The Derby City Chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association Network- Serving Kentuckiana.
Message From the President
Dear Members & Friends-
Last month's picnic was apparently fun for all, and therefore a great success. I would like to thank all of those who contributed their time and effort toward its success.
October `s meeting will take place at Frazier Institute. We do not have a speaker scheduled yet, but hope to. In the event a speaker cannot be scheduled. We show a video. Refreshments will be provided.
November's meeting will be held at Frazier Institute, 220 Abraham Flexnor Way, Louisville, in the 10th floor dining room at 6:30 p.m.
- David Allgood
Tips gleaned from several Internet sites –ed.
MAKING LIFE EASIER TIPS
If bending or reaching is difficult, hang a plastic bag with handles on the outside door handle. Have your newspaper carrier place your paper in the bag so you won't have to bend down to retrieve the paper.
To sweep the floor from a wheelchair, use a child's toy broom.
To make playing board games easier, purchase a Lazy Susan and place the game board on top of it.
Use a child's old plastic sled for transporting garden plants and tools.
Use barbecue tongs for pulling weeds.
Kill weeds in sidewalk cracks and pavement stones by pouring vinegar into a spray bottle and spraying several times.
Place Velcro strips on picnic table and table cloth to prevent table cloth from flying away.
The following is from Paraplegia News, February 2006
PN LIVING WELL: CREATING SPA ENVIRONMENTS
Taking a refreshing shower or soothing bath is an activity many of us look forward to. It is an opportunity to relax the body and renew the spirit. But for people who can no longer bathe on their own, it can be a dreaded chore. The simple act of taking a bath, which they have done by themselves since childhood, can only be accomplished with help.
"Bathing is a very intimate activity, making the shared responsibility difficult for the caregiver and care receiver," says Andrea Tannenbaum, president of Dynamic-Living.com, an online store. "To the care receiver it can feel like an invasion of privacy and loss of independence, leading to emotional battles around bath time. To the caregiver, the physical maneuvering and potential safety hazards make the challenge even greater."
So how does a caregiver maintain the bather's dignity and safety while still making the bath a pleasant experience? Dynamic Living staff looked at what professionals do at spas, where guests pay hundreds of dollars to be pampered, cared for, and bathed.
The spa staff prepare by arranging a soothing Environment:
All the bathing essentials—soap, shampoo, washcloths, towels, bathrobes and slippers—are arranged within reach of the staff.
The lights are soft. Sometimes candles are placed around the room
