Brakes for commode

This client used a wheelchair and had a chairlift to move him upstairs. To move around upstairs he used a ‘glideabout’ commode but had difficulty transferring to it as it was fitted with individual castor wheel brakes which he could not operate from the chairlift, making it unsafe to get onto. He therefore required assistance to apply and remove the brakes.

A mechanism was fitted to the commode which pushed two feet on to the floor, taking the weight off the wheels and acting as a brake. The client could operate the brake from the side of the chairlift. The brake operated on a overactive mechanism and was positive in operation.

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.

(Mid Staffordshire)