THERAPY DEPARTMENT SUPPORT
In terms of providing consumables to support Zithulele Hospital, we continue to try and get the balance right between supporting but not alleviating the Department of Health from their responsibility to provide resources and services. However, when procuring things through official channels proves impossible or poses a risk to getting the “job done” or the sanity of the clinical team, small interventions from our side can make a significant difference.
The Therapy Department is one place where outside assistance remains imperative for them to be able to support patients usefully and thoroughly. Many of the patients with whom they work have physical impairments that compromise their functioning. Assistive devices facilitate and promote independence and meaningful participation in their everyday lives. Ideally, these devices would be bought from companies who specialise in making this kind of equipment but due to a lack of funding through government Health Department channels, these devices are usually made by the therapist themselves, often using recycled or scrap materials in order to make them cost effectively and at no cost to the patients.
These kinds of devices include: long handled sponges to assist patients who have lost the function of one side of their body (as a result of a stroke, for example) to wash themselves; universal cuffs to assists patients who have limited hand function to hold their spoons, pens and toothbrushes; anti-spill plates to assist patients who have lost the function of one side of their body to control their food on their plate and eat with one hand; built-up grip to assist patients who have difficulty forming and maintaining a small cylindrical grasp to hold their cooking and writing utensils; button hooks to assist patients who have lost the function of one side of their body to button their shirts; and tap turners to assist patients with arthritis or other conditions that prevent wrist movement to open their taps. These devices help with major and minor daily tasks, however no matter how big or small the task is, the difference it makes to a person’s life is enormous.
Hope Therapy is one aspect of rehabilitation that encourages people who end up admitted to hospital long term, to become more active doing activities that inspire hope in them. These include pampering women who have seemingly given up hope, or providing occupational activities to stimulate their intellect. These small engagements with patients make an incredible difference. Items that cannot be procured through the Department of Health are also imperative for this aspect of work.
Click here to see the list of items that would make a big difference to the work of the therapy department. If you are able to assist with donations and we’re able to get them to Zithulele, we’d love you to contact us.
The Therapy Department is one place where outside assistance remains imperative for them to be able to support patients usefully and thoroughly. Many of the patients with whom they work have physical impairments that compromise their functioning. Assistive devices facilitate and promote independence and meaningful participation in their everyday lives. Ideally, these devices would be bought from companies who specialise in making this kind of equipment but due to a lack of funding through government Health Department channels, these devices are usually made by the therapist themselves, often using recycled or scrap materials in order to make them cost effectively and at no cost to the patients.
These kinds of devices include: long handled sponges to assist patients who have lost the function of one side of their body (as a result of a stroke, for example) to wash themselves; universal cuffs to assists patients who have limited hand function to hold their spoons, pens and toothbrushes; anti-spill plates to assist patients who have lost the function of one side of their body to control their food on their plate and eat with one hand; built-up grip to assist patients who have difficulty forming and maintaining a small cylindrical grasp to hold their cooking and writing utensils; button hooks to assist patients who have lost the function of one side of their body to button their shirts; and tap turners to assist patients with arthritis or other conditions that prevent wrist movement to open their taps. These devices help with major and minor daily tasks, however no matter how big or small the task is, the difference it makes to a person’s life is enormous.
Hope Therapy is one aspect of rehabilitation that encourages people who end up admitted to hospital long term, to become more active doing activities that inspire hope in them. These include pampering women who have seemingly given up hope, or providing occupational activities to stimulate their intellect. These small engagements with patients make an incredible difference. Items that cannot be procured through the Department of Health are also imperative for this aspect of work.
Click here to see the list of items that would make a big difference to the work of the therapy department. If you are able to assist with donations and we’re able to get them to Zithulele, we’d love you to contact us.
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