Nov 22

UK Disability History Month: Nov 18th-Dec 18th

Matthew

This year’s UK Disability History Month has just begun, starting on November 18th and drawing to a close on December 18th.

The annual event started in 2010 and focuses on the history of the struggle for equality and human rights for disabled people. Now in its 12th year, the joint themes for 2021 are disability and hidden impairments, and disability, sex and relationships.

The aim of the campaign is to achieve equality, challenge disablism by exploring oppression over time and celebrating the lives of disabled people, both now and in the past.

Some 80 per cent of the 14 million disabled people have hidden impairments and part of the problem here is that many of these people are simply not believed when it comes to their disability – which has a huge impact on their mental health.

As for the theme of disability, sex and relationships, the campaign organisers assert that, while there are now more confident generations of young people discovering the joy of diverse sex and relationships, low self-esteem that comes with a disempowering approach to disability can still lead to harm, including problems with consent and abuse.

This year’s campaign will focus on examples of good and bad practice in sex and relationships, and hidden impairment, adding these to the wealth of resources already compiled.

People are also now being encouraged to show support for the month-long campaign, telling others about it and why it’s important, writing letters to local newspapers on the topic of discrimination and hate crime, and finding local disabled people’s organisations to invite them to the workplace, school or college to talk about changes in their lives and how current developments in benefits will affect them.

 

Want to discuss easy access shower prices? Call Practical Bathing today.

Sep 20

Gympanzees Set To Open Disability-Specific Leisure Facility!

Matthew

In a UK first, Gympanzees – which delivers fully inclusive leisure facilities for disabled children and young people – is due to open a disability-specific inclusive and accessible site in Bristol in 2023.

The Project Home campaign aims to raise £2.2 million to secure a building and equip it with inclusive sensory and exercise equipment, as well as specialist rooms, so that the 66,000 disabled children and young people living within an hour of Bristol have somewhere to come and play.

The idea is to provide fitness, fun and friendship at the facility in a non-judgemental, safe and welcoming way for children and young people up to the age of 25 who have sensory, physical, learning difficulties, SEN and mild to profound disabilities.

The space will provide an innovative solution to the problems of isolation and inactivity among disabled children. Some 77 per cent of disabled children currently struggle to access regular leisure facilities, so they’re unable to exercise, play or socialise as their peers would.

The centre will be open every day of the week, with a range of activity rooms on offer, such as soft play, sensory, trampoline and music, as well as a specialist gym, exercise suites, accessible playgrounds, therapy rooms, exercise suites and a community cafe.

Stephanie Wheen, CEO and founder of Gympanzees, said: “We are delighted to enter this exciting stage in our plans to build a permanent facility in Bristol.

“Families crucially deserve more than temporary; they need a place they can trust and rely upon all year round that supports all their health and well-being needs, helps reduce their isolation and provides unrivalled opportunities for them to make family memories.”

She went on to say that huge amounts of support has been given, with temporary popup events welcoming 8,000 visitors over 58 days.

 

For information on easy access shower prices, get in touch with Practical Bathing today.

Sep 10

Catalyst Programme Launched To Support Senior Leaders With Disabilities

Matthew

A new Catalyst Programme has been launched by the National Leadership Centre (NLC), aiming to support and develop senior leaders with a disability in public sector positions.

Over the course of a year, the programme will deliver intensive residential courses, coaching, networking opportunities and a diverse range of speakers from various backgrounds.

Recruitment is now open and will close on September 24th, with the aim of the programme being to develop people to CEO level in their respective fields.

Advisory board member for the NLC Steve McGuirk said: “The Catalyst programme seeks to help those leaders with a bespoke programme designed to empower disabled people to push for – and break through – the highest levels of public leadership in the same ways as non-disabled leaders.

“Catalyst will create a network of people to sustain peer support and peer mentoring, and create the opportunity for people to share their experiences about what works and what doesn’t.”

