You may have noticed a while back we started offering the Pressalit Care 2000 — an attractively priced height adjustable, wall mounted, folding special needs changing table. Just to make sure you notice, we’re now offering it with free shipping!

Ships free !!

That’s right. For a limited time, you can get this amazing table delivered to your school or facility without the usual fee. That’s a savings of $325!

This table is just as sturdy, reliable, and ergonomic as its big brother, the Pressalit Care 3000, but with fewer features, and therefore appropriately priced. You still get the whisper-quiet Linak motor which lowers the table to facilitate transfers, and raises it again to ergonomic working height. You still get a fluid receiver tray that drains body and cleansing fluids away. You still get space-saving foldability.

Click here to get all the details: http://max-ability.com/products/special-needs/pressalit-care-basic/

And now you can get it delivered at no extra charge! Call us now to have yours shipped today! 1-800-577-1555.

I know what you’ve been saying to yourself:  ‘I’d love one of those height-adjustable changing tables for our special needs bathroom. Our aides would be ecstatic; the kids would be thrilled; the teachers relieved. But they’re a little on the pricey side. And we only have one student who needs it right now, and they’ll be going to high school next year. Plus, they’re just so, well, so blue.’

Naturally, here at MAX-Ability, we have an answer for you: the Armedica Hi-Lo Changing Table. It’s mobile! No anchoring to the wall — it can be moved wherever it’s needed, including to a new school as the needs of your students change. Still just as height adjustable as the Pressalit Care model, but more modestly priced. And guess what? YOU pick the color. The palette of 11 colors includes dove gray, tea rose, and cappuccino.  

Just to make it a little sweeter, for a limited time we’re offering free shipping. That represents a savings of $225.00 on either the adult or child size models. Check out all the details here: http://max-ability.com/products/special-needs/armedica/

So save your back AND some money!

Four years ago, a desperate mom posted this question to the Yahoo! answers forum:

Where/how can I change my disabled 10 yr old diaper in public? Too big for typical changing table?  I have a 10 yr old daughter with CP in a wheelchair. When we are out and about in public there is no place to change her diaper. She is too big for the typical changing tables. And even though we have a mat we could lay her on, there is usually no space on the floor big enough, without making it too “public” and embarrassing for her. Any solutions?

After receiving a number of responses, she amended her question:  

Additional details: I know there are larger handicapped stalls. Actually, they are made for people who are in wheelchairs or walkers that can lift themselves to the toilet. You have to imagine enough space for me and the chair. Then enough space to lift a 55 lb child out and lay her on the floor. Then sit on the floor myself and change her, etc … It is not as simple as “that is what the handicap stalls are for.”

The answers she got missed the mark widely, no doubt in large part because the general public doesn’t understand the problem. It’s hard to fully comprehend the issues unless you’re living them. Here’s a couple:

• A person with cerebral palsy (CP) may not be able to even partially participate in continence care, so merely providing space for the wheelchair does not facilitate the disability.
• As this girl gets older and bigger, solutions like a mat on the public restroom floor, as unappealing as that is even now, will become completely impractical.

Handicapped stalls in public restrooms accommodate the wheelchair. Not the person. An individual using a wheelchair may have any of a number of capabilities ranging from autonomous continence capacity (able to transfer to the commode and back) to needing complete assistance, provided by a personal aide or attendant.

The current standard for wheelchair access to public restrooms doesn’t come close to addressing the full scope of needs. So what’s the answer?

The family restroom. You may have begun to see them in airports, museums, and hotel lobbies, usually adjacent to the traditional ‘Mens’ and and ‘Womens,’ a separate facility outfitted to allow for changing a baby, breastfeeding, parents attending children of the opposite sex, and more extensive incontinence requirements.

Here’s the rub — or one of them anyway. They are often not fully equipped to handle the complete spectrum of family needs, including those of people using wheelchairs. If they were, they would include height adjustable changing tables large enough to accommodate adults, height adjustable sinks, perhaps even mechanical hoists.

