Life after injury
Independence, returning to work, housing, travel and a life worth living.
Being diagnosed with dysphagia (also referred to as swallowing difficulties) can be an overwhelming feeling. From diagnosis to understanding which foods are safe to eat, here Wiltshire Farm Foods shares tips and advice on living with the condition.
Being Diagnosed with Dysphagia Once you are diagnosed with dysphagia, your Speech and Language Therapist may recommend that you amend your diet. This will involve modifying the textures of the food you consume, making it easier and safer for you to swallow.
Patient stories25 JanA woman left with a traumatic brain injury after a hit-and-run is now using her experiences to support and inspire others.
Emily Bradfield was left seriously injured after a car careered into her as she was walking to a London station one July evening in 2018. While thankfully she won her fight for survival, Emily faced a long road to recovery having suffered a brain injury, broken right arm, and heme-paresis on her whole left side. There also were fears about whether she would walk again.
Wiltshire Farm Foods has announced its first-ever range of Christmas meals, introducing a variety of festive favourites to its Softer Foods Collection that have been specially created for those living with swallowing difficulties.
The range includes an energy dense Puréed Turkey with Red Cabbage, Sage and Cranberry Stuffing and Duchess Potatoes, with over 500 Kcal and 20g protein; Puréed Honey Glazed Pork with Apple Sauce, Green Beans and Sauté Potatoes (a meal which is both energy dense and gluten free) and a Puréed Festive Pudding with Vanilla Sauce; packed with balanced notes of festive spices, which is also gluten free.
Tech & industry25 NovMOJO (Moments of Joy) is a new dementia portal and app connecting everybody involved in the care of a loved one.
The MOJO platform aims to share the load, reduce stress and uncover more crucial opportunities for moments of joy. MOJO launched the #MomentsOfJoy movement last week, which aims to raise awareness of people affected by dementia, both directly and indirectly. Dementia is the biggest cause of death in the UK today, with over 850,000 currently diagnosed cases. Unlike many other illnesses however, it is the wider family who often bear the burden of primary care, and there has been very little support available for them during this incredibly challenging journey. MOJO aims to change this with a combination of accessible technical innovation, helpful online resources and real-time support workshops.
Legal19 NovIn conjunction with Mental Health Day 2020, Irwin Mitchell organised a webinar offering valuable insights into maintaining good mental health for those affected by Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).
The speakers were a mixture of professionals and people living with a SCI. Dr Parashar Ramanuj, Consultant Psychiatrist gave an in depth clinical insight as to what a person who has recently sustained an SCI may be dealing with and what ‘coping’ really means Sophie Lester, a case manager and spinal occupational therapist provided some really helpful guidance on how to maintain good mental health alongside rehabilitation and sustaining a healthy balance.
Life after injury26 OctSerious injury solicitor Alice Hall shares an insight from Lou, founder of Northamptonshire Chronic Pain Support.
Within my role as a serious injury solicitor, I often support clients who experience chronic pain after trauma and I have seen the devastating effect that can have on the life of a sufferer. I have also seen the importance of early and specialist professional input, and that, without this, the significant risk that people’s physical and mental health can quickly spiral downwards. But, what does it actually mean to live with chronic pain and what support is there available to sufferers? I spoke with Lou, the founder of Northamptonshire Chronic Pain Support (NCPS) and someone living with chronic pain.
Tech & industry28 FebEvery person has the right to lead an active, fulfilling, independent life; but the complex array of disabilities that affect one’s grip can severely challenge this right. Active Hands founder Rob Smith certainly discovered this to be the case, after a cliff fall left him partially paralysed in all four limbs. Frustrated at his inability to grip the various gym apparatus and weights, he set about creating a glove that could fasten his hands to whatever was needed; and so the General Purpose Gripping Aid was born! Fast forward to present day and The Active Hands Company now carefully designs and stocks a wide range of high-quality gripping aids that cater to anyone with reduced hand function and are perfect for use in rehabilitation, sporting and gym activities, home and hobbies, and so much more.
Life after injury7 OctChris was born with spinal muscular atrophy. Over the years, the Gordon family has had various wheelchair accessible vehicles to enable them to go out as a family but as more and more of his friends passed their driving tests Chris wanted to do the same so started to look at drive-from vehicles. “When you are younger, you don’t mind relying on friends and family to give you lifts but just because I am in a powerchair doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have the same independence as everyone else,” explained Chris.
Therapy7 OctPrivate clinic the London Orthotic Consultancy (LOC), founded in 2004, provides bespoke orthotic treatments for a wide range of adult and paediatric conditions. It operates privately across the whole of the UK and abroad and also has a growing number of international clients. Director Sam Walmsley explains: “We deal with complex physical problems and generally manufacture bespoke orthotics to address them. We have a unique setup for the UK in that we have 2D video vector gait labs and we do all our manufacturing on site.’’
Opinion13 Aug“I had one dreadful experience when I came back into Heathrow Terminal 4 and my wheelchair was not brought up to the door,” recalls Anne Luttman-Johnson. “I refused to get off the plane until I knew that my wheelchair had arrived, and was in one piece. “They brought me a wheelchair that I couldn't push myself in. It had little wheels and I had to be pushed through the airport. It was the most undignified, humiliating experience. I hated it.” Anne has used a wheelchair for more than 30 years, having broken her back at age 21.
