Independent Living home > exhibition feature
Moving & Handling People 2010
The Business Design Centre
Islington, London
28-29 January 2010
"Safer Practice, Health & Well-being for All"
This annual event provides a unique opportunity for anyone involved with moving and handling people to ensure that they are up to date with the latest products and best practice, to safeguard the health and well-being of those reliant on others to assist their movement, whilst also protecting the carers who are undertaking these essential tasks.
As well as the conference itself, there were pre-conference workshops addressing various aspects of moving and handling, and demonstrating new products in hoisting, other moving and handling techniques, and bariatric solutions.
The focus of this feature is the exhibition of products and services to assist with moving and handling, which was staged alongside the conference. Exhibitors include widely experienced providers of equipment for all aspects of moving and handling people.
Frances Leckie, Independent Living's editor, takes a look at some of the most interesting products shown. The companies that are featured are listed below. Click on a name to be taken straight to information about their products.
| Arjo | Benmor Medical | Carebase | Co-op Xest | Hill-Rom | Huntleigh | Joerns | Kingkraft | Mangar International | Minivator | Nordic Care Services | Opemed | Sidhil | Squirrel Medical | Westholme |
Arjo has developed a compact passive lifter designed to improve resident handling in care settings where space is limited.
Maxi Twin Compact is a smaller version of the popular Maxi Twin passive floor lifter, and a replacement for the popular Trixie Lift. The Maxi Twin Compact has a Safe Working Load of 160kg and incorporates all the main features of the larger sling lifter, including the innovative twin-mast design. With its remarkably small footprint, Maxi Twin Compact provides access and manoeuvrability in care environments where space is an issue.
The new compact lifter enables resident transfers to be accomplished smoothly and safely by a single carer using sound ergonomic working methods, due to the unique flat Powered DPS (Dynamic Positioning System). The open design ensures eye contact between carer and resident throughout everyday routines.
Benmor Medical has an emphasis on products to meet the needs of the heaviest users, with the main focus on the Maxus Plus
width-adjustable bed and Bariatric riser/recliner chair.
The latest development on the Maxus Plus bed (shown left) is the introduction of an integral weighing system which enables accurate weighing of patients up to 65 stone, all read through an easy-to-use digital display. Along with other subtle changes to the design of the bed, the integral scales have made the Maxus Plus a good choice for hospitals dealing with bariatric patients.
The new, upgraded Maxus riser/recliner chair (right) is now available with a range of new features, while still incorporating all the
elements that made the former model so popular.
The Maxus riser/recliner now comes with transportation handles for easy movement of the chair from ward to ward; heavy-duty vinyl covering for the outer sides of the chair to cope with the stresses of hospital use; and pressure-relieving vinyl for the seat cushion,which works in conjunction with the new pressure-relieving "Vita-gel" to give maximum relief for the bariatric patient.
Carebase is showing products from their bed and hoisting ranges.
The unique Bock 80/20 care bed is an electrically height adjustable bed which not only lowers to 20 cm, but can also be raised to 80 cm, a safe working height for the carer. It is the only height adjustable bed to meet BS:EN1970. A new range of paediatric bed bumpers is also on show; these have been designed to eliminate any risk of entrapment.
Also on display, to meet the need for temporary or rapidly available hoisting, the Luna gantry system is adjustable, and folds away when it is not needed. It is used with the Luna cassette, a stylish hoist which provides great flexibility in use, improving transfers for patient and carer alike. A new range of slings accompanies the Luna.
On the Co-op Xest stand, you can meet Chris Clarke LLB BSc SROT,
the innovative Occupational Therapist and founder of Buckingham Healthcare.
She is showcasing the new Buckingham Compact Easywipe Folding Bottom Wiper. This totally new and innovative design overcomes the drawbacks of
any existing devices and ensures personal hygiene for those who find reaching difficult. The design of the Buckingham Compact Easywipe has
been thoroughly researched and the resultant ergonomic shape helps anyone with limited dexterity to use it, employing one hand only.
In addition, the patented shape and mechanism of the Buckingham Compact Easywipe grips the toilet tissue firmly and releases it cleanly,
eliminating the need to touch the paper after using.
On this, and all other products bought from them, Xest has a 12 month Buy and Try guarantee. If for any reason a customer is not happy with their product during the first year of their purchase, the company will refund them the cost of the item.
Hill-Rom is introducing the new TotalCare Space therapy system, which is specifically designed for the bariatric patient.
Features include an integrated pressure redistributing air surface which automatically adjusts to the patient's weight and position, an integrated patient weighing scale, and a retractable foot mechanism which has been designed to help prevent patients from sliding down the bed. The TotalCare Space also has Turn Assist for safer and easier patient repositioning. In addition, the unique FullChair® position enables one caregiver to place the patient in a seated position and assist them with leaving the chair.
Complementing this latest product from Hill-Rom is the P330 Wound Surface, which is fully automatic and addresses all key issues related to pressure ulcer prevention and treatment; and the Evolution Community bed which is a perfect solution to many of the challenges faced by caregivers in the management of patients in primary or long term care settings.
