Wheelchair to car transfer aid

28th March 2023

The client needed a means of transferring between his car and wheelchair which were at different levels. A normal transfer board would not have been safe, especially as his driveway was not level.

Single handed walking frame

28th March 2023

Single handed walking frames used to be available commercially but production was stopped many years ago. The panel was requested to convert standard frames to single handed versions by various NHS therapists.

Since we started making them in 2004 we have done over 50.

Exercise bike leg support

20th March 2023

The client had been recommended to build up his leg muscles following a stroke using a recumbent exercise bike. The problem was that his left leg tended to move outwards as he was using the bike. We were asked for a means of preventing this.

Narrowboat access lift

8th March 2023

Steve lived permanently on a narrowboat and needed a means of transferring between the deck and the cabin, a height of almost 1 metre, following amputation of a leg. He could not leave hospital without this being available. His Occupational Therapist contacted Remap for a solution.

Powered folding ramp

10th February 2023

The client required a means of transferring on an electric wheelchair between his lounge and dining room / kitchen that had a step of 200 mm. The problem was that a toilet door close to the step opened out  into the area required by a ramp or vertical lift. No commercial lift would have fitted in the space available.

The client, who had a leg amputated, used to have two manual wheelchairs, one on each level, and was having increasing problems while was waiting for delivery of an electric wheelchair. The toilet door near the step would have been difficult to alter.

Child’s walker with ventilator

6th March 2020

Eve, who has diaphragmatic hernia was provided with a walker and a cycle basket to carry her ventilator, an oxygen cylinder and two infusion pumps. None of these items could be carried safely on the walker. The seat originally fitted had been removed.

Jigsaw for dementia patients

26th April 2017

These special jigsaws help improve the care of Dementia patients.  Shop-bought jigsaws are not suitable for hospital use. The specially crafted jigsaws are made from a wipe clean material which complies with the hospital’s infection control measures and will not break, snap or bend. They have been made in six sizes, varying in difficulty from 6 to 24 pieces and are all based around the theme of ‘memories from days gone by.’ They are conversation starters. The pictures on the front of them depict a time that the patients can remember and then the activity becomes about remembering and discussing that time, not just about completing a jigsaw. A further development being explored is the potential to create bespoke jigsaws for individuals based on personal photographs, such as family groups. Again, the real value of these is that they can unlock memories and start conversations that promote mental wellbeing.

Upper body and head support pads

27th April 2014

A lady with a degenerative disability found the most comfort sat in her wheelchair, right elbow on the armrest and her jaw cupped in her right hand. Unfortunately, this gave her severe discomfort in her right hand.

Following a number of visits to the client, together with her physiotherapist the exact shape and position of the support pads were determined. The head support replicating her right hand. The lower support pad (not shown) is against her right arm, above he elbow. Her right shoulder is too painful to use as a support position.

A substantial amount of pain has been replaced by comfort for the client.

Umbrella mounting on electric wheelchair

27th April 2014

The client wanted to be able to mount an umbrella on his electric wheelchair.

An arm to hold the umbrella mounting socket was provided, pivoting on a pin beneath the front of the wheelchair armrest. This means the position of the umbrella is variable and the arm holding it can be folded under the wheelchair armrest when not required.

This gives the client a good degree of shelter from rain and sun when required.

Switch protector plate for pathfinder communicator

26th April 2014

The ‘Pathfinder’ is one of the latest type of communicators. It is programmed by the school almost daily for use by the child at home. When placed in the bag supplied for transportation, one or more of the flush faced and touch sensitive switches on the control panel are often inadvertently activated resulting in the communicator being virtually useless in the evenings, weekends or holidays.

Protector plates, as shown) are made of 4mm polycarbon sheet and are fixed firmly to the communicator using double sided, self adhesive strip. All the Pathfinder communicators in the local school are now modified in this way.

Use of the Pathfinder is now trouble free and children no longer have to wait for a teacher to come and reprogramme it.

Sensory stimulation play centre

24th April 2014

Following meningitis this four year old lad was totally inactive and almost completely unaware of his surroundings. The communications teacher at his school asked for this play centre which is larger than the type supplied commercially. The baubles also had to be illuminated.

The case is made from 10mm MDF and a small bank of ultra bright 12 volt LEDs at each side illuminate the baubles. A polycarbonate cover protects the LEDs from inside.

After a few days of intermittent use the child was ‘playing’ with the baubles and even raising himself slightly to touch one against his forehead.

Sensory board for child’s bedroom

24th April 2014

This child of 10 has severe mental and physical disabilities. He has the unfortunate habit of breaking toys simply by overuse or ‘worrying’ of the particular toy. He loves stimulus toys but bought items proved too fragile for his use.

Mounted on a plywood base securely fastened to his bedroom wall are several items for his use. These include brass rivets in a pattern to run fingers over, wheels and knobs to twist, homemade shapes mounted on a frame (abacus style), shallow holes to put his fingers in and out of, a large wheel to spin, fabric to touch, a piece of shiny aluminium to touch, raised shapes to run fingers over and an old fashioned light switch to clip and down.

This sensory board gives endless hours of stimulus and entertainment to this little boy. In addition, the younger boys in his foster family also get great pleasure from helping him to use the device which also provides him with greater stimulus.

Protection device for gastronomy tube

21st April 2014

A very strong and active young man needs feeding by a gastronomy tube. During feeding time at school, one person engaged his attention whilst the nurse attended to the feeding equipment at the centre. At home, his mother found this difficult to accomplish alone.