My hope is that all family venues, from movie theaters and shopping malls to stadiums and recreation facilities, will step up and provide not only the family restroom but the proper equipment for anyone who needs them. The 2003 International Building Code, adopted by several states, requires family restrooms in new construction and substantial renovation. Families today are varied, multi-generational, mobile, and social. Let’s make sure everyone is included wherever they want to go.

A wounded, unconscious first-responder arrives at the ER, needing immediate triage. First, though, s/he must be decontaminated — maybe due to a hazmat spill or an encounter with toxic smoke. As desperately as the hospital staff wants to help the heroic worker, they HAVE to consider their own safety. It’s no good if even more people are harmed or if the patient experiences further injury. Pressalit Care to the rescue.

One of my great joys, and a big part of the reason I love this business, is discovering new ways to help people. This came home to me at a recent trade show showcasing medical equipment. Of course, our changing tables have a place in clinics and hospitals — anywhere that patients use wheelchairs. I was thrilled to learn that our Pressalit Care changing table has a unique role in decontamination. Because of its water-capture system — the only changing table with that feature — it can be used effectively in emergency room triage to cleanse a patient in preparation for further treatment.

Lower the table to the appropriate height to effect the transfer from the ambulance gurney. Raise the table to a good working height. Shower, cleanse, rinse, disinfect — whatever the afflicted person needs, knowing that the potentially hazardous materials are contained within the water receiver tray and safely drained by the integrated hose into an appropriate drain or receptacle. Assess the patient there or elsewhere. Fold the table against the wall when you’re finished, saving valuable space until needed again.

Hospitals, and especially ERs, have to be ready to handle all sorts of patients, and to do it safely for all concerned. I’m proud to know that our most popular product is such a valuable tool for these dedicated care providers.

My son and his grandmother, years ago. He's a lot bigger now.

Darn. I did it again. That familiar twinge at the small of my back, this time a little to the right. All I did was lower my son into his wheelchair. I’ve done this transfer a million times. I know the proper body mechanics. Lift with the thighs; keep his body weight close to my center. And then, with no warning, bang. More like pop. Twinge. Cringe. Darn.

Anyone who provides care for a person using a wheelchair is well aware of the need to protect against back injuries. But how? Back braces are dubious. In my experience, they provide a false sense of security, encouraging me to forget my own trunk stabilization and to lift more than I should. In fact, NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) not only agrees, but “does not recommend the use of back belts to prevent injuries.” Just to be sure I wasn’t missing something, I did some research. The Nursing Assistant Education website suggests exercise, rest, warming up. Check. Check. Check. They also list these tips:  

1. Get help if you need it.
2. Use a mechanical lifting device whenever you can.
3. Stay as close as possible to the person you are about to lift.
4. Face the person you are about to lift.
5. Keep your head, neck, and back straight up and down, and tuck your chin in.
6. Keep your feet wide apart so that you have a wide base of support.
7. Pivot on your feet in the direction of the move.
8. Make sure that you have a good grip on the object you are about to lift.
9. Use the long, strong muscles of your legs. Do NOT use your back muscles to lift.
10. Use smooth and slow motions. Do NOT hurry. Take your time.

I’m pretty good at adhering to most of these recommendations. It’s those first two that I trip up on. Fortunately, I have a ceiling track lift installed in my home, so mechanical assistance is available.  When we’re at home. Unfortunately, such assistance is absent virtually anywhere else my son goes: school, clinics. And public places like restaurants or stores? Forget about it.

Yes, I need to be better about asking for help. Not just help with an individual lift or transfer, but also help with assuring that the appropriate assistive equipment is available. And not just for me. 

 The instructional aides in his special education class lift and move him several times a day for diapering and position changes without benefit of any mechanical assistance. They compensate by team-lifting, so two staff members are required to accomplish a task that would only require one if the proper equipment was available. And the class is understaffed as it is. I have great respect for the hard-working, caring, patient personnel in my son’s class. The penny wise, pound foolish decision makers who fear the expense of a thoroughly outfitted special needs’ classroom? Not so much.

