Independent Living News 15.11.23


The Independent Living newsletter, 15th November 2023	View in browser

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Welcome to this week's Independent Living newsletter.

15.11.23 Contents:

• Why the slow progress on medicines?

• Stop Pressure Ulcers

• Disability Power 100

• The Clive Deane WashPod

• Self Care Week

• Getting legs into bed

Dr Pandora Pound, Fellow of Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics

1. Why the slow progress on medicines?

If we are unfortunate enough to suffer a broken arm or a nasty cut, these things can be easily fixed. But when it comes to strokes, dementia, most cancers, brain injuries, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, Crohn’s disease — the list goes on — we have little to offer sufferers.

After decades and decades of research, why has there been so little progress in medicine? Why has it been so unproductive?

Dr Pandora Pound (pictured here) suggests a reason

2. Stop Pressure Ulcers

This year's Stop Pressure Ulcers awareness day highlights, among other things, the benefits of machine learning in predicting which patients are likely to develop pressure injuries.

A number of algorithms have been developed, and a meta analysis has taken on the task of assessing which of the various approaches provides the best results. This is another example of a healthcare situation where AI does better than human beings: something to take comfort from, when our focus tends to be on the potential harms...

You can read about the study in the US National Library of Medicine (external link will open in a new browser tab or window)

Dr Shani Dhanda, winner of disability power 100

3. Disability Power 100

The most influential people in the UK have been announced this year in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100. The list, topped by well-known campaigner and businesswoman, Dr Shani Dhanda, a regular on Loose Women and Rip Off Britain, features people from across ten sectors who are changing perception and working to break the stigma around disability to create a more accessible and inclusive world for all.

This year, alongside the 100 individuals named there are organisations recognised for their work and innovative campaigns.

Find out more here

4. The Clive Deane WashPod

Dignity Access has recently installed an Internal Compact WashPod disabled wetroom free of charge for the first beneficiary of the charitable venture, The Clive Deane WashPod, which was donated by Jay Deane in her husband’s memory to continue helping those with Motor Neurone Disease.

Berj Topalian has been desperate to find suitable washing facilities for his wife, Susan who has MND and cannot access the bathroom upstairs.

More details here

5. Self Care Week

Each year National Self Care Week grows as communities across the UK realise it is a perfect time to share the self-care message.

It's a time when hundreds of organisations come together with one powerful message. And the annual Self Care Innovation Awards recognise successful projects which have been particularly innovative and creative in their approach to delivering self-care support.

Find out more here

OT Shaun Masters demonstrating benefits of Theraposture range at the OT show in 2022

6. Getting legs into bed

At next week's OT Show at the NEC in Birmingham, OT Shaun Masters will be exploring the latest solutions to help with safe and independent transfers into, out of, and away from a bed.

From a clinical point of view, he will demonstrate why a Theracare Leg Lifter and the Theraposture Rotating Bed range can improve occupational performance in a variety of client scenarios. There will be a groundbreaking new addition to the range launched, as well...

More details here

Don't forget that you can apply to join the Independent Living Facebook group, if you would like to spend more time discussing these themes with other interested people.

There are various ways you can get in touch with us: email me; visit our Facebook page and leave a message there; or if it's short and sweet, Tweet!

Previous newsletters are archived here.

If you are reading a copy of the Independent Living newsletter that has been passed on to you by a colleague or friend, why not sign up for your own free subscription – it's quick and easy, and won't lead to your inbox being bombarded with other stuff.

That's it until next week!

Thank you for reading and best wishes,

Frances

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Frances Leckie

Editor

e: editor@independentliving.co.uk
t: +44 (0) 208 133 0628
Skype: francesleckie
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