2nd June 2021
The client needs to sleep on her back until the post-op swelling of her hip and thigh recedes. She also needs to be able to move her feet and legs in order to lessen the risk of deep vein thrombosis. Commercial duvet supports are available but they are expensive and bulky, and there is the problem of storage or disposal when no longer needed. This temporary solution was made from off-cuts and scrap, so the cost is zero.
4th May 2021
The client, an 80 y.o. woman, is unable to walk or stand for more than a few seconds due to severe arthritis in her right hip. The condition has worsened over the past 18 months, and now she is confined to a sofa. She needs two crutches, and also some device to park the crutches close to hand. The client only expects to need crutches for the next fortnight, until her hip replacement operation, and then for three or four months afterwards, so a cheap and compact solution was called for. The only safety consideration was the stability of the device.
2nd March 2019
Richie’s spoon has a hinge point near the handle and a swivel in the middle of the stem. This means that he can bring the spoon from the bowl over to his mouth but the spoon stays level.
I think the flat parts can be made from salvaged stainless steel, but the spoon would have to be welded on and the handle would have to be moulded on – possibly Polymorph thermoplastic nylon?
Has anyone any suggestions?
Derek McMullan,
Remap Northern Ireland Panel
24th December 2018
Reuben has no legs, and prosthetics are not possible. He needs assistance to get into his wheelchair, and he needed assistance to get to the toilet. Commercial transfer boards are available, but they are too small and unstable for Reuben’s abilities. Also, the disabled toilet room is rather small. The question of personal hygiene needs were also considered.
10th December 2018
Olaf is little Charlie’s very favourite toy. When Charlie’s mum presses the button on Olaf’s tummy, Olaf sings a song and does a special dance. Charlie would love to be able to be able to make Olaf dance by himself, but he can’t manage to press the little button on his own.
17th May 2018
Derek McMullan,Secretary, Remap NI, secretary@remapni.org, would like suggestions for the following problem please:
An OT presented me with this problem; she and her colleagues can’t solve it.
How can we help people who have lost the use of their hands, or even lost their hands entirely?
We can make a push-pull hook, but how does the person grasp it?
We can make supports to hang shirts and trousers on, but how does the person hang the clothes on the support in the first place?
27th April 2014
A client wanted an attachment for his walking stick to allow him to keep his stick upright when shaking hands, getting change out of his pocket etc., without having to swop his stick over into his other hand.
A rubber ‘plate’ was fixed to the base of the stick by an aluminium tube section and a self-tapping screw. The client stands on the edge of the plate, keeping the stick upright. The plate was made from rubber so as not to trip the client and provide a non-slip contact with the ground. It can also be easily replaced if necessary.
Client can now keep his walking stick on his right side of his body, even when his right hand is needed.
Coleraine
27th April 2014
A severely brain injured man had broken his kneecap in a fall. The Zimmer frame supplied proved unsatisfactory as he placed himself at an angle into the frame and pushed himself along with one leg which trailed behind.
Two obsolete Zimmer frames were bolted together and 600mm horizontal bars fitted.
The improvement was remarkable. He moved at once into the enlarged frame and was able to stand upright with both feet firmly on the floor. The slightly increased weight of the apparatus does not seem to hinder him getting around.
(Coleraine)
27th April 2014
Following a stroke, Gwen had difficulty using a standard walking aid. She had a four -wheeled walker, but had difficulty steering it and using the braking system so she could sit down and rest safely.
A crossbar was fitted which was freely hinged at one side, and held safely in place with clips. A dual brake was fitted to the centre of the bar. When the brake is pulled on, the wheels run freely, but when the brake is released the wheels stop. The hinge allows the crossbar to be moved out of the way. This means Gwen can sit down safely if she becomes tired when walking. The brake modifications made the client more self-reliant as he was able to go up and downstairs and transfer to his chair without assistance.
(Coleraine)
27th April 2014
The client, who is a paraplegic, had difficulty transferring into his mini digger independently. The solution needed to be transported easily with the mini digger when traveling to and from jobs. The seat needed to rotate to assist with the transfer and to be height adjustable to allow the client to transfer from his wheelchair to the digger.
The working upright from an old bath lift was attached securely to the base of a trailer. A frame with a seat, seat belt and drop-down armrests was made and attached to the upright, allowing the seat to be raised, lowered and rotated. The client can wheel himself onto the trailer, transfer independently onto the hoist seat, raise himself up using the winding mechanism, swivel around to the cab door and transfer into the cab independently.
The digger needs to be moved into position by someone else, but the client is otherwise independent and the risk of falls reduced.
(Coleraine)
21st April 2014
Client has multiple sclerosis and is unable to keep her head still enough to use a magnifying glass to read the paper.
A magnifier/ light attachment was purchased and mounted on a stable metal floor stand allowing it to be adjusted vertically and horizontally. A support for her reading material was made and sits on the client’s own table.
The client is able to to read without removing her head from her wheelchair headrest which is the most comfortable position for her
(Coleraine)
14th April 2014
A little girl wanted to learn to play the recorder along with the rest of her class. She dearly wanted to take part, but was unable to as, sadly, she has some fingers missing from each hand.
The panel’s engineers and occupational therapists put their heads together and came up with the idea of an electronic recorder. The instrument consists of two columns of buttons (6 on the front and 6 on the back). The electrical signals from the buttons are fed to a tiny computer. This translates the fingered notes into a signal which can be passed to the musical keyboard.
She can now play along with the rest of her schoolmates.
12th April 2014
This client who spends much of his time in a wheelchair enjoys trips to the local ice rink. His father has learnt to skate and pushes him around the rink. The problem is that it is quite a strain on his father to lift him down from the chair onto the sled.
Skates were made for the rear wheels of the chair as these bear the weight. The device was made from 5mm steel bar 40mm wide. It was bent around the two horizontal base stays of the chair and the bracket secured in place by two bolts into right angles around the stays. The ‘skates’ could then be attached to these brackets.
The client and his father may now use the ice rink with much reduced risk of injury to the father. Further, the client much prefers to be closer to his usual height relative to everyone else.
(Belfast)
10th April 2014
The client’s hand is not fully under his control and, when fly-fishing, he has difficulty reeling with his left hand when casting with his right.
The small winding knob on the reel was replaced with a much larger handle four inches long.
The client says he is very pleased that he can now reel more smoothly, and can enjoy his hobby much more than before.
11th March 2014
The client had a bad back and also pain and tension in her legs and toes. She was unstable when she stooped to bowl.
A helmet with a wooden walking stick was cut down and adapted to provide a stabiliser.
The aid has enabled the client to carry on the bowling she so enjoys.
(Antrim)
11th March 2014
Thalidomide meant that this client was born with no arms. He enjoys reading and has a large personal library including all shapes and sizes of book.
The solution was a foldable, portable bookstand, which holds an open book upright. This is loosely based on a commercially available solution that was not large enough to hold many of the client’s outsized books. The client can turn the pages with a rubber-ended stick held in the mouth.
The client can now sit up straight to read a book rather than leaning over a book lying flat on a table. Furthermore, the bookstand holds the pages open unlike the commercial solution.
(Belfast)
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