Today I want to share with you the story of Katy Gartside and her family. They came up against an issue that we see all too often. Katy's mother Patricia lived in a care home in Bedford, UK and was sitting in a seat that was not suited to her needs.*
"Mum is very small and the chair she was sitting in was much too big, her feet were dangling off the chair and her back wasn't supported. She is not able to communicate because of advanced Alzheimer's disease, but you could tell she was uncomfortable from the expressions on her face. She was clinging onto the chair for dear life; she wasn't going to fall from the chair but that was what it felt like for her."
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Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. The word dementia describes a set of symptoms that can include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language.
From hearing Katy's story, it was clear that she and her family knew something needed to change to get their mother sitting more comfortably. "We don't spend hours and hours sitting in one place and also we can express our feelings if we need to make ourselves more comfortable; my mother can't. At mum's stage in life, there is little we can do for her other than make her comfortable and that is something we can do with her chair. She looks fantastic now, she is happy and anytime anyone is visiting her, they say she is smiling."
Our Seating Specialist Conor Lynch is based locally in Bedford and he carried out a Seating Assessment to take accurate measurements and advise what chair would be most suited to Patricia's sitting and postural needs. The family wanted to proceed with purchasing and the chair was ordered as a "fast track" service so Patricia had her chair within one week. Patricia is now supported and comfortable in her Atlanta chair.
"Conor was extremely helpful, he was very good with my mother. He provided lots of explanations and it was a very positive experience with Seating Matters."
We are so glad to hear that we were able to help Patricia and see her looking so happy and comfortable. If you have a patient or loved one who would benefit from a complimentary Seating Assessment, contact us today.
