Useful Equipment

There are many products available to help people with disabilities and at times the range of products and slight changes in design make choosing the right product for you quite difficult.  Some can be supplied by your Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist and it is always best to discuss products with your health professionals to determine the best one to suit your particular need.  For items that need to be purchased privately, your health professionals are still happy to advise you.  Many towns have places that provide for disabilities and of course so much is available via the internet.

Talklink              

Talklink is  a national service that assesses & advises on the latest technology for environmental and communication options.
People with MND can be referred for assessment and advice to be sure they are provided with or purchase a piece of equipment that is best suited to their needs and can be adapted if their needs change.  Click here >>

Pat Saunders Drinking  Straws

These straws have been around for years so you may well know about them already – a great help to anyone with a weak suck and/or minimal arm/hand function.
Should be available readily available through local equipment providers.

Cost $36 for a pack of 2 ( short & long) as at October 2010.  Long lasting. See some details from stockiest below: 

The Pat Saunders drinking straw has a one-way valve. After removing the lips from the straw it stays almost full.
The instructions on the pack indicates ‘Only clear liquids such as tea, coffee etc can pass through the valve.’
The straw  can be easily cleansed with normal washing solutions.
Denture cleansers may be used if any coating occurs. The straws can be sterilized by boiling.
There is a clip on the side of the straw to hook on to the side of small glasses or cups.
The clip prevents the straw from falling out of the glass or cup.

Disability Equipment

Sales and Rentals is at 103 Copeland St Lower Hutt.

DSE Australian Online equipment purchase & hire

You may find the following site interesting.  It is for products to help people with disabilities  around the home and will give you an insight to the types of things available.     It is a  good site for viewing equipment etc.
Click here for more information>>

PONCHO

These water proof poncho style capes can go over you and your wheelchair.  They range in price from $80 to $200 and can be ordered from the Disability Information Centre Ph 04 586-9788.

Mealtime Protectors

Check out this site >> for  adult meal time protectors and other interesting products also.

Stay Dry Products Ltd.
Contact:  Trish Hansen
PO Box 183, Whangamata, New Zealand.
Phone  +64 07 865 9647
Fax  +64 07 865 9649
Email: sales@staydry.co.nz

BIDETS

Some people find that by installing a bidet they can maintain their independence in this area for longer.  Some can be installed by a home handyman.  Others may need electrician and plumbing.

One client says:

“Here is the website address for the bidet.  http://www.bidetworld.co.nz It may be an idea for you to check out this website as they have a number of other bidets as well.

The one which I have has wash, power wash, dry. power energy saving, instant heating, warm seat as some of the functions.   Cost $599 + GST + Courier costs.   The total amount was $671 or there about.”

Some may be eligible for funding for this – please talk to your Occupational Therapist about it if you are interested.  There are many different brands and types available including some on Trade Me that are inexpensive and can be installed by a home handyman.  Some sites that may be useful to check out while considering the options available include the following

Click here for link to Pride  Mobility>>

Sammons Preston>>

One client has this to say:

“My bidet is made by Cleanlet.  It is not entirely hands free. There is a set of buttons to be pressed attached to one side of the seat which operate what you want it to do — general wash, lady’s wash or purestream [this is concentrated on to the anus and stimulates bowel movement]. There is another one which gives an oscillating movement to the cleansing and lady’s wash if you require it.

I find it more than than satisfactory, I cannot think how I lived without it. It makes me feel really clean. Since I bought it I have only had one bladder infection [due to a nasty attack of diarrhoea] So I am no longer taking anti-biotics all the time which has improved my health immensely.

No, I was not helped with the cost. It cost $1420. I think they should not only be funded but installed in every invalid’s home. In France it is part of the normal bathroom equipment.

You need an electric socket beside the lavatory to power it and a plumber to conect it to the water supply. Quite small jobs and not expensive. The plumbing connection is made from the existing lavatory piping, it took my plumber less than half an hour, and it does not alter the ordinary use of the lav.

After the washing programme has been used another button operates a dryer so it is not necessary to use toilet paper, which can be a struggle sometimes.

Males must be trained to PUT THE SEAT DOWN so it switches off.”