Huntleigh is addressing the needs of the heaviest users, with the Contoura 1080 bariatric bed and Bari-Breeze Low Air Loss (LAL)
Mattress Replacement system.
The Contoura 1080 (left) has been specifically designed to cater for patients who exceed the safe working load of all standard beds. The bed has a maximum patient weight of 71 stone (450 kg). Particular care has been taken in the design of this product to create an appearance as close as possible to that of a normal, modern hospital bed. It is available with an optional, factory-fitted integral weighing facility, which weighs up to 500 kg and is accurate to within 500 gm. Weighing can be carried out with the bed in any position, and an auto-compensation facility allows objects to be added to, or taken away from the bed without affecting the patient’s weight reading. A comprehensive range of accessories is available for use with the Contoura 1080 bed, including an orthopaedic fracture frame.
The Bari-Breeze Low Air Loss (LAL) Mattress Replacement system (shown right) is a support surface designed for the prevention and treatment of
pressure ulcers in patients weighing up to 71 stone (455kg). The Bari-Breeze system provides excellent pressure reduction for bariatric
patients assessed to be at very high risk of developing pressure ulcers and for all grades of pressure ulcer up to and including grade 4.
A bariatric person may have limitations in health and social care due to physical size, mobility and environmental issues. The specific risks involved are pressure ulcers, complications related to immobility, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and manual handling by the caregiver. The Bari-Breeze Low Air Loss, Turn Assist mattress replacement system addresses all these issues. Click to visit this subscriber's showcase page
Joerns Healthcare has a brand-new addition to their Professional range of Oxford hoists, the Elevate. Designed
to improve the lifting experience for both the carer and the patient, the Elevate is compact and sturdy, and incorporates a Class
III digital weigh scale, which is integrated into the mast - a thoughtful design which keeps the hoist 'active' on the patient side,
enabling carers to obtain a true measurement regardless of how and where the patient's weight is being supported.
Other features of the Elevate include a large lifting capacity, up to 31 stone (200 kg); an easily adjustable kneepad; removable foot tray and cover; a retractable safety belt. Components of the hoist are easy to clean, helping to prevent cross-infection. Increased versatility is ensured with the option of both a standing and a transport sling, enabling the performance of various care duties whilst meeting the differing needs of patients. Click to visit this subscriber's showcase page
Kingkraft has a new product, the STAID; a lifting device designed for people who find it difficult to stand up on their own from
a sitting position, but can still cooperate actively in the process of standing up. The STAID can be used for moving (with transfers)
between the edge of a bed, wheelchair, shower chair and toilet. It is compatible with the Guldmann Ceiling track hoist. The one-piece
product consists of a floor mounted wheeled foot platform and rigid mast with knee supports and articulated upper body lifting support
with sling.
In addition, Kingkraft has a full range of moving and handling equipment including a wall mounted shower and changing table, Geberit Aquaclean toilet, variable height basin and the shower toilet chair.
For use in the home or classroom, there is a beautiful height-adjustable desk, which is available in a full range of colours, with tilt options and electric or manual height adjustment. Click to visit this subscriber's showcase page
Mangar International are demonstrating the ingenious AirSlide lateral transfer device, which is an air mattress and slide sheet in one.
The slide sheet base enables easy transfer whilst the mattress cushions the individual in comfort. The high slip base allows challenging
transfers to be carried out with a minimum of effort. The AirSlide comes complete with a simple to use air supply, two slide sheets and
five disposable covers.
A very versatile transfer system, AirSlide can halve the number of transfers required, for example, from ward to treatment room and back to the ward, as the patient can remain on the mattress during many procedures. It is suitable for users weighing up to 86 stone (544 kg).
Mangar also has two well-regarded emergency lifting aids, the Elk and the Camel, both of which are suitable for bariatric use. Click to visit this subscriber's showcase page
Minivator is launching their brand new portfolio of floor hoists. The LEVO range consists of three eye-catching hoists which offer great flexibility in relation to the safe working load and lifting range of each product. The range is complemented by a compact and versatile stand aid. All hoists have detachable battery packs, LCD battery level indicator, emergency lift and lower functions and 100mm front and rear castors for easy manoeuvrability. The company also has a new sling range, with unique security loops as standard, which are compatible with other manufacturers' hoist systems.
The new Travel Track portable gantry unit is also on show, offering a safe and strong temporary lifting solution. The Travel Track can be easily transported and provides an ideal solution for people requiring short term lifting/transfer assistance, or as an interim system whilst awaiting the installation of a fixed gantry. Travel Track can be erected by one person: simply open the case and extend the locking telescopic legs into place.
Nordic Care Services, a Mountway company, is handing out free copies of their new Knowledge Zone workshop information and booking pack during the event.
