When I think of Home Healthcare Technology I think of medical tele-visits, electronic sensors for falling, or tablets for aides use to report activity. However, I was recently reminded that advances in Home Healthcare Technology is not limited to electronics.

In the last years of her life my mom was bedridden. She was unable to support herself with her legs. To transfer her to a wheelchair we used a medieval device called a hoyer lift. It involved getting a “sling” underneath my mom, connecting it to the lift and then using the hydraulic pump to lift her and move her into the chair. To say the least, it was an ordeal.

Hoyer Lift

A client recently returned from rehab, is very disoriented and unable to get out of bed. Naturally the family was concerned about their mom getting out of bed and dealing with bedsores.

Bedsores can happen when a person is bedridden or otherwise immobile, unconscious, or unable to sense pain. They are ulcers occurring on areas of the skin that are under pressure from lying in bed, sitting in a wheelchair, or wearing a cast for a prolonged time. Bedsores are also called pressure injuries, pressure sores, pressure ulcers, or decubitus ulcers.

Bedsores can be a serious problem among frail older adults. They can be prevented by:

• Turning and repositioning every 2 hours
• Sitting upright and straight in a wheelchair, changing position every 15 minutes
• Providing good skin care by keeping the skin clean and dry
• Providing soft padding in wheelchairs and beds to reduce pressure

When ordering the soft padding for the wheelchair and bed from Eldon MedTech, it was suggested the family look at The Barton Chair.

A Barton chair provides a “no-lift” solution by providing a safe, comfortable and dignified method of transferring and moving non- and limited-ambulatory patients. This medical device can make it much easier when it comes to moving, repositioning, and transferring patients safely.  This video explains it all.

In addition, the Barton chair is covered by Medicare. If you have any questions about this product, please contact Thomas Branksy at Eldon Medtech. (ThomasBransky@eldonmedtech.com)

Do you know of any useful technology home healthcare products? I’d love to hear about your experiences with them.