When feeding time arrives at home, he is now laid upon the board and the horseshoe shaped barrier board is clicked into position. There is enough clearance under the arch to allow his body to be slid into position, leaving the ever moving hands at one side of the barrier and the gastronomy tube at the other.

The young man is quite content with this arrangement and mealtimes are now peaceful times for both mother and son.

Portable standing frame

21st April 2014

The physiotherapy department at a local hospital were unable to adapt their standing frame to suit the needs of this young man. He also required a standing frame for use at home but commercially supplied ones are too large and are unsuitable for him. He could not be held securely in a vertical position.

The functional aspect of this frame was made to the specifications determined by the physiotherapist.

Unlike the hospital standing frame, it holds him securely, folds flat, is lightweight for carrying and can be used anywhere he goes (including the hospital).

Pannier basket

16th April 2014

A basket was required to fit on the detachable motorised front wheel of this rather unusual chair.

The pannier style metal basket fits neatly over the battery and still has plenty of room for papers, groceries etc.

This gentleman is now able to carry goods and still does much of the heavy work at home and on holiday.

Oxygen bottle stowage & transporter

15th April 2014

A severely disabled man had difficulty in moving his oxygen bottles around the home, often resulting in the bottle being knocked over.

A lightweight wooden shopping trolley with a stable base and a recess to take the base of the oxygen bottle was made. It has an adjustable securing strap for the taller bottles sometimes supplied. The trolley remains in a vertical position when in use, the wide base making it difficult to knock over the bottle accidentally.

The oxygen bottles can now be moved around the home much more easily.

Mouth operated paper tongs

14th April 2014

Being profoundly disabled and with just limited head movement, a young girl can only write, draw or paint by mouth on a small area of the paper being used. A helper was necessary to move the paper about as required.

Mouth operated paper tongs were made from carbon fibre, stainless steel and plastic.

Now she can use the whole area of paper at will, and without help.

Modifications to toy car

13th April 2014

An eight year old boy, mad on cars, has cerebral palsy and is unable to sit unaided or control his legs. He has limited control of his right arm and some use of his left arm.

The modifications to the car consisted of: hand operated speed and reverse selection; electronic circuit to provide ‘soft start’ and speed control; bespoke seat that is removable to allow transportation; three point harness to secure child; footwell division to separate legs and steering wheel modification.

The child mastered the control system immediately; he is unable to steer as yet but we hope this will encourage use of right arm. Immense client satisfaction.

Modifications to new wheelchair

13th April 2014

Michael has athetoid cerebral palsy. He had purchased a very expensive electric wheelchair but was unable to use it for various reasons.

Footrests were made that would swing over the large front wheels to allow him to place his feet in front of the wheelchair seat. They were made to swing back to the straight ahead position and could be locked firmly in position. These were strong enough to enable him to use his legs to move his body back on the wheelchair seat. Each side of the wheelchair was enclosed with polycarbonate so that Michael could place small items beside him when traveling. A trailer locking system was attached to the wheelchair which Michael is able to operate himself. A new knob was made for the wheelchair control lever as he found the original too small.

The wheelchair was collected by Michael and within two weeks he had already traveled 200 miles in it. He is highly satisfied and very grateful to Remap.

Modifications to control pad for electric armchair

13th April 2014

Having had multiple sclerosis for many years, this man was now unable to press the control buttons on his orthopaedic armchair. He can only use the “heel” of the palm of his hand. A holder, which clips onto the table, was made for the control pad. Four protruding rubber – sprung buttons, bearing the appropriate arrows, were removed from a disused keyboard and fitted into the holder top plate. When depressed, these operate the control buttons beneath.

The client is now able to operate his armchair easily, frequently and at will, very much a necessity for his uncomfortable condition.

Device for child’s car seat harness

8th April 2014

Having a severe weakness in her right arm, a mother had great difficulty in engaging the four harness buckles, grouped together, into the harness buckle socket which is on another strap.

The (white) support socket was designed to hold the buckle socket in position for the four straps to be connected using one hand only. It will be removed before traveling.

The mother can now strap her daughter into the seat more easily, quickly and positively.

Detachable toilet seat/pan on wheelchair

8th April 2014

A client with a severe bowel problem and poliomyelitis has to spend a number of hours each day on a commode.

A shallow box type commode was made to fit on her wheelchair seat when required. The assembly is 12cm high with a removable top and seat pad. The frame is welded 6mm plastic sheet and the seat pad is made of a special foam plastic with a sealed, wipe clean surface, designed for this type of application. The pan is a standard, domestic, stainless steel kitchen pan. The client finds it very comfortable (and convenient) and her husband is delighted by its ease of manipulation.

Bracket to enable foot operation of camera

11th March 2014

Having been paraplegic from birth, this lady is extremely adept with her feet but found the operation of her camera almost impossible. Any type of permanent mounting would give rise to further problems.

An internally padded aluminium bracket was made and attached to the camera. Her arched foot, inside the bracket, grips the camera which is then operated by her big toe. As the camera is rather heavy, the bracket design is being reconsidered to give better balance and ease of operation. (Helpfully, her camera has a back screen.)

It is now possible for photographs to be taken at any time without assistance.

Arm support for treadmill

7th March 2014

The client uses a treadmill to improve his walking after a serious car accident. He was unable to hold the handrail with both hands as one arm could not be straightened.

An adjustable gutter arm support was designed to attach to the handrail, with a controlled spring system to allow for vertical movement when walking. The adjustment caters for gradual movement of the forearm until the hand is able to grip the rail, thus improving the arm’s flexibility. The client can now use the treadmill on his own without needing a carer in attendance.