A pen-top remover for a jewellery maker who uses paper which she decorates using felt-tip pens. She has reduced strength in her hands due to Rheumatoid arthritis and has great difficulty removing the caps from the pens and glue-stick.
The modification of a walker to help an arthritic client unable to apply the brakes.
A design for a cup or mug carrier for people who are unsteady on their feet, which greatly reduces accidental spills. We have made over a dozen of these for various clients who have suffered from Parkinsons, strokes and the like.
Connecting the battery charging pins to a HalfSun Smart Bracelet V2 is difficult due to its poor design, but was impossible for this client who has little function in his right hand. The provided peg-like clip requires precise alignment requiring dexterity. The solution was to provide an open mounting stand onto which the watch is simply placed down, providing automatic alignment and gravity providing the connection pressure.
Milton Keynes panel were asked if we could help a client to put on his outdoor coat. He could not move his hands to behind him, which meant putting on a coat in the normal way almost impossible.
A powered device was made which, under the control of the Client, lifts the coat up his back then releases it when the coat collar reaches shoulder height
An 81 y-o woman had a Total Hip Replacement (THR). Since she already had home improvements in place (hand rails on stairs and doors, saddle boards removed, radio button alarm, 24/7 carer) she was released from hospital after four days – the only thing she needed and was given was a Rollator (wheeled walking frame, Zimmer frame). She found that the duvet on her bed restricted her movement, and a duvet support was requested for the period of her recovery. A length of 1/8 inch fencing wire was bent to shape and a brass ferrule with two grub screws was made in order to secure the ends of the wire.
Aids to rehabilitation of upper limb function for intensive care patients.
Therapy, Activities, Skills and Kinesiology (TASK) Boards for University Hospital Southampton
An 80 y.o. woman has severe arthritis of her right hip, and is awaiting a replacement. She needs two crutches in the meantime. A stand for the crutches was made from 6 mm MDF – a base plate, three vertical members, and two horizontal plates. The verticals are glued into 6 mm slots routed into the base plate. The lower horizontal is glued into a slot in the base plate, and has 3mm deep slots at the ends and in the middle to match up with the verticals. The upper horizontal has similar slots, and is glued in place. The stand has been in use for a week, and has proven to be stable.
The client has arthritis and could not press the button to switch on electric toothbrush, nor grip a manual toothbrush.
People in wheelchairs and with walkers find it difficult or impossible to open self closing doors such as fire doors in homes. Commercial door openers are very expensive.
A man who had polio as a child is now in his 70’s and finds it difficult to climb on to his mobility scooter
A fitted sheet fitter for enabling a person with limited dexterity and strength to fit the last corner of a fitted sheet.
Washing Machine Door Adaption
The capability to prepare food is a key marker for an independent life but, unless you are going to live on cold food, that means cooking. What could be easier? A temperature sensor and a relay and some bespoke interfacing. Except – ovens, especially built-in ones, are hostile environments for electronics.
The client lives alone in a bungalow and is having problems getting her meals from the kitchen to the lounge. The OT and client had tried a smaller metal tray and was asking for handles to be fitted to the tray.
This is a modification to the Homecraft Rolyan Pick-Up Reacher.
The problem with the standard grabber is that it only pinches the sides of an object if you pick it up from lying down. The modification with wider jaws and a design that curves round means that it can get underneath the object to ‘scoop’ it… making it easier to pick up (and also maintain hold with a weaker grip).
