Ireland's Only Specialist Older Adult Healthcare Company
Fit For Life Nursing Home Services
Since 2001 Fit For Life have designed and developed our services and training by listening to our customers and ensuring that the support and expertise we provide is immediately applicable in the day to day delivery of care.
We have the capacity to deliver onsite Allied Healthcare Professional (AHP) services such as Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Group Exercise Therapy and other therapies listed below. We have a vast amount of experience providing weekly contracted hours in any or all of the therapies listed.
Most commonly Fit For Life provide a multidisciplinary service for a nursing home or daycare centre on a weekly basis. This usually consists of a mixture of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and exercise therapy (individual and group exercise sessions). We can work together to develop a weekly service that best suits your specific needs! Fit For Life also have experience working in tandem with in-house therapists, assisting in setting up or remodelling current services and providing additional specialised training to qualified therapists in older adult care.
In addition to onsite clinical input Fit For Life offer a range of training courses in falls prevention, manual handling, positioning, cognitive screening and training to deliver exercise to older adults which are all listed below.
Other services that we provide related to providing support for senior management and or proprietors in the areas of providing pre-inspection audits in the area of falls, manual handling (including equipment) or assistance in complex individual cases.
Finally, we can also provide support and expertise in all stages of new build or renovations including OT environmental assessments and sourcing and recommendations for specialised equipment.
Further details of all of these services are listed below but please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information or to book a training course for your team!
Physiotherapy involves evaluating, diagnosing and treating a range of injuries, disorders and disabilities in order to optimize the person’s mobility and functional capacity. Our chartered physiotherapists are graduate level healthcare practitioners specializing in the assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal, neurological, orthopaedic, respiratory and cardiac conditions. They provide a broad range of assessment and therapy services specifically developed for the older adult population.
Physiotherapy Services Include:
½ Day Inhouse Physiotherapy Services for Nursing Homes: ½ day weekly (3-4hrs).
Extended Inhouse Physiotherapy Service for Nursing Homes: e.g. 2 ½ days p/week.
Private Inhouse Physiotherapy sessions: Individual residents can book private appointments with our physiotherapists weekly.
Falls Risk Assessments.
*All of these services are carried out by Chartered Physiotherapists, members of the I.S.C.P.
Occupational Therapy is designed to promote health, prevent injury or disability and develops, improves or sustains an individual’s level of independence. The most common referrals for our OT services include:
Seating and pressure relief.
Positioning and the prevention of contractures.
Assisting activities of daily living (ADL’s) e.g. showering, eating, correct use of aids.
Recommendations for environmental changes to assist ADL’s.
Occupational Therapy Services Include:
½ Day inhouse Occupational Therapy Services for Nursing Homes: ½ day weekly (3-4hrs).
Extended inhouse Occupational Therapy Services for Nursing Homes: e.g. 2 ½ days p/week.
Private Inhouse Occupational Therapy sessions: Individual residents can book private appointments with our occupational therapists weekly.
Falls Risk Assessments.
*All of these services are carried out by Occupational Therapists, members of the A.O.T.I. (Assoc. of Occupational Therapists of Ireland).
Fit For Life have been delivering researched based group exercise therapy since 2001. Group exercise has been extensively researched and is highly recommended as an ideal form of physical activity especially for the older adult. Fit For Life’s experience and expertise has led to the development of successful exercise intervention for older adults at all levels of physical ability. We deliver progressive, innovative and fun group exercise classes for older adults ensuring that benefits are gained by all who participate in our programmes.
The benefits of physical activity include staying independent if possible. We all know the importance of independence and we work with people as this becomes more challenging. We ensure that individuals achieve their own potential, providing support with personal goals, and best practice interventions to achieve these goals.
A Fit For Life group exercise class will be:
Researched, designed and developed from years of experience and expertise.
Measured – individual assessments are made prior, during and post 12 weeks block of classes to measure progress.
Able to cater for specific populations and medical conditions and for participants of different levels of ability or fitness.
Fun, social, innovative and easily tailored to all participants.
Delivered by a certified Fit For Life trainer.
Group Exercise Therapy Services Include:
Groups adapted to all levels of capabilities: Nursing Home/Day-care Populations
Stand Strong Balance and Falls prevention classes: Community & Fit for Life Clinic
Physical and Cognitive Classes; Suitable for Alzheimer’s and related dementia.
To find out more click here or call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior management team about your bespoke requirements.
