Occupational Therapy Scotland
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​specialist seating assessment ​and advice 

Did you know that standard Care Home seating can cause discomfort, pain, pressure sores, impaired breathing, joint stiffness and joint contractures.

The wrong choice of chair also contributes to falls, loss of ability to eat/drink independently, and preventing residents from being as independent as they could be.

​A specialist occupational therapist can prescribe the right chair for you and train carers in how to use specialist chairs. 

Picture
Picture
Does Margaret look comfy in her wheelchair?

​Would you want to sit like this every day unable to move yourself or get up and walk away?

Margaret lives in a care home and can't walk. Her family were upset that she was also uncomfortable and complaining of a sore bottom all day every day.

The standard wheelchair and Care Home chairs did not meet her needs for all-day seating but no-one know what to do!. She was even struggling to use cutlery to eat.

​Her daughter engaged Elizabeth to prescribe a specialist seat that met all her needs.

​After a full seating assessment a chair was prescribed and bought by Margaret's family.
She is now comfy and happy.
It tilts forward so she can sit at the dining table and can now even eat soup independently!
It will prevent pressure sores developing.

Elizabeth trained staff in how to adjust it to facilitate them using a hoist and sling to lift Margaret in and out. Elizabeth continues to visit to monitor as Margaret's condition progresses and make adjustments when required.
Elizabeth and Fi have training and experience in prescribing specialist seating. They are happy to discuss your concerns.
​If you can answer yes to any of these, please get in touch. 
  • Are you uncomfortable or sore when sitting?
  • Do you keep sliding down the chair?
  • Do you struggle to sit up comfortably and use both hands to do what you want to do?
  • Do you find dining chairs uncomfortable and have difficulty using cutlery or make a mess when you are eating?
  • Do you need assistance to move out of the chair?
  • Do you need help to adjust your posture in a chair?
  • Do you go to bed early, or during the day, to ease pain but would prefer to stay up?
  • Do your carers use a hoist and sling to assist you to move?
  • Do you have, or are you developing, a spinal curvature and stiff leg joints?
  • Have you been assessed as being at risk of developing a pressure injury (a pressure sore)?
  • Do you already have a pressure sore?​​
Picture
 This photo of my dad asleep in his Care Home chair clearly shows the need for a Specialist OT Seating assessment.
Compare this to the feature photo of my dad at the top of this page.
​It was taken AFTER the OT assessment and prescription of a specialist chair.
​The Specialist OT was me, Elizabeth! 
​I would be delighted to help you help your elderly relative too.

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  • Home
  • How we can help
    • Autism
    • Dementia
    • Dyspraxia
    • Preventing falls
    • Seating
    • Sensory differences
    • Young Adults
  • About Us