Archives for October 2016

Saturday 29^th October is National Cat Day, a day to encourage cat lovers everywhere to celebrate the companionship they receive from their kitty kat. But why stop at cats?

Pets have been accepted in many households as another well-loved member of the family, a companion and for those who live alone, someone to come home too.

Research has shown for those living with Dementia, Alzheimer’s and other such mental illnesses, having a cat or a dog with them can help battle the feeling of loneliness, boredom and assist in keeping to a routine.

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) has a powerful calming effect on those individuals suffering, and have been introduced in many care homes throughout the country to help battle the negative behaviours associated with such illnesses. Some care homes allow patients to bring their own pets with them once they move into care, and can help support both the pet and the patient. The need for companionship becomes greater when getting older, especially when the patient is effected by an illness such as Dementia.

For those patients who find they need care at home, or have been moved into a care home, it is important for them to feel safe, secure and maintain their normal routine and way of life for as long as they can.

If you need more information on how you can better support a patient or loved one suffering from Dementia, please get in touch with Harvest Healthcare. We offer specialist services on profiling bed designs, as well as other important care requirements, which assist in making the patient feel safe, secure and like they are in the comfort of their own home.

In a report published today by the Royal College of Physicians, research has shown up to 600 patients are falling in hospitals each day due to lack of care by staff.

Whilst relatives are instructed to remove any obstacles around the bed or floor space, and make sure walking / stand aids are close at hand, 30% of falls could be reduced by nurses and doctors actually clearing clutter and reminding patients to call for nurses before trying to get up themselves.

Dr Shelagh Riordan, of the Royal College of Physicians said: “When a patient falls in hospital, particularly an older patient, it can cause anxiety and distress for them and their families, even if the fall does not result in serious injury. Patients and their families need to be falls aware.”

Harvest Healthcare being a leading manufacturer of quality healthcare equipment, can make sure hospitals and care homes are fully equipped to care. Whether you work in the care sector, or have a friend / relative being cared for, we have a range of products and solutions to help prevent such nasty falls.

The Vigilant Falls Reduction System has been specifically designed for use on the Woburn bed range, and other alternative bed systems, with the safety of the patient as a first priority. Compatible with most Nurse Call systems, the falls reduction handset emits a soft glow to allow buttons to be found and is fitted with a magnetic key to prevent patients tampering with the device.

Most importantly, should the patient take a tumble, or try to get up and move around without the aid of a nurse, an alarm will automatically activate within 2 seconds of the patient becoming absent from their bed or chair. The Underbed Light ties in nicely together with this system as the sensor illuminates the area around the bed to help prevent trips and falls, once movement has been detected as well as providing illumination for the carers when entering the room whilst dark.

Guidelines have been published to provide simple tips and tricks for families of those in care to help avoid roughly 200 preventable falls per day, but surely hospital staff should already be following guidelines, which poses the question, are staff doing enough to protect patients?

With a host of advanced features, the Vigilant Falls Reduction System could revolutionise the way you monitor patient movement.

Exclusive to Harvest Healthcare is the Woburn Profiling Bed Range. Electronically operated, the beds intend to assist with providing a comfortable environment for its user, having been designed with the patient in mind. Various profiling features are available which provide extra comfort, as well as the optional Trendelenburg feature.

When considering which profiling bed is more suitable, it is important to identify the needs of the user before making a decision. Safety and durability are key aspects to the Woburn range, ensuring Harvest Healthcare supply you with only the best.

The Trendelenburg feature is available across the Woburn bed range, but what exactly is Trendelenburg and how can it benefit the user?

Trendelenburg is another resting position for patients, and provides extra pressure relief to different areas of the body – for example, fluid relief from their chest, or reducing blood pressure.

The Anti-Trendelenburg feature (head up, feet down) can be used with the profiling bed features to act as a chair for the patient, allowing them to still have the pressure relief and comfort, without leaving their bed.

To discover more about the use of the Trendelenburg feature on our Woburn beds, please call to speak with one of our advisers, or email enquiries@harvesthealthcare.co.uk

Meet Jamie, our Assistant Buyer, part of our purchasing team. Harvest’s own chess champion, Jamie is a natural strategist.

– What’s your favourite thing about the Harvest Team? How dependable and hardworking everyone is.
– Proudest achievement? My proudest moment was achieving a significant cost reduction for a key product without compromising service or quality.
– What’s your favourite thing to do at the weekend? We all work hard at Harvest, so on Saturdays I enjoy a long lay-in!

Who wouldn’t need a lay-in after all that hard work?

Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter to meet more of Harvests team, or get in touch with us today for any advice from our friendly team.

In need of a biscuit break?

Harvest Healthcare have 10 tins of biscuits to give away to a lucky select few.

If you would like to be in with a chance to win a tin of Chocolate Chip Cookies, follow / like / share Harvest Healthcare on social media.

This is a limited time offer don’t miss out!