We have developed programmes that are suitable for varying levels of cognitive impairment. Our aims and goals improve physical function, reducing the risk of falls and improving mood and levels of agitation. We introduce equipment with our programmes that have very positive results with this population, creating socially engaging environments and positive stimulation.
We introduce programmes that combine endurance exercise, functional exercise and social games. What is important is that our therapists know the clients and provide meaningful activities that ensure a person-centered intervention. Thus, providing a specific session to the client’s needs and abilities.
Using this approach and having flexible programmes that can be adapted when required our therapists have the experience and know how to consistently deliver effective and engaging programmes.
Please click here or call us on 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers.
Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy is a healthcare profession which involves the treatment or management of pain, disability and impaired movement by means of massage, myofascial techniques, joints mobilizations and exercise therapy.
Our Physical Therapists are graduate level healthcare practitioners, who work to restore full normal movement and to reduce or eliminate pain resulting from injury, infirmity and from medical conditions.
*All of these services are carried out by Physical Therapists, members of the IAPT (Irish Assoc. of Physical Therapists).
Athletic Therapy
A Certified Athletic Therapist (CAT) is a graduate level (BSc, level 8 NFQ) healthcare practitioner specializing in musculoskeletal management, exercise-based rehabilitation and fitness. This therapist specializes in evidence-based assessment, treatment and advanced rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions.
Your Certified Athletic Therapist will complete a comprehensive assessment of your presenting condition and contributing factors. This may include physical tests for range of motion, strength and specific special tests of the involved body parts as appropriate.
Your CAT will then develop, implement, review and progress a treatment and rehabilitation plan with you. Your treatment plan may include manual therapies such as massage, myofascial/soft tissue release techniques, trigger point dry needling, joint mobilizations and/or electro or thermotherapies or taping techniques. And it will almost definitely include a home rehabilitation and exercise program which may focus on developing strength, range of motion, improving your balance and decreasing your falls risk!
*All of these services are carried out by Certified Athletic Therapists, members of A.R.T.I. (Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland) and BASRAT (British Assoc. of Sports Rehabilitators & Trainers).
Training courses: Manual handling & Exercise Instructor Courses
We can deliver a variety of training courses in-house with your team at your nursing home or daycare centre. Your team members can also join our courses at our Sandyford Clinic or at locations nationwide. We run new and refresher people handling and manual handling courses for clinical and non-clinical team members. And, we can discuss your specific in-house needs and tailor the course content to suit. Why not contact Mark on 01-2137915 or email info@fitforlife.ie to chat through your specific training needs!
Learn how to deliver effective and fun seated exercise classes for Older Adults!
This course will equip you with the knowledge, skills and confidence to run varied fitness classes for the older adults you work with!
Key course content:
Introduction to Fit For Life and course.
Benefits of physical activity & exercise guidelines.
Common medical conditions and guidelines for exercise.
Exercise classes set up & safety considerations.
Practical exercise delivery techniques – Warm-up and cold down exercises and stretching; batons, balls, seated endurance exercises and games/challenges.
Duration: 3-day course. Certified 18 CPD points.
Venue: Live online (from your workplace or home), In-house in your Nursing Home or at our Sandyford Clinic.
Cost: €350 per person (discounts for group bookings).
Results/Benefits:
You can deliver Fit For Life quality group exercise sessions.
Learn from experienced trainers who have expert knowledge on effective exercise delivery.
You have continued support from Fit For Life if your team need a refresher or upskill session on exercise delivery.
To book a course or find out more please click here!
Learn how to run effective and fun seated Strength exercise classes for Older Adults!
This fitness training course was developed for Nurses, Activity Co-Ordinators, Healthcare Assistants or Home Carers who have completed our ‘Exercise Instructor for the Older Adult Course’. This course enables you to progress your knowledge and skills base to provide seated strength training classes for the older adults you work with!
Key course content:
Introduction
Skeletal muscle, aging and resistance exercise
Session structure: warm up, cool down and stretching
Resistance band exercises – assessment, techniques and practice teaching
Other strength exercises – other types of equipment e.g. dumbbells
Exercise programming
Duration: 1-day course, 9.30am-5pm. Certified 7 CPD points.
Venue: In-house, at Sandyford Clinic, and locations nationwide.
Cost: €125 per person (discounts for group bookings).
Results/Benefits:
You can deliver Fit For Life quality strength training classes.
You can add more variety and physical challenge for the older adults participating in your exercise classes.
