Fred Mill Signature Commode Chair

FRED MILL

SIGNATURE COMMODE CHAIR

Discover the new commode on the block, embracing style with function

The recommendation of adaptations and equipment for people’s homes can be a person’s wellbeing and mental health is invaluable. Kate Sheehan, director of The OT a necessary but delicate subject. Getting older naturally brings many different challenges for people, and as OTs it is your place to advise on the best adaptations to ensure the home remains as accessible as possible or to recommend products that will help maintain mobility and confidence in a safe environment. However, there can be resistance to these products and changes. For many, the discussion of adding equipment to their home conjures up images of clinical looking items cluttering up their cosy living room, or their bedroom turning into a hospital room. It can be daunting and isolating, and it can have a detrimental effect on a person’s health when they don’t feel comfortable in their home. The stigma around mobility products is well documented, but it is a stigma being tackled by some organisations out there. Fred Mill is one of those organisations. Recognising the resistance that many people have to the medical appearance of many of the products on the market, Fred Mill began a mission to create products that are both functional and stylish. They have just launched the Signature Commode Chair and it is unlike any commode that you will have come across before. They have worked closely with occupational therapists throughout the design process to ensure that all aspects of the commode chair’s function were considered, so you can be assured that this is not a case of style over substance. The Signature Commode Chair is made from solid oak wood and features an engineered leather cushion that is waterproof and easily wiped clean. It is available in different sizes to accommodate different transfer heights, and it also comes in a variety of different colours. The smooth lines of the chair are expertly designed and the chair is built to last, it would easily complement most living rooms or bedrooms as it is attractive and discreet. Having a chair like this on display allows users to still have guests around without feeling self-conscious and it maintains the sanctuary of the home for all who live there. The impact that a simple consideration like this can have on Service, worked closely with the team at Fred Mill throughout the design process, and she shared her thoughts on the commode: “I am always inspired and willing to work with people who want to challenge the design of existing disability products. Fred and his team developed their commode to look like a beautiful piece of Italian furniture, a piece that most of us would be willing to have in our home and yet also meet the functional needs of an individual. We need a design revolution and Fred is at the forefront of doing and achieving this goal.” To find out more visit: FredMill.com.

A Positive Hospital to Home Transition This Festive Season

Maia Fergus-O’Grady, registered dietitian at Wiltshire Farm Foods, explores the importance of meal preparation and nutrition for those returning home from hospital

The hospital to home journey can be a daunting process for many – individuals are often still on the road to recovery, potentially having to take various medications or complete certain exercises. This transition may be more overwhelming for those living alone; moving from loud hospital wards surrounded by healthcare professionals and returning to a quiet home with sole responsibility for their own rehabilitation.

Some may have returned with a new requirement of carers, which, for those that were previously independent, can be tough to process and accept. An individual’s mental health can be substantially impacted during this period, which can then significantly affect their

overall recovery. For those returning home during the festive period with a newly diagnosed swallowing difficulty (also known as dysphagia), this process becomes all the more challenging. Individuals may not be familiar with making meals in alignment with International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) guidelines, or the methods of testing them to ensure they are safe for consumption. For many, this season is a time to come together with loved ones, with celebrations typically revolving around eating, drinking, and socialising with friends and family. Meals during this time are often plentiful, beautifully presented, and tastier than ever, with many of us overindulging on the various delicacies available.

The festive season can, however, be segregating for those with swallowing difficulties – individuals may be more prone to isolate themselves from social occasions, due to feelings of embarrassment or grief when it comes to eating. This can, in turn, have a massive impact on both their dietary intake and quality of life. Some service users may try blending foods at home, but attempting to create meals that are tasty, visually appealing, as well as safe and nutritious, can be a real technical challenge, often requiring pieces of specialist equipment such as blenders and piping bags. Dysphagia is often the consequence of another illness, such as throat cancers, Parkinson’s, or dementia; these service users must effectively manage their primary health condition, but also adjust to the complexities of requiring a texturemodified (TM) diet. In many cases, the ideal solution to mealtimes during this season is a readily prepared TM dish. These meals are commonly moulded to resemble their respective food components, helping service users identify the dish in front of them, whilst enhancing their visual appeal – this in turn can increase consumption. Meals are likely to be assessed by a dietitian to ensure each dish is as nutritious as possible and developed with specialist equipment to align with IDDSI guidance. These factors, in combination, bring the dignity back into dining, and help to create a more positive mealtime experience – something that, during the winter holidays, is perhaps even Readily prepared TM meals can also encourage social eating; individuals may be more open to socialising and visiting family if they can bring an appetising prepared meal with them, or have it delivered straight to their hosts. Instead of the guest or host needing to spend hours blending down various meal components to the correct texture, a meal with all the trimmings can simply be popped in the oven or the microwave.

Food is such an important aspect of the hospital to home transition. It links into nutrition: a key, but occasionally overlooked aspect of the recovery process, but it also ties into dignity, socialising, nostalgia, joy, and comfort. By OTs having an awareness of the complexities and solutions to mealtimes over the festive season, they can be well-equipped to then ensure those individuals with dysphagia on their caseload understand the various ways they can enjoy a nutritious, safe, and delicious meal over the holidays.

To find out more about the range of texture modified meals visit the Softer Foods section of wiltshirefarmfoods.com.

To listen to Maia host the latest podcast episode on eating well with dysphagia this festive season, download Dietitian Diaries from wherever you source your podcasts.