Washing up aid

Anniebeau

hello,

I was just wondering if anyone could recommend a perching stool to help aid with washing up please? Thank you

Ostia

There are specialist websites for this sort of thing, and don't forget to ask for VAT off if you are on a disability benefit!

Best wishes, A

Anniebeau

Thank you that’s so kind! I knew non of this! X

Rosie_Scope

Hi @Anniebeau, there are quite a few different options so it may be worth having a look on the net as what will work for you can be quite personal. I hope some of our members might have some recommendations too.

If you feel you could do with some extra aids around the house you could also ask your GP for an Occupational Therapy assessment. Sometimes they can help find you some solutions if you could do with some extra help doing certain tasks at home.

Another option might be a social needs assessment: https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/getting-a-social-care-assessment

Hope you can find something suitable soon ☺️

Anniebeau

thank you that’s very kind of you. Appreciate your help.

GalDriver

Here's a few different ones. https://www.essentialaids.com/kitchen-aids-feeding-aids/perching-stools.html

Anthony1234

I'm in the same predicament. Do pip underscore you if you just use aids around the home.And what does the OT assess?? As i have spinal nerve issues and cant get out of the bath without a handle or stool well actually i stopped having baths cause it took me 25 minutes to get out..I'm also looking for a cleaner but don't want to go through social care to get it. Is their anyone i can use without havinng to pay.? Im actually dreading my pip review which is due next June. I'm really panicking. Does anyone know any many pages also when do they send it? I'm.also looking for an pip advocate cause mind only advocate for a short time.

I appreciate on any feedback.

figraspberry41

Hi Anthony 1234,

I cannot answer the first part of your question (I'm fairly new to this sort of help too!) However, as a retired Healthcare Professional, I can give you an idea of the role of an Occupational Therapist. (I've always thought of this as an unusual name but that's by the by!) An O.T. (Occupational Therapist) will come to your home and watch how you manage tasks within your home environment they are there to assess how your disability impacts on your daily living and see what they can prescribe for you to make life easier for you, such as perhaps realising that you are not 'safe' getting in and out of the bath, so may suggest a shower instead and would apply for this to be adapted or fitted into your home. There may be restrictions on this dependant on if you rent your property or if there are any 'hoops' to go through before putting in an application for alterations to be done. However, they may also suggest hand rails or a bath 'lift' which may be suitable for your needs. They will assess you for handrails around the home, for instance if there are steps leading into your property or stair handrail. They will assess how you navigate in the kitchen and like the previous person has mentioned a perching stool for kitchen (also if appropriate one for the bathroom as well), they will watch how you walk (if you are able to) and see if an aid (like sticks or crutches )might be suitable for you. They can advise on implements such easy grip cutlery or non slip plate mats. Basically, they can observe how you currently manage tasks and will advise accordingly (and possibly prescribe) suitable aids that will help you manage better for yourself. There are several places to look and see what is available and might suit you. I have found a gadget that at one end you can use to do buttons up with and the other has a hook for doing zips up and down. An O.T. might decide that these gadgets (or some of them would not meet your current needs) or they may suggest purchasing small items yourself rather than wait for an assessment to be processed. Obviously, I do not know your individual, personal needs are but an assessment may also highlight things that you manage yourself but with prescribed 'gadgets', hand rails etc…. would be of benefit to you. Hope this helps a bit anyway. Good luck.

At this moment in time, whilst I 'struggle with many things, at present I'm not sure an O.T. assessment would be 'helpful' but there will be a time when I will require assistance and will probably require an O.T. Assessment. I can with effort and often with pain and discomfort manage myself, although I'm unable to do gardening and am looking for someone that is not going to charge an exorbitant amount of money to pay for light garden work such as sweeping the leaves, weeding the little patch that currently has more weeds than grass!

MCMikey

Hi

Anniebeau - note that many perching stools are quite big. I've a very small cube shaped kitchen, and it took up a lot of space. Difficult having to get around it and with back problems I found it awkward and heavy to move about. Also, the seat was flat and and that aggravated my back; I needed something slightly tilted towards the sink/cooker (maybe there's other ones that do this). In the end I got a single stick with a rubber tip (like on a walking stick) with a fold out seat bit (the type usually used for gamekeepers grouse shooting) and I can sit on this with the stick at a slight angle towards the sink/cooker and find this more comfy and also very light to move about (with the seat bit folded up you can actually use it as a walking stick). A very big caveat, if you have poor balance or a slipery floor I realise this could be a potential disaster.

Anthony1234 - often any aids you use around the house can be used when claiming for PIP and some will help get you points as they demonstrate what you need to function. So, for example if you need a long handled brush in the bath/shower to clean your lower legs/feet this demonstrates that you are unable to bend to touch your toes or cut your toenails (this is in my experience and what I've read.

A friend had a PIP review recently (approx 3 months ago), it was a relatively short form which basically asked had the condition changed better/worse/same. It had stayed the same and PIP was renewed for another year. The previous PIP was for 3 years, so this suggests to me they're getting ready to investigate more in the future and be more intrusive.