You learn from our experienced trainers who have expert knowledge on effective exercise delivery.
To find out more please click here or call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers about your training needs.
New to people manual handling? Learn best practice techniques with us!
This training is suitable for healthcare professionals, and carers who work in the home and community who have not undergone training previously.
Course Outline:
Course follows HSA & Fetac guidelines
Full day course including theory overview, quizzes, demonstration and practice (unsafe handling, best practice techniques, use of hoist and other handling aids), risk assessment, problem solving and case-study discussion.
Duration: 6 hours, Certified 6 CPD points.
Venue: In-house at your Nursing Home or Care Centre and at Sandyford Clinic.
Cost: € varies depending on location.
No. of Attendees: 8-10.
Results/Benefits:
Certificate of attendance.
Personalised courses - Our manual handling instructors will contact you before the course to discuss and assess your specific manual handling goals.
In-depth know-how - Fit For Life have been working alongside nurses and care assistants in residential care settings for over 15 years. We understand the challenges they face on a daily basis and that allows us to focus on the issues that are most important to them.
Reduction in the risk of injury for the patient/resident and the worker.
Testimonial:
"The Manual Handling Training was great because it gives me a lot of knowledge and ideas how to use the proper equipment and to move residents safely."
Healthcare Assistant Carechoice Montenotte.
To find out more click here or call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers about your training needs.
Renew and refresh your people manual handling skills with Fit For Life!
This course is ideal for those who have previously undergone a full day of manual handling training. There is more time to dedicate to practical applications in your workplace. Our goal is to identify what challenges you have and how you can change the risk assessment to allow you to continue with the manual handling tasks safely.
Course Outline:
Review and update staff on the correct manual handling techniques they should be using.
Practice transferring and repositioning residents from different situations using the full range of the equipment available in your home.
Duration: 4 hours, Certified 4 CPD points.
Venue: In-house at your Nursing Home or care centre.
Cost: € varies depending on location.
No. of Attendees: 8-10.
Results/Benefits:
Ensuring you are applying best practice manual handling techniques in all aspects of work.
Reduction in the risk of injury for the patient/resident and the worker.
Educating you to know your role in risk assessment and applying it in everyday tasks.
Testimonial:
Healthcare Assistant Carechoice Montenotte.
For more information please click here or call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers.
Advanced People Manual Handling Workshops
From our experience we have found that a specialised hoist workshop can be very beneficial to help support your team with knowing their role and responsibilities in hoist operation. This workshop is very practical and all attendees experience hoist use and operation. In the standard manual handling training you are not able to give all attendees this experience due to time constraints. We go through the roles of staff with hoist assessment, sling assessment and protocols of use, specific to your home.
Duration: 2 hours, Certified 2 CPD points.
Venue: The workshop can be completed in-house with current team members (max 10).
Outline:
This is a comprehensive review of hoists, including the operator’s risks and responsibilities when using equipment.
All attendees get to experience use and operation of equipment, providing a valuable practical based workshop that will help support care pathways.
Your team get a chance to practice the correct technique to positioning loads when using hoists.
Environmental risks are discussed.
Results/Benefits:
Your team get the chance to experience what it’s like to be in a hoist, understand the associated fears of use.
Knowledge on surface type factors to consider when using hoists.
Importance of planning the task before they start.
Your team get to review your equipment and sling selection thoroughly.
We provide advice on equipment that may be of benefit to certain resident profiles.
To find more information please click hereor call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers.
Healthcare workers manage bed care and there are lots of different techniques and methods that suit individuals. We work with the attendees, getting a review of what they are currently using and finding successful. We also show the group new techniques to help educate your team on different methods. The main learning point is that we do not use any lifting techniques due to high risk of injury to the client and to the healthcare worker.
Duration: 2 hours, Certified 2 CPD points.
Venue: The workshop can be completed in-house with current team members (max 10).
Outline:
This is a comprehensive review of bed handling scenarios that healthcare workers manage.
The risks of poor handling and repositioning are covered, including pressure care.
Different equipment is shown to educate your team on what is currently available.
Results/Benefits:
Your team are given a refresher on best practice bed repositioning techniques.
Your team will have more knowledge on methods, supporting them in decision making with different handling tasks.
To find out more please click here or call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers.
