Pam Quick, 58, who lives in Hull with her canine partner Alucia, is one person determined to continue living a fully self-sufficient lifestyle, despite suffering from various mobility issues. She receives minimal help from her carers but relies on products to help her with everyday tasks.

For people with part-time care, the time spent alone can prove difficult, and remaining independent in these moments is essential. It’s often the simple things that can make a huge difference to someone’s way of life, and products that help to prevent spillages, trips and falls are a vital part of keeping people safe in their own homes. Pam found that rolls of non-slip material that can be cut to size and used around the home, were particularly useful to stick onto a variety of items, from her wheelchair’s footplates to provide her with added traction, to pulling on and de-wrinkling her stockings in the morning!

 Like many others, Pam finds gripping products particularly difficult, and tasks which the more able would consider simple (such as opening jars or doors), can prove problematic. She has been using the Dycem Non-Slip product for 10 years and it has helped her remain more independent and less reliant on carers for assistance. She also uses non-slip openers that are shaped to fit into the palm of the hand, providing a tool for helping people with a weakened grip, or who may have had a stroke, or have arthritis. 

 Pam says, “I was surprised how easy these simple non slip products made life. Before using these products gripping every day items was a struggle, such as holding paper steady or opening a bottle. I relied on carers and friends to help me with the simplest tasks. The product can be cut to size, moulded, screwed up, straightened out, and then reused. They’re multifunctional and have lasted me for a long time. Sometimes the most helpful items are the ones that don’t cost a fortune.”

 Pam concludes, “The sheets of reel material are perfect for writing single handed, and it’s a shock to leave the house and find other people don’t use the products like I do. I wish my local bank and shops would provide these products, which I’ve grown to rely on in my everyday life”.

This year’s UK Occupational Therapy Week is all about being proud to be an Occupational Therapist (OT) and helping to challenge the myths and preconceived notions of what it means to be an OT.

OTs across the country are using the week as an opportunity to fly the flag for the profession and to inform people about the valuable work that they do.

Jen Cave-Ayland, Occupational Therapist from Bristol says: “Many people are unsure about the role of the occupational therapist and what we do.  Some people still think that we are all about teaching basket weaving but the reality of life as an OT is very different.”

As the public health agenda has broadened, so has the role of the OT.  Traditionally the role has tended to revolve closely around the needs of social services but the voluntary sector now provides many new models for occupational therapy.

The aim of occupational therapy is to help people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy a meaningful and independent life, irrespective of any physical, mental or social problems they may have.  The knowledge base of the Occupational Therapist includes physiology, psychology as well as cognitive and physical treatment techniques.  The variety of clients and the scope of an OTs work is very wide.

Many OTs also work with a diverse range of professionals to achieve the individuals’ goals – including physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, and social workers,

“Teams often receive Referrals requesting  help for  people to overcome difficulties with personal care, but our skill lies in identifying what is important to a client.  We may end up focusing on leisure pursuits and community involvement instead, Jen continues.

“We are a trusted source of information and advice and can recommend to our clients services and products which we think will help them with all aspects of their life.  We have an important role to play in the prevention of accidents, slips and falls and in promoting safe independent living.  Recent changes to the health budget make this role increasingly important.  We need to help our clients to manage their resources and encourage them to invest in products or aids which we think will be good value for money and that will help them to live safe and independent lives.

“For example, Dycem products, they are inexpensive but great value for money as they last a long time – I know a lady who has had hers for years!  It’s often the simple things that can make a huge difference to someone’s way of life, and products that help to prevent spillages, trips and falls are a vital part of our work in keeping people safe in their own homes.

Jen concludes; “Helping people cope with the after-effects of a fall, accident or life changing incident such as finding themselves out of work provides practitioners with enormous variety in terms of the types of people that they treat and the environment that they work in.  It’s what makes the job interesting and exciting as no two days or clients are ever the same.  I’d recommend occupational therapy to anyone who wants to embark on a rewarding, interesting and worthwhile career.”

On July 11th and 12th, the Posture and Mobility Group (PMG) held its annual conference in Bristol.

It was Dycem’s first time attending and we were made to feel very welcome.

We demonstrated our reel material and self-adhesive strips together with netting and mats.

Many of the Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists were familiar with Dycem and were using it in their work.

Dycem was new to some of the other professional groups and we did hear a lot of comments such as “Ooh, I hadn’t thought of using it like that”.

There was also lots of discussion about using it as an alternative to velcro under wheelchair cushions.

Many thanks to all those delegates who came up with product suggestions and clinical applications.  Hope you enjoyed the conference.

For those of you who didn’t pick up our seating and positioning brochure please drop us an email and we will send some out to your department. nonslip@dycem.com