Kathleen is 74 years old. She is sociable and values conversation, company and maintaining close contact with her family, who live some distance away.
When we first became involved, Kathleen had been bed-bound for more than a year. She was spending virtually all of her time in a particularly small bedroom, where the limited space made the use of moving and handling equipment, including a hoist, extremely difficult.
Although there had been previous occupational therapy input, a workable pathway to enable Kathleen to transfer out of bed had not yet been identified.
Things had reached a crisis point when Kathleen’s hospital-style bed stopped functioning properly. The bed was stuck in an angled position, leaving her unable to reposition comfortably and effectively confined to the same posture for prolonged periods.
Following assessment, Versatile Occupational Therapy Services explored whether a different approach to the environment could create new possibilities.
Rather than attempting to make equipment work within the restricted bedroom, Kathleen’s sleeping arrangements were relocated to the considerably larger lounge. A suitable profiling bed was identified, alongside an appropriate hoist and slings. A riser recliner chair was also provided, enabling carers to safely transfer Kathleen from her bed into comfortable supported seating.
The practical change was significant, but the impact went considerably further than equipment provision.
For a prolonged period, Kathleen’s world had effectively consisted of her bed and the four walls surrounding it. She can now spend periods of the day out of bed and seated, giving her greater variety and increased choice within her daily life.
Most importantly, this has brought Kathleen much closer to achieving a major personal goal. She has been hoping to move to a private care home closer to her family, where she would have greater opportunities for social interaction, companionship and a more stimulating environment. The care home had advised that they could accommodate her provided she was able to transfer safely from bed into a chair using a hoist.
What had previously seemed out of reach should now become a realistic possibility for Kathleen. She is currently working towards moving into the care home.
Sometimes relatively straightforward environmental and equipment changes can have consequences far beyond the equipment itself. In Kathleen’s case, creating a safe transfer solution did not simply enable her to get out of bed. It helped make her world bigger again.
