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Every October, healthcare organizations and patients groups celebrate Patient-Centered Care Awareness Month. This cause recognizes the progress healthcare professionals have made in high-quality patient care and builds momentum for the future. In honor of this month, we’ve provided a few solutions to help you give the best care to the individuals you work with.

Barres d'appui

If you’re an at-home care provider, talk to your patient about installing Barres d'appui in their bathroom. The water from a shower or bath strips surface friction needed to avoid slipping, which makes bathing one of the most hazardous activities for all ages. Grab bars are a great way for individuals, especially seniors, to maintain balance as they enter and exit the shower or bath.

Handrails

As we mentioned, the bathroom can be a dangerous place. If your patient lacks strength, simple tasks, like sitting down on the toilet, can be potential threats to safety. Many seniors lack the core and leg strength required to ease their way into a sitting position, which results in more of a fall than a sit. A handrail installed within reach of the toilet is a great way to be proactive about the safety of your patient. We carry a discreet handrail that acts as a toilet paper holder, so your patient can maintain the bathroom space they want while getting the support they need.

Lève-personnes

You and your patient are both at risk of injury during a transfer, so it’s important to take precautionary measures to prevent both of you from getting hurt. A patient lift assists a caregiver in transferring their patient from a bed to a wheelchair, a bathroom, or even other areas of a home. The lift takes the strain off your muscles and prevents you from obtaining injuries and keeps your patient from falling.

As a caregiver, you are passionate about helping your patients. So, celebrate Patient-Centered Care Awareness Month, because what you do is noble. Then, look for ways to build on that momentum to enhance the patient experience. For more accessibility solutions for the home, check out our solutions page.

Every Halloween, children across the nation gear up for a night full of free candy and creative costumes. However, if a child has mobility issues, they may not look forward to trick-or-treating for a variety of reasons. Maybe it’s too difficult to climb the neighbor’s steps, or maybe they’re self-conscious about incorporating a wheelchair into their costume. At Next Day Access, we want to see children with all levels of mobility having fun. So, we’ve provided three easy tips for a fun, accessible Halloween this year.

1 – Plan Your Route Ahead of Time

Take a walk around the neighborhoods you want to visit and make a note of houses that your child can easily access. For example, if your child will be utilizing a wheelchair on Halloween night, write down the addresses of houses without stairs leading up to their front door. Don’t forget to bring your list with you as your family trick-or-treats, so you can go straight to the houses that will allow your child a care-free experience.

2 – DIY Costumes for Wheelchairs

There are some pretty fun costumes out there that incorporate wheelchairs. If you get creative, your child will see that their wheelchair makes their costume unique and special, and it doesn’t hold them back from having fun. You can even make a family night out of decorating your child’s wheelchair, so it’s an event your whole family looks forward to every year. Here are some of our favorite costumes:

• Cinderella in Her Carriage
• Batman in His Batmobile
• Shark Tank Diver

3 – Throw a Party at Home

It’s easy for any child to get tired or frustrated roaming around on Halloween night. Consider skipping traditional trick-or-treating and host a party at your house. You can bring all of your favorite people right to you, and avoid the hassle of navigating the neighborhood. If you’re short on ideas, there are an abundance of unique decorations and festive party treats on sites like Pinterest that your family and friends are sure to enjoy.

We know it can be difficult at times to include a child with limited mobility in everyday activities, but Halloween doesn’t have to be one of them. Try one or two of these tips this year, and make a note of what went well. As you and your family find what works for you, it will get easier to relax and enjoy the fun each year.