Challenges occur with chair repositioning when a chair doesn’t suit a certain client and when the environment makes it hard to reposition the client. We work with the attendees to establish what scenarios they find difficult. We are aware that resources are set and team members have to work with what is available. However, there are occasions when repositioning a client is not sufficient and specialist seating may be required. We will highlight how to recognise the indicators, when a seating referral may be appropriate and who to refer to.
Duration: 2 hours, Certified 2 CPD points.
Venue: This workshop can be completed in-house with current team members (max 10).
Outline:
This is a comprehensive review of chair repositioning using equipment.
The cause of profile changes in chairs is discussed and what indicators you identify to refer for a seating assessment.
Results/Benefits:
Your team are given skills to reposition safely and avoid injury.
Your team know the signs of seating assessment needs.
Your team understand the causes of profile changes in seating indicating the need for regular repositioning.
To find out more please click here or call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers.
With our consultant, your team get to discuss the common challenging manual handling tasks they experience. Manual handling relies on equipment that suits the needs of the individual. Our consultant will demonstrate a selection of tasks that the group commonly experience. This ccould be getting someone comfortable in the bed without rolling them to insert slide sheets. It could also be applying a hoist sling without requiring a roll technique.
Challenging handling is becoming more prevalent in healthcare and one area that our consultant can cover, is bariatric care. Your team will get a chance to practice and participate in the tasks; supporting their learning.
Duration: 3 hours, Certified 3 CPD points.
Venue: The workshop can be completed in-house in your Nursing Home or care centre with your current team members (max 10).
Outline: Common challenging handling tasks are demonstrated and practiced by the attendees. The causes of challenging handling are discussed.
Results/Benefits:
Your team are shown new techniques to support them in risk assessment of challenging manual handling tasks.
Your team get to see new equipment to support their knowledge on what is available for moving and handling.
To find out more please call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers.
Falls Prevention Training Courses
Over the years in Fit For Life we have found that all the members of a nursing home team are an equally vital cog in ensuring that residents live in a happy and safe environment. This is even more evident when it comes to the area of falls and falls prevention as often are the healthcare assistants and non-clinical staff that can be the ones to highlight the fact that a resident or an area in your home is not safe.
The comprehensive best practice guidelines workshops are designed for clinical and non-clinical team members. Your Falls Prevention and Management Policy would be referenced, along with any in-house interventions, to ensure each team member knows their role.
In the workshop all staff would get training in the prevalence of falls in long term care and what the main risks of falls are with the older adult.
We have found that with real experience, the attendees gain so much more from the workshop. We have equipment that attendees use and working with peers, they go about set tasks and then discuss their experiences in the group to help everyone take away valuable learning points.
Every team member is given training in their role as defined in your Falls Prevention Policy.
In this training we aim to get the attendees discussing common risk factors they are currently working with in their day to day role and what strategies they are using. We run through common scenarios where falls can occur and suggest best practice actions to help shape future falls prevention planning.
Outline:
To know the common risk factors that increase risk of falls.
To apply best practice interventions.
Understand the prevalence of falls in long term care.
Identify that every members of your team have a role in Falls Prevention.
Practical element to illustrate the age associated risks.
Results/Benefits:
Increase safety awareness in home to reduce number of falls.
Increased awareness of all of your team of common risk factors.
All members of your team have the confidence and knowledge base to be an active participant in your Falls prevention system.
To book a workshop or speak to one of our senior managers, please call 01-2137915.
This workshop covers your own working Falls Prevention Policy and with our up to date knowledge on falls prevention in long term care, we work together to review, make recommendations and develop a bespoke falls system for you and your team.
What is key is that your team know their role in falls prevention. Fit For Life have lots of experience in supporting teams and we have been fortunate to gain experience in leading research areas.
The type of screening tool you use is the starting point to risk assessment. We know that multifactorial risk assessment is fundamental to a successful Falls Prevention Policy. The research available now provides us with lots of best practice interventions to Falls Prevention programming.
The information collected post fall is vital to help you identify a cause or risk (modifiable or not) of an event. What we want to do is help you to see if your existing system needs to be updated, keeping you up to date with what the research is showing us is best practice.
The final stage of an effective Falls Prevention System is correct analysis of the data and the allocation and implementation of appropriate action goals for the appropriate members of your team. This stage is best carried out in MDT meetings and it is imperative that goals are set to achieve the most effective and realistic Falls Prevention System possible.
Outline:
Examine your Falls Policy to assess its scope, purpose and content.
Review current screening methods and application of best practice evidence.
Review current reporting systems (database), auditing and staff knowledge systems.