Products on show include Romedic's Wendylett turning system, which has been developed to facilitate repositioning in bed and consists
of high and low friction material working together in the design of the fabric. It enables caregivers to turn or reposition individuals,
thus reducing the amount of labour required. It is comfortable to sleep on and does not materially impair the pressure relieving properties
of a pressure reducing mattress. For efficient infection control, components can be washed at up to 90°C.
The award winning Etac Clean chair (left) can also be seen. This is a 3-in-1 shower, commode and glide-about chair, and aesthetically complements the Etac Swift. The Swift is a fully adaptable shower chair/stool that can easily be altered from a simple shower stool to a complete shower chair depending on the user's needs. The Etac Edge shower stool is also making an appearance. This lightweight and space saving triangular shaped stool can fit compactly into the corner of small showers and can be flat packed for storage.
From the Transfer Aids range, the Etac Patient Turner is on display at the show; a practical aid that pivots the user when transferring from one seated position to another. The ReTurn 7500 has been developed to perform pivoting transfers, combined with the ability to transport the user over short distances. It turns on its own radius and facilitates work in narrow spaces. Click to visit this subscriber's showcase page
Opemed offers a range of innovative solutions for moving and handling, with features that make them stand out, including the only bariatric hoist
with a powered drive wheel. The OpeMax 880 can pick a bariatric patient from the floor and lift them onto the highest of specialist beds.
Unlike gantry systems it can fit under curtain rails without professional assistance and the combination of eight fixing points and an
extra large spreader bar make it the ideal bariatric handling system. It is suitable for use with people weighing up to 63 stone (400 kg).
Equally innovative, the OT200 Ceiling Track Hoist (shown left)automatically recharges itself, eliminating the risk of the carer forgetting to return the hoist to the charging point. In addition it gives double the battery life of any other ceiling hoist, as well as reducing servicing costs and the user's environmental footprint.
The Bea transfer lift is a unique standing, showering and transporting aid, designed by ergonomists for active patient rehabilitation. It fits over the bed, around the toilet and between a wheelchair, dramatically reducing the number of transfers required. The solid seat and the position of the footrest is deliberately designed to keep the patient in an upright position and to aid standing and sitting. Click to visit this subscriber's showcase page
Sidhil
has a new range of care beds, Independence Innov8 2000, which have been designed to satisfy the needs of both
the hospital team and the patient. Specialists in the fields of tissue viability, manual handling, nursing management, medical engineering,
procurement and various clinical disciplines have contributed to the development of this hospital bed. The Innov8 2000 is both a
standard hospital ward bed and the base platform to which any accessory can be added. Whatever the specific requirement, you can
customise the bed to create the exact electric profiling model that satisfies your needs by adding the appropriate accessories, giving
total flexibility with regard to the bed specification. The beds are suitable for users up to 40 stone (255 kg), and incorporate antibacterial
protection to help prevent cross infection.
The Doherty 3 section bariatric plinth is another new development, which has been conceived specifically for the modern GP practice and hospital environment. It uses an electrically operated variable height mechanism controlled via a handset combined with gas assisted backrest and foot sections. A unique self levelling system levels the plinth as it is lowered helping to simplify operation. Part of a range of plinths, couches and treatment chairs, this one is particularly sturdy, to meet the needs of the heaviest users. Click to visit this subscriber's showcase page
Squirrel Medical has developed the Squirrel Diamond™ pressure relieving air mattress that is claimed to fit all
nursing beds and suit all patients. Alternating air mattresses have proved themselves highly effective in preventing pressure damage, and
are therefore widely used, from acute hospital wards to domestic environments. Most such mattresses have one disadvantage, in that the
occupant can find it difficult to gain the necessary purchase for independent
movement and repositioning. This means that they are reliant on a carer just to make themselves comfortable and to get in or out of bed unaided.
The new Squirrel Diamond offers a solution to this problem, with its low profile of just 5", which provides maximum comfort and pressure dissipation, while offering the support, purchase and feel of a luxury domestic mattress. This is a breakthrough in the design of dynamic pressure care mattresses, with features that make it unique in the healthcare market: it is a full replacement air mattress designed to meet the needs of individuals at all levels of pressure damage risk, and has been found to offer outstanding performance in pressure ulcer prevention and as an aid to treatment.
Its 58 air cells and micro low air loss (MLAL™) technology support the user on a comfortable cushion of air, with the cells alternating their pressure every ten minutes to redistribute body mass, simulating natural body movements and preventing the starvation of oxygen to the tissues and the build-up of cellular waste. It also facilitates increased permeability of blood capillaries within the area, increasing blood flow.
Westholme division of Prism UK Medical is showcasing the new P200 portable hoist and the new 'Pink' Sling.
The P200 with its unique innovative design is one of the lightest portable hoists on the market, yet it is capable of lifting up to 200kg. It is suitable for use with fixed ceiling tracks or mobile gantry systems.
The new Pink Sling is targeted at young females who wear slings for extended periods. The sling is of 'comfort recline' design and includes all the features of the other Prism sling ranges. Click to visit this subscriber's showcase page
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