He went on to say that it will include similar content to other NLC programmes, while introducing delegates to inspiring case studies and people, with the hope that it will serve as a catalyst for talented leaders to start making a difference to how public services are delivered in the future.

The government also recently launched its new National Disability Strategy, detailing 100 immediate commitments to be made, supported by £.16 billion in funding.

Plans include upgrading job support and opportunities, as well as housing and transport, and improving the accessibility of homes around the UK.

 

To find out more about easy access shower prices, get in touch with Practical Bathing today.

Molly Bather
Feb 25

How To Stay Safe In The Bathroom As You Get Older

Matthew

As we get older our mobility can suffer and we can find everyday tasks like showering and using the bathroom a bit more challenging.

The good news is that there are a number of things you can do to make it easier and safer whether you’re in the shower or enjoying a soak in your bathtub.

Professor of occupational therapy at Spring College in the US Joan Simmons recently told Mass Appeal about some of the bathroom safety modifications you can make, as well as highlighting some good habits to get into.

For instance, she noted that if you’re finding it increasingly difficult to get in and out of a standard bath, you could replace this with an easy access shower or walk in bath.

Fitting grab bars around your bathroom to help you enter and exit the tub safely, as well as to help prevent you from falling, is also advisable.

In terms of developing good habits, Ms Simmons stressed the importance of taking your time and focusing on what you’re doing. Don’t allow things like a ringing phone to distract you as you’re getting out of the bath, for instance.

Making sure you have good lighting in your bathroom can also mean you see potential trip hazards and avoid them, while it’s important to simply minimise clutter that could cause you to fall. Clear up laundry and towels from the floor, for example, and make sure there aren’t any rugs or mats you could catch your foot on.

Ms Simmons also recommends sitting on a chair or the toilet when you’re drying yourself off and getting dressed to avoid having to balance as you put your clothes on.

According to a report published by the Centre for Ageing Better last year, just seven per cent of the UK’s homes currently meet accessibility needs, so making simple changes to your bathroom habits could make a big difference to your safety.

Apr 18

Britain’s Pain Hotspots Revealed

Matthew

When you suffer from joint, back or neck pain, then everyday tasks can be a real problem – meaning installing an easy access shower could make a huge difference to your day to day life. You may have examined all the reasons why you suffer such pain, but have you ever considered that your location could be a contributing factor?

Research by the British Chiropractic Association has found a real regional divide in the ways that people suffer with neck or back pain, with the results varying as much as 17 per cent from region to region.

So who has got it worst? Well, seemingly it’s those who live in Northern Ireland. According to the study, 57 per cent of people there complain about neck and back pain, compared to just 40 per cent in the lowest scoring area, which is the south east of England.

Catherine Quinn, the president of the British Chiropractic Association, said that the UK has seen a 12 per cent rise in complaints of back pain year on year: “This suggests the occurrence of back and neck pain has increased over the past year, and it appears we should all be following the lead of the south-east where they seem to be managing it best.”

Londoners are most likely to take preventative measures when it comes to ensuring back pain doesn’t get any worse, while those in the Midlands are most likely to develop pain at an early age.

The research was commissioned to mark this year’s National Chiropractic week.

Oct 31

Long-Term Use Of Paracetamol ‘Worries Doctors’

Matthew

If you suffer from chronic joint pain, then daily life might be helped by installing an easy access shower or bath. Arthritis in one of the most common aliments in old age, and many of those who suffer from it use over the counter painkillers to ease the discomfort, although some studies have shown that regularly taking these can do more harm than good.

One study showed that around 45 per cent of people use paracetamol to tackle pain, due to how cheap they are and easy to get hold of. It also revealed that taking these kinds of painkillers actually has no effect on improving any pain you’re experiencing, according to this article from The Express.

Doctors have shown concern in the results of long term usage of paracetamol, as it can prove to have toxic results on the body. A third of those who conducted the survey had been taking pain killers for over two months and around a fifth for over three months, though one of the most shocking results from the survey revealed how one participant had been taking them for approximately 29 years.

