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Recommended Monthly Product
It is not in the purview of The National Resource Center
for Supportive Housing and Home Modifications to endorse any
particular product. We do, however, make available to visitors
to our web site the opinion of several individuals who we
feel demonstrate an expertise in the area of home modification
and are willing to share their knowledge with us.
HealthCraft Products
Many of our clients have difficulty executing the sit-to-stand
function-rising from a seated position at the bed, from a
chair, or other sitting surfaces. Modular support systems
are designed for those requiring assistance when standing.
Transferring, and moving into or out of the bed. At Extended
Home Living Services, our preference is the SuperPole system
as manufactured and distributed by HealthCraft Products, Inc.
Central to the system is a vertical pole that runs from floor
to ceiling. It is installed by using a jackscrew expansion
at the bottom of the pole, and that expansion jackscrew provides
for a broad range of fit. The base of the pole sets in a rubber-backed
pad on the floor, and the top of the pole has a 16"long rubber-backed
bar that fits against a ceiling surface. Tightening the jackscrew
at the bottom increases the tension between the floor and
the ceiling, and when properly installed the SuperPole will
support a weight of 250 pounds. Obviously, the SuperPole system
should only be installed between floors and ceilings of solid
construction, or injury may result. It should not be installed
on loose floor coverings, in rooms with radiant ceiling heating,
in mobile homes, or in rooms with suspended or angled ceilings.
The standard unit is adjustable for use in a room with a ceiling
height between 93" and 99". Custom height units are available,
with a maximum height of 140". The SuperPole system is available
with several accessory items including the SuperBar (a horizontal
16" long padded bar which fits over the pole, rotates and
locks in eight positions), a trapeze (which we do not necessarily
recommend), and a bed tray. The ease with which a person goes
from a seated to a standing position depends on functional
and external factors. The individual functional factors -
the client's strength, balance, endurance, etc.-are out of
our control, but they must be taken into account. The external
factors, most notably the height of the sitting surface, the
firmness of that surface, and the presence or absence of stable
support that the client can use to push the body up by hand
while maintaining balance are items that an appropriate home
modification can address. A person can most easily go from
a seated to a standing position if his or her arms are alongside
the body, and the hands can grasp or push against a solid
member so that the body can be raised while maintaining balance.
Unfortunately, most clients would rather reach out in front
of them and pull themselves up rather than push from alongside
the body. This act of reaching forward and pulling up can
not only cause them to lose balance, but it can also cause
damage t weakened shoulder muscles.
For those reasons, a modular support system like the SuperPole
should be used judiciously. Ideally, a client using a SuperPole
for assistance in and out of bed should use one hand on the
mattress surface to push up, while the other hand uses the
SuperPole more for support than for pulling. Balance can be
maintained more properly in this fashion. While the SuperPole
can be very helpful, it is wise to work with a client's occupational
therapist in the selection and placement of this type of assistive
device. Elevating the height of the bed by providing blocks
underneath the legs of the frame is often very helpful in
facilitating the sit-to-stand function. When the bed is particularly
soft, there is often benefit in supplying a sheet of plywood
or other stiff material between the mattress and the box spring
of the bed to provide additional stability there. The installation
of a SuperPole is not quite as simple as the manufacturer's
brochure suggests. We have found installation time to be approximately
one hour, and the unit is best installed by someone with basic
construction knowledge. The list price of the SuperPole in
a standard length is $139, and the list price of the SuperPole
with the SuperBar is $199. The list prices do not include
applicable sales taxes, shipping, or installation. HealthCraft
Products, Inc., the manufacturer, can be reached at (613)
744-3001, or at www.healthcraftproducts.com,
and by email - info@healthcraftproducts.com
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