As professional care providers we are always looking for effective ways to manage resident pain and increase social participation. Unfortunately, that can be difficult without the use of pharmaceutical intervention or leaving them to the comfort, and isolation, of their bed. Great news, in many cases residents suffering from pain when seated find relief with the appropriate seating system. What constitutes the appropriate seating system?
That’s going to vary from patient-to-patient depending on his or her comorbidities. We have seen several “hard to seat” patients get relief from a tilt-in-space solution with pressure redistribution systems. The tilt and recline features help take pressure normally realized in a 90/90 seating system (standard wheelchair) and distribute it across patient’s entire lower body from the lumbar to the thighs. You may have experienced something similar if you’ve sat in a zero-gravity chair. This is especially helpful with kyphotic residents, or residents with poor posture control, that slump in their chair. That slumping exacerbates the pain and creates a fall risk.
Appropriate pressure redistribution will accentuate the relief provided by the tilt-in-space feature. If you have a patient with compromised skin or existing wounds you are likely managing that while the patient is in bed with a pressure redistribution system (airbed). What are you doing for the patient when he or she is up for meals, going to activities, or visiting friends? It’s not unusual for caregivers to place the resident in a wheelchair with a foam cushion, or even just leave them in bed. The former could potentially increase the pressure issues, and the latter decreases the quality of life.
When care planned accordingly (and the State loves a good care plan) the right seating system can serve as a non-pharma pain management strategy and a pressure redistribution answer. From a resident vantage, the system can improve quality of life allowing them to participate in daily activities, share mealtime with friends, and stay social.
At ProCare we carry the Broda Seating Systems. Broda has been a leading provider in the tilt-in-space industry for over 40 years. We still service Broda systems that have been in use for over 15 years in facilities. With the strain placed on DME in long-term care buildings, it’s incredibly rare to see a device last beyond three to five years. That’s a huge ROI.
To learn more about tilt-in-space, schedule an inservice, or get a demo, contact us. We’re here to help.