Wheelchair to promote independent living for cerebral palsy sufferers
Caring for people with cerebral palsy puts a lot of physical and emotional strain on family members, nurses and home workers. Such carers are also more prone to work-related accidents. These costs continue to add up in an already overburdened healthcare disability system. With this in mind, the EU-funded HOMEHOIST (A novel, integrated, wheelchair and hoist system) project set out to develop a wheelchair with an integrated hoist system that cuts down on the need to physically lift and handle cerebral palsy sufferers. Project partners created a design concept that is similar to standard wheelchairs, but also takes into consideration the difficulty, comfort and costs related to lifting a cerebral palsy patient. They built and tested a prototype that accommodates all patient biomedical requirements, European standards and safety regulations. The device functions as an everyday wheelchair that enables access around the home. The hoist attaches itself to dedicated floor clamps and lifts users from the wheelchair and transfers them to the toilet, shower, sofa or bed. Other areas can also be accessed by detaching the hoist and using it separately. HOMEHOIST's portable solution and its hoisting functionality is cost effective and features a simple yet lightweight design. People with cerebral palsy will be able to enjoy a better quality of life by being more independent in a home environment. The well-being of their carers will also improve while reducing the need for several costly home disability aids.
Keywords
Wheelchair, independent living, cerebral palsy, carers, hoist system