Analyse each fall and set appropriate actions.
Allocate these actions to the appropriate team member, with a realistic timeframe for completion.
Duration: 8 hours, or 2 x 4hours, Certified 8 CPD points.
Venue: The workshop can be completed in-house with current team members.
Results/Benefits
Increased safety awareness in home to reduce number of falls.
Improved reporting of falls and falls risk factors.
Improved referral of residents for falls prevention interventions.
Clarity for your team about their exact roles and responsibilities in your Falls prevention system.
In-depth know-how: Fit For Life have been working alongside nurses and care assistants in residential care settings for over 14 years. We understand the challenges they face on a daily basis which allows us to focus on the issues that are most important to them.
Please call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers about your training needs.
This workshop involves your team experiencing some of the main risks that present with age. We look at single indicated risks specific to older adults. The practical element is hugely valuable in helping your team to understand the challenges the older population face.
Knowing the association between poor vision, foot pain, reduced stability and increased risk of falls is a part of your Falls Prevention Policy. Giving your team support in knowledge will help with their overall growth as a valued team member.
We have found that with real experience, the attendees gain so much more from the workshop. We have equipment that attendees use and working with peers, they go about set tasks and then discuss their experiences in the group, to help everyone to take away valuable learning points. They relate the symptoms to real residents they are caring for and gain a greater knowledge on how that person finds tasks.
Outline:
Identify the common risk factors associated with falls.
Understand the symptoms associated with these risks.
Apply learning to practice with working with older adults and falls prevention.
Duration: 3 hours, Certified 3 CPD points.
Venue: The workshop can be completed in-house with current team members.
Results/Benefits:
Increase safety awareness in home to reduce number of falls.
Support team to increase their knowledge of common risk factors.
Early identification of risk assessment needs due to staff awareness.
Greater awareness of interventions in place for residents needs.
To find out more please call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers.
Risk Assessments, Audits & Reports
We have found that the best review happens when we spend time on site asking staff how they manage tasks, do they know their responsibilities and do they use the correct controls to carry out manual handling tasks safely. We ensure that everyone knows that the most important result is the safe practice of manual handling tasks, avoiding injury.
Audit outline:
To observe the clinical team completing manual handling tasks during morning care, dayroom activities and dining room manual handling tasks.
For your non-clinical team (kitchen, laundry, housekeeping, maintenance and admin) we observe work areas, review systems and look at existing policies.
Duration: This wil vary depending on the pre-agreed scope, size of home, number of staff etc. It will range from a half to a full day.
Results/Benefits:
We provide a detailed report on our observations.
We provide personalised recommendations on systems, training and related equipment needs.
We source best prices on recommended equipment.
To find out more please call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers.
Our Occupational Therapy department has been working with purpose-built homes and building adaptation projects to help in creating the best working environment. This has involved Fit For Life visiting sites, reviewing room design for fittings and furniture and equipment requirements.
Assessment outline:
Seating review, including product ordering and pricing.
Bedroom layout and design.
Bathroom fittings and design.
Dayroom layout and chair specifications.
Dining room layout and furniture specifications.
Additional equipment that allow staff to assist residents to lead independent lives when possible.
Duration: Determined by size of site.
Results/Benefits:
Ensure that buildings will be in line with best practice regulations.
Reduce the risk of falling from environmental factors.
Efficient use of the building to promote independence for your residents.
Reduce the rate of staff injury due to correct ergonomics in place for healthcare and non-healthcare staff.
Safeguarding against any additional refit costs due to incorrectly placed furniture and fittings.
To find out more please call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers.
This involves a review of your current Falls Prevention policy, with the Director of Nursing and/or CNM. We review your falls report to establish if any necessary information is missing. During this process we make recommendations and the decisions made are implemented into an updated policy.
This report is then followed up in your post fall protocol, so that team members’ roles are detailed within the policy. Recommendations on new screening methods, reporting systems and policy details are provided in a report.
Audit outline: It involves a meeting to go through your policy focusing on its contents covering the following:
Purpose
Definitions
Responsibilities
Assessment protocol
Falls protocol
Action plan protocol
Duration: 3 hours
Results/Benefits:
Revision of best practice Falls Prevention and Management.
Improved knowledge on Falls Screening and Risk assessment in long term care.
Policy review and recommendations.
To find out more please call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers.
