A COMPLETE QUADRIPLEGIC SHOPPING LIST
VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS
Virtual assistants aren’t just for lazy people to take advantage of. They can provide considerable independence even for the highest level of complete quad.
Now you can buy Smart thermostats, Smart door locks, Smart fans and heaters, Smart light bulbs plugs which you can voice control with hubs and apps.
Alexa products like the Echo smart speakers let you voice control your music and audiobooks, ask questions, hear the news and weather, and set alarms. Alexa can control your compatible smart home devices like turning on lights, adjusting thermostats, and locking doors.
“I use a smart door lock so I can let caregivers inside from my bed. I like using the smart door lock with Alexa so I can still unlock the door for caregivers even if I can’t reach my phone to use the app.” Laura, C7
Products like Alexa are great for many reasons and one is the feature that lets you “drop in" and ask someone for help when they’re in another room. Use Drop In to have a two-way conversation by connecting to one of your Alexa-enabled devices, have group conversations and receive drop ins checking on you. You can also connect to an app on your caregiver's phone. Worried your caregiver won't hear you? Program a smart light to it to get their attention so they see it instead of needing to hear it.
Google's Smart Home Hubs act as a central system or controller that connects all your smart devices in the network. These virtual assistants feature Google Assistant instead of Alexa. Just say "Hey Google".
Most new TVs and streaming devices offer mobile apps that let you turn your phone (or tablet) into a remote, as well as use voice control.
SMART PLUGS
One piece of affordable assistive technology that can really provide some independence are smart plugs. If something plugs into the wall, you can typically control it with virtual systems like Alexa and Google Assistant, or simply tapping a button on your PC or phone.
"Smart plugs make me quite a bit more independent. I don't have to wake anyone to adjust the air temperature or turn off the lamp. I use it to shut off my TV and turn on my fan." Sarah, C5-6
MANUAL ASSISTANTS
Many devices for using hands with limited dexterity are available.
- Gripping aids that function by the tightening of a strap in which pulls the hand into a fist shape to hold items in the palm
- Typing aids that help you hit keys accurately on typewriters, adding machines, calculators and phones
- Writing aids like Easy Glide Writer which slides easily along a writing surface using upper arm strength. A slight downward pressure is needed to write. It is made of PVC foam and fits any size pen or pencil.
- Cuffs that let you hold items like utensils, pens, and toothbrushes. Place your hand between the item and cuff and it remains secure.
- Reachers that work as an extension of your arm to help you grab objects that are slightly out of the way. They can help with tasks like cleaning and cooking too.
- Adapted utensils with long, bendable foam handles that can be molded around your arm so that you don’t need a strong grip to pick up food.
Others can bend so that the wrist doesn’t have to and have thicker handles that are easier to grip onto. - Doorknob extenders that can attach to the doorknob and create a lever. Rather than twisting the wrist to open doors, individuals can press down on the handle.
- Leg lifters that have you slip your foot in a loop and use your arms to maneuver your leg into or out of wheelchairs, beds, and chairs.
Sammons Preston products can be purchased from multiple medical suppliers. Products include reachers and grabbers, utensil aids, cuffs, transfer boards, mouth sticks, hand, finger and thumb exercisers, dressing sticks, sock aids, telescoping magnetic pick up tools, zipper pull helpers, and TONS more.
Check out these websites:
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
If you receive coverage through the VA or workman’s comp, or if you are on Medicare or Medicaid you may have a better chance of getting durable medical equipment funded than those with private insurers. It really depends on the individual insurance policy. Have your physician write you a letter of medical necessity. Make sure it includes detailed information about your disability and level of need.
Beds
When it comes to beds, we like adjustable ones for multiple reasons: more control over blood pressure, participating in activities that require sitting, ect. Beds that are height adjustable are good for transfers and easy on our caregiver’s backs. Many quadriplegics prefer a twin size adjustable bed because it makes care easier than a larger bed. Many adjustable beds can be shared with partners and are not styled like hospital beds but insurance won’t cover those.
The cost of a home hospital bed ranges from $500 to $10,000. The variance is largely due to features and size. Medicaid will typically cover a low-end hospital bed. Fully manual beds have cranks that adjust head, foot and bed height. Semi Electric beds have a button for the head and feet and a crank to raise the whole bed. Full Electric beds don’t require any cranks. Other types of hospital beds are Bariatric beds for heavier quadriplegics and low beds which are completely adjustable, but their overall height is much lower than other hospital beds.
Lots of manufacturers now make adjustable base beds of multiple sizes that function like hospital beds but don’t look like them. The most basic low-end adjustable base beds run about $400. They don’t raise in height, though. Adjustable base high-low beds that raise in height are significantly more expensive. Split kings are super pricey even without the high-low feature.
Mattresses
Get one designed to bend with the bed adjustments if you’re going with a hospital bed. Mattresses can usually be purchased with adjustable base beds and hospital beds.
For a quadriplegic, the most important feature of a mattress is pressure relief. Most mattresses use either air or foam. You can choose a pressure relieving mattress or just a mattress overlay.
Overlays are popular options that are affordable. Overlays lie on top of an existing mattress and can be replaced if they become soiled or worn out. These are sometimes foam or use chambers that alternate by inflating and deflating with air. Browse overlays online.
Many foam mattresses featuring pressure prevention technology are recommended, as well as low air loss mattresses which allow airflow, and alternating pressure mattresses, which use two sets of air cells that expand and contract on an alternating basis so as to continually shift pressure.
Choosing a fancy mattress doesn’t help your chances of protection from pressure wounds. Most low-end air mattresses and overlays also serve their purpose. If you’re trying to heal a pressure wound, though, some mattresses are actually clinically proven to do that job, like the $1,299 Low Air Loss Mattress Alternative by United Mattress.
Wheelchair Seats
Choosing the right wheelchair cushion seat is incredibly important too. Pressure wounds can develop fast if you don’t have an adequate seat. Any old seat will simply not do because as a quadriplegic you will be spending such a great deal of time on it. You should work with therapy when choosing both your chair and seat.
In rehab, your therapists may use pressure mapping technology to visualize the contact pressure distribution between your butt and the seat cushion. They will be able to tell if the particular cushion is successfully distributing your weight. When trialing your cushion you should also do periodic skin checks. Your physician may write a medical necessity order for a special seat, citing pressure wound prevention.
Seats come in air, foam, and gel.
Air cushions can be prone to leaks. The air cells are great for pressure relief but not always great for positioning and transferring. Always check your air pressure. Too much or too little can pose problems. Gel and foam seats wear out quicker than air seats do, given the latter hasn’t sprung a leak.
“I have been using Roho's for 27 years and have never had one that leaked. They are like everything else though, treat them right and they will treat you right. I would not put my rear in anything else. I use the Roho Quadro High Profile.” Johnny, C5
Roho is by far the leading brand of air cushion which quads prefer. This seat lets the user control their