Overcoming Handicap - With Gadgets (Part 2) |
||
|
|
||
|
If you are going to buy a car you ask whether you can get spare parts. If you going to buy a washing machine, you ask about the servicing arrangements. If you are going to buy gadgets to help you get round your disabilities in the kitchen do stop and think whether you would not get on better with a simple adaptation of what you already have, instead of spending time and money on something that cannot be repaired or replaced when it wears out or gets too dirty. If you are going to rely on 'disposable' items make sure that you have something to take their place if supplies run short or it you cannot reach the place where you buy them.
In contrast with the difficulties created by electrical potato peelers there is the vacuum cleaner. Even if you have only just enough money, buy one. Whatever form of rheumatism you have, cleaning will be made easier, What sort you buy depends on all sorts of personal preferences but on the whole cleaners with a long hose are easier to manage and have a greater range of usefulness for the handicapped.
There are a number of things that can be done to help that are too ambitious to be called 'gadgets. Building a ramp in place of a front doorstep is an example that helps those with bad legs. those with stiff fingers can often work the modern flip-flop light switch more easily than the old style tumbler switch. Cookers can be provided with fold down oven doors that act as a shelf and can have the controls altered to suit those who cannot manage the standard controls.
If you are reading this because you are looking after someone heavy who has bad rheumatism you may be relived to know that there are hoists that can be used to lift the patient out of bed; they can sometimes be supplied and fitted by the local Welfare authority. You may also feel that you need a higher bed to be able to help you patient; remember, though, that a higher bed makes the patient less able to help himself. Another aid to those who find it difficult to move in bed is what is impolitely known as a monkey chain, which hangs from a hook over the bed, either fixed to the wall or on a stand like those made for big sunshades in cafes. A simple substitute is a length of rope passing from one leg at the bottom of the bed up to the patient's hand and back to the other leg at the bottom of the bed. |
||