If you find it hard to create monthly reports on falls data, we can create monthly reports from your falls database for you. We create them online and send a detailed report back to you, with the selected variables in an easy to follow graph layout. This system quickly highlights variables such as the most common time of day when falls occur, or the most common location where falls occur. We will create whatever variable you wish to illustrate, and this is then used to educate your team in your monthly meetings.
Outline: We take away the task of falls report production to give you more time to apply action plans and manage monthly meetings. Reviewing your action plans is key to a successful Falls Prevention System. You need to know whether actions were completed on time, achieved and if they were effective. Your monthly reports will give you information to discuss at your multidisciplinary (MDT) meetings.
Duration: Monthly reports sent to you using the falls data that is provided.
Results/Benefits:
Provided with reports ready to review at monthly meetings.
Visual graphs to help educate the team on common risk factors.
Empower the team to understand their role in Falls Prevention.
Action plan reviews to help measure success of interventions prescribed.
Individual Falls Risk Assessment.
To find out more please call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers.
We support clients, nurses, home carers and families with assessments to help identify risk factors that increase a person’s risk of falls. Our therapists organise an appointment which involves a comprehensive review of the client, including a falls history, physical functional ability, medications and possible psychological risk factors (Fear of Falling).
With knowledge that falls are one of the leading causes of injury to an older adult and subsequent reduced quality of life, we aim to provide best practice interventions to reduce the risk of falls.
Post assessment an accurate, informative and educational handover to allied healthcare professionals and carers is essential to maximise the effectiveness of the action plans indicated.
Outline: This assessment can take up to 2 hours. The individual determines the length of time required to carry out a comprehensive, multifactorial assessment.
Duration: Starts at 1 hour and to max 3 hours.
Results/Benefits:
Multifactorial assessment following best practice guidelines (NICE).
Comprehensive report and handover compiled outlining appropriate interventions and actions plans identified.
Specific falls prevention education given to staff/carer.
Maximising the likelihood of a reduction in falls.
To find out more please call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers.
Fit For Life have carried out numerous successful projects aimed at dramatically reducing falls in long term care facilities and Nursing Homes and implementing a system that ensures falls are kept to an absolute minimum. In one 12-week intervention study, we instigated a 64% reduction in falls.
Using this experience, we have developed an effective and cost efficient model to ensure that once we start the intervention there are immediate and long lasting results.
This service involves our team of experts coming and assessing your population. Each person receives an action plan, with team members allocated specific responsibilities. We recommend 12-week intervention periods to carry out an audit to measure how successful the Falls Prevention plan was.
Outline: We carry out falls risk assessments on the preselected individuals. A report is produced and an outline of the main actions and person responsible is delivered. This is integrated into your monthly meetings to keep accurate information on completed targets.
Duration: The assessment period depends on the numbers. On average 2 hours per person.
Results/Benefits:
A comprehensive multifactorial assessment and intervention plan.
Informed team on current profile of assessment population.
Tools to self-audit on completion of applied actions and effectiveness of interventions in falls prevention.
To find out more please call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers.
Our senior patient handling experts provide support for complex people manual handling cases. They have expertise in bariatric profiles in particular for bed handling and repositioning. There is a larger number of complex handling cases being observed by our experts in relation to bariatric and dementia care.
Outline: One of our senior experts comes and assesses the complex task you have referred.
Duration: Approx 2 hours.
Results/Benefits:
Consultant expert support and advice on complex handling tasks.
Ensures that no residents or member of your team are at risk of injury.
To find out more please call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers.
Buildings and Equipment
Over the past 14 years we have witnessed the changing face of nursing homes and long-term care facilities with many new homes being built. Almost all other homes have had to extend and/or renovate to continue to operate within HIQA standards. We have witnessed successful projects in accommodating and improving the needs of their residents and staff but also some that have been ill-advised and requiring expensive post build alterations. Due to this onsite practical experience and the widening base of our expertise we have been providing proprietors of new builds or extensions expert advice at all stages of planning.
This expertise covers an initial comprehensive Occupational Therapy (OT) environmental assessment to ensure that all aspects of the building configure to standard regulations. In addition, multidisciplinary (MDT) based expertise is provided on the design of all the types of rooms (bedrooms, bathrooms) ensuring the correct layout and positioning of assistive devices (handrails) to promote safety and independence.
Particular attention is paid to seating to ensure that there is appropriate variation and suitability for all dependency levels and areas. The selection of the appropriate seating for sitting rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms at this stage can greatly enhance individual’s functional ability, reduce the need for specialised seating and reduce the risk of falls.