A consultant rheumatologist spoke to the Express about the concerns doctors have for using pain killers for joint pain: ‘Now the side effects of paracetamol are well documented it is imperative that we look at safer, long term alternatives for those living with joint pain.”

A separate national study carried out across the UK revealed how people who continued to take paracetamol had a 28 per cent increased chance in dying. This increased to a worrying figure of 50 per cent for those who took paracetamol and ibuprofen together.

Aug 21

Rain Not Linked To Arthritis Pain, Says Study

Matthew

If your need for an easy access shower is due to joint pain, you may be interested in this new study which looks to dispel some myths surrounding conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

As the world has suffered from  this joint-wearing condition, we’ve assumed that wet and cold weather can cause flare ups, but according to new research that may not be true.

Interestingly, the research is not from a medical source, but is by search engine operators, who have correlated people’s searches for information about back and joint pain against the local weather at the time.

Instead of finding that cold weather was causing more pain, it found more Google searches took place when temperatures were hot. Yet this still might not be down to the temperature as such. The data showed that searches were actually down when weather was wet, as well as when heat reached uncomfortable levels.

Scott Telfer, a researcher in orthopaedics and sports medicine at the University of Washington, explained why this correlation might be present: “People are more active on nice days, so are more prone to have overuse and acute injuries from that. They then search online for relevant information.”

While the study looks to dispel the connection between bad weather and joint pain, all it really does is offer up a time when people suffer worse from these pains. It might seem obvious that the more stress you put on your body the worse it will be, but it does not necessarily rule out poor weather as a cause of pain flare-ups.

Jul 27

Should You Consider Bathroom Modifications For Visitors?

Matthew

When you’re fit and healthy it can be easy not to notice things that can be difficult or even dangerous for older or less-mobile friends and family. The bathroom is a space that can cause particular difficulties and it’s been suggested that looking at this room from the perspective of guests, as well as residents, is a good idea.

Of course, it depends how often you expect to have people who might have reduced mobility visiting you, but introducing small modifications can make it a safer space for everyone.

This is according to Sharon Johnson, who wrote for the Mail Tribune about the merits of installing the likes of shower seats and grab rails before you actually need them.

She added: “Even if you do not personally embrace the need for in-home safety accommodations and improved safety modifications, you recognise the value for a visiting friend or relative.”

This could particularly be the case if you have elderly parents who come to visit regularly and who don’t live close by. If you regularly have guests who struggle with their mobility, you may even want to consider fitting an easy-access shower in your bathroom.

Last month, one builder highlighted the idea of considering modifications to your living space before you actually need them, noting that this can help spread the cost of such changes, as well as making your home safer and reducing the risk of you suffering a debilitating fall as you age.

The idea is to help people stay in their own homes for longer, allowing them to live independent lives, he added.

Jan 30

Call For More Dementia Funding

Matthew

Former prime minister David Cameron has called on the British government to allocate more funds to fighting dementia.

Speaking in his new role as president of charity Alzheimer’s Research UK, Mr Cameron said that the amount allocated for dementia should not be so far behind that set aside to tackle cancer and strokes.

He added that both these illnesses “deserve their funding”, but stressed that more needs to be done to tackle dementia in the UK.

“Dementia steals people’s lives, turns their relationships upside down, destroys their hopes and dreams. We owe it to them, their families and their carers to find a solution,” Mr Cameron stated.

According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, 850,000 people in the UK are currently living with dementia, and there are 700,000 of their loved ones acting as informal carers for them. The number of informal carers is expected to rise to 1.3 million by 2050.

People who are looking after relatives suffering from dementia may find making some modifications to their home can be useful. Installing an easy access shower, for example, is a small change but one that could make it easier to provide care and make the bathroom safer.

David Cameron made tackling dementia a personal priority during his time in Downing Street. He hosted the G8 dementia summit, and while he was still in office he launched a challenge on dementia 2020.

The aim of this scheme was to make the UK the best country in the world in terms of dementia care and support, as well as making it the best place to conduct research into dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.