 Then again, maybe I’m just grouchy.  After all, my back hurts.

One of our customers recently shared a personal account of how the Scalamobil allowed his mother to stay in her home. A traditional stair lift required a permanent installation at twice the cost of the Scalamobil and Scalachair accessory. The product became a viable stair access alternative to relocation.  After 15 years of providing this unique and important product, we have many satisfied Scalamobil users and riders. Here’s one of their stories….

“After researching (for a long time) ways to help move my disabled mother up and down stairs to and from her bedroom, I was excited to find the Scalamobil IQ. After using it for over a year, I am still excited and eternally grateful for the product. It has saved many headaches and backaches in a two story house with a narrow stairway. It is super easy to use and one does not need to be strong to do it. The braking system going down stairs is brilliant. It also works really well as a narrow transfer chair around the house. We don’t go out much, but it would be easy to transport as it easily breaks down.

In addition to this incredible product, the customer service and help we received from Lee at Max-Ability is second to none. He helped with the purchase, the training and has continued to help and answer questions for the time we have owned it. It is important to purchase from a conscientious company like Max-Ability as the Scalamobil is German in origin and not common in the US. Great product and great company. “
…….Thomas, Sacramento California”

Finally, there is an adult changing table that people with disabilities can be excited about. Whether at school, group home, day care or at home, Pressalit changing tables meet the demand for a product that provides ergonomics, safety, shower capability and space saving design; all in one attractive, heavy duty package.

MAX-Ability is proud to be the distributor of a changing table that provides long-term solutions for a variety of situations. The Pressalit changing table can be found at public pools, college campuses, medical clinics; even the rest stops on the Trans-Canada Highway; anywhere a disabled person may need a place to wash, dress or change while sitting or prone, with privacy and accessibility.

We are happy to be able to provide a product that is not just a changing table, but a tool that provides height adjustment for easier, dignified transfers and a proper working height for attendants and caregivers. The built-in water containment design makes it easy to use a shower or clean the product. When not in use, the table folds to the wall to free up room space. The Pressalit changing table is truly a breakthrough in personal accessibility and hygiene. Contact MAX-Ability for more information.

A viable option for home accessibility is the stairlift. You may see this advertised as a Stair Lift, Stair-Glide, Stair-Trac or Scalamobil. This type of product could make the difference between staying in your home or moving to a new location. Fortunately stairlift technology has been around for many years. It is safe and reliable, especially if provided by an expert who understands your specific needs. There are several choices all of which should result in a safe, long-term solution to getting around the house, or in many cases, getting in and out of the house.

If you’re ambulatory and independent but have trouble safely negotiating stairs you may want to consider a traditional installed stairlift. These devices are bolted to the tread of the stairs and provide push-button access on straight, curved, indoor or outdoor stairs. Most are battery powered stair chairs that run smoothly and quietly up and down the stairs on an installed track.

Prices range from $3,500.00 for a straight run of stairs to $14,000.00 for a custom built stair lift for a curved staircase. Other installed access products include incline platform lifts, vertical wheelchair lifts and home elevators. We recommend that any installation be done with the guidance of a licensed contractor who specializes in this type of homecare equipment.

There is another alternative to the installed stair lift: The portable stair climber. These devices are also known as the ‘stair climbing wheelchair’. The Scalamobil or Stair-Trac attach to a manual wheelchair and, with the help of an attendant, transport a person up and down the stairs. These devices are ideal for those needing access to their homes but require the presence of a caregiver or family member wherever they go.

The portable stair chairs are battery powered, strong, safe and reliable and they have been on the market for over 25 years. There is no installation involved so they can be used in two or more locations; on multiple stairways or at another home. They can fit easily into the trunk of a car and they are available in a variety of configurations. These non-installed stairlifts are also popular at schools and churches where occasional access assistance is required.

The Scalamobil can negotiate tight turns and spiral turns. Both products can be used indoors and outdoors. Prices range from $5,200.00 for the Stair-Trac to $7,300.00 for the Scalamobil. Call or email MAX-Ability for a free consultation.