Expert advice can also be given to ensure that the new build is a dementia friendly environment including appropriate areas for activities to encourage independence. Set up of treatment rooms and sourcing therapeutic equipment is also a service that we can provide. Further recommendations can be provided upon review of fixtures and fittings and the structure and layout of the kitchen, laundry rooms, treatment rooms and activity rooms. In order to ensure that your new build works as seamlessly as possible for everyone we also recommend that ergonomic assessments of all staff activities are carried out.
New build assessment outline:
Comprehensive OT environmental assessment, report and recommendations.
MDT recommendations on appropriate furniture and fittings.
Specifications for safe environment for all while promoting independence.
Ergonomic manual handling assessments for all staff activities.
Duration: Depends on the size of the build and the level of input required.
Results/Benefits:
Avoid costly structural adaptations post build completion and furnishing.
To ensure appropriate furniture is purchased for long term use and suitability for all resident dependency and body shapes and sizes while maintaining aesthetic look.
Avoiding the purchase of expensive specialised chairs for more dependent residents due to poor initial variety in selection of chairs.
Reduce the risk of falling from environmental factors.
Ensure that buildings will be in line with best practice regulations.
Efficient use of the building to promote independence for residents.
Reduce the rate of staff injury due to correct ergonomics in place for healthcare and nonhealthcare staff.
Marketing tool to educate potential clients in relation to the best practice efforts to maximise all resident’s independence.
To find out more please call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers.
One area that is a source of great expense and importance to Nursing Home owners is the sourcing and prescription of beds and mattresses. Our team have been trained to the highest standard in order to advise you on the correct bed and mattress types appropriate for the diverse and complex nature of long term residents.
In relation to beds it is imperative to have the correct types of beds not only for your residents but in order for your staff to be able to perform manual handling as easily and safely as possible. It is important that you have a bed that can operate at the appropriate height for carer intervention and/or residents transfers.
This principle carries through with mattresses whereby prescribing the correct mattress is imperative to those residents with previous pressure area breakdowns. In addition, the type of mattress prescribed for a resident can determine the ease or lack of ease of positioning and repositioning in the bed.
Outline: We can provide you with expert advice in these areas so that you are buying high quality beds and mattresses appropriate to cater for all individuals regardless of their size, medical conditions or dependency levels.
Results/Benefits:
Unbiased expert opinion on appropriate beds/mattresses to purchase ensuring no additional costs down the line.
Alleviate the possibility of any injury or entrapment for residents.
Reducing the possibility of pressure sores (in conjunction with best practice manual handling).
Reduction in patient handling time.
Reduction in work related injuries for your staff.
To find out more please call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers.
Our manual handling experts are constantly upskilling with new best practice manual handling techniques using the most effective equipment available to ensure that any form of ‘lifting’ is a thing of the past.
Outline: We provide reports and recommendations and sourcing on equipment such as:
Hoists & Standing Aids
Slings
Sliding sheets inclusive of decisions on bed systems such as: Single sheets, Tubular sheets, In bed sheet systems
Handling belts
Repositioning aids – Bed and Chair
Pressure cushions
Results/Benefits:
Unbiased expert opinion on appropriate equipment required.
Training can be provided to maximise the efficiency in the use of equipment.
Reduction in staffing levels for manual handling.
Reduction in work related injuries due to the availability and ease of use of appropriate equipment.
To find out more please call 01-2137915 to speak to one of our senior managers.
OUR CLIENTS
‘We have found Fit For Life a great service which we have used for many years. Our residents benefit from both weekly class and individual physiotherapy service which they provide. We at Kinvara House would be very happy to recommend Fit For Life’.
Kinvara House Nursing Home, Bray
'Fit for Life makes a tremendous contribution to the physiological and occupation health of our residents. The program provides a comprehensive repertoire of interventions meeting the physical needs of residents with ongoing assessments, exercises programs, individual and group mobilisation activities. All of which is provided by a professional team who continually engage residents with clear goals & motivational programs that build on the strengths and abilities of residents which enhances their well being each day'.
'This course is brilliant, very useful for all activity coordinators or healthcare professionals about how important exercise is for residents and how to engage them in fun exercises’.
Exercise Instructor for the Older Adult
Course attendee.
Bridie McGroary Fletcher
Director of Services
St. Monica’s Nursing Home Ltd., Dublin