The Rehabilitation Unit at Good Samaritan continues to advance its excellent services by introducing two new devices. For patients who need help walking or feeding themselves, they have what you need.

Liftware is a utensil designed for ease of self-feeding, and the Pacer Gait Trainer is a device that assists patients with walking. These tools are beneficial to a wide variety of patients.

Stroke victims and patients with tremors and Parkinson’s Disease are most likely to utilize the Liftware utensil. This device makes mealtime much easier and more enjoyable for patients.

“The inpatient rehabilitation unit at Good Samaritan focuses on advancing technology to assist an individual who experiences tremors in performing activities of daily living, including the ability to self-feed,” said Occupational Therapist, Jim Schenk.

Patients with chest pains, low mobility, stroke victims, brain injury, Critical Illness Myopathy, and general weakness receive walking assistance from the Gait Trainer. This device not only benefits patients, but Rehabilitation Unit employees as well.

“Before we acquired the Gait Trainer, it would take two or three staff members to walk a low-level ambulatory patient in the parallel bars,” said Physical Therapy Assistant, Bill Brower. “We are now able to get patients ambulating at a faster and safer rate, using less man-power.”

Liftware:

Liftware utensils have been designed to cancel tremors, the unintentional, rhythmic movement of a body part, by providing stimulation through the handle and a swivel attachment, containing sensors that detect movement.

The utensil can distinguish between the intended movement and the unwanted movement of the hand. It is designed to prevent spills and provide a more enjoyable mealtime experience.

Pacer Gait Trainer:

The Gait Trainer provides many therapeutic benefits including improved cognition, muscle development, skeletal growth, increased bone density, social development, and integration.

“We have the XL size of Gait Trainer, as it accommodates the widest range of patient sizes,” added Brower. “Also, we have many ‘prompts’ available to assist our patients in maintaining desired position during gait or standing.”

According to Brower, the Physical Therapy Department is extremely pleased with the results and ease of use of the Pacer Gait Trainer.