Seminar: Using Assistive Technology to achieve Independent Living, Rehabilitation and Reablement Goals for community clients
Thursday, 23rd May 2019
Technology Park Function Centre Bentley
“Using Assistive Technology to achieve Independent Living, Rehabilitation and Reablement Goals for community clients” is an educational seminar designed to impart the skills and knowledge necessary for therapists and clinicians to make intelligent equipment prescriptions for community clients.
Close to 150 therapists and clinicians working for hospitals, aged care and disability providers attended this educational event to learn more about prescribing optimal equipment solutions for their clients living at home and in the community.
This seminar was championed by Unicare Health’s clinical educator and trainer, Annette Terranova, who has over 30 years of experience as a clinician and consultant within the aged care sector. Annette has significant experience in prescribing products to facilitate safe and effective manual handling, seating and positioning, falls prevention, dementia care, mobility and pressure injury prevention, and has assisted hundreds of therapists and clinicians with education in these areas and prescribing the optimal equipment solution for specific needs.
Annette began the seminar talking about new reforms and industry initiatives to promote Independent Living, Rehabilitation and Reablement in the community. She also talked about Unicare Health’s commitment as a leading industry partner to support these measures moving ahead.
As the Australian Government provides more help for consumers to live at home for longer, therapists must have the skills and knowledge necessary to prescribe aids and equipment to support safe and independent living at home, not just for their clients but for carers too. (Read more: Help to Stay at Home)
To facilitate intelligent equipment prescriptions, Unicare Health has been making significant investments in industry education to empower therapists and clinicians working in different environments with the skills and knowledge necessary to prescribe optimal equipment solutions for individuals with specific needs.
In her presentation, Annette stressed to participants the need to pay attention to an individual’s needs and living environment when prescribing equipment. “Therapists and clinicians need to consider both intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors when accessing the suitability of a piece of equipment for a client living at home.”
For example, when prescribing a bed and mattress for a community client, one must consider an individual’s physical and cognitive needs, pressure injury risk, mobility requirements, transfer measures, caregiver safety and access to provide patient care, its suitability for individuals living with dementia and more. One shouldn’t adopt a “one size fits all” approach.
Discussions on the suitability of a wide range of equipment commonly prescribed for community clients was included in this seminar, including bedroom equipment, toileting equipment and mobility equipment. Participants were challenged to think about specific environmental factors, caregiver safety, manual handling risks, cognitive abilities and more in addition to achieving a client’s specific goal when prescribing equipment.
Participants were taking notes and listening intently during the seminar and many engaged in active discussion throughout the day.
Based on all the feedback forms received, all participants indicated that the education offered in this seminar
- was relevant to them and their role
- taught them new skills/concepts to apply during work and
- supported their professional development and learning
Thank you
Unicare Health would like to thank all participants for dedicating your day to attending our seminar. We are glad that our educational event has been beneficial to your personal and professional development. Unicare Health is proud to be your source of expert advice for community equipment solutions. We trust that our seminars and education sessions will impact the way you continue to prescribe equipment solutions to achieve better patient outcomes.
Unicare Health’s training team supports the industry with events focussed on education, equipment training, improvement and care. Subscribe to our newsletter and social media channels and be the first to know about our upcoming training events.
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Posted on 27 May 2019