considering Wheelchair width is absolutely critical for so many reasons.   It may seem somewhat exaggerated but quite simply if the wheelchair width is not measured for correctly or given proper consideration it could have a dramatic impact both on your health, wellbeing and ability to engage in important […]

Electric wheelchairs particularly the folding electric wheelchair has a significant role in not just increasing the independence of wheelchair users, but increasing their options with regards travel and overall flexibility. Chronic illness and old age can affect upper limb strength and the fitness to be able to use self-propelling wheelchairs.  This can have a negative […]

Damage to your spinal cord may cause a loss or decrease of control over different body parts. As breathing is controlled by muscle action you may experience difficulty in respiring. Being unable to inhale and exhale completely, and losing the capacity to cough can lead to the development of infections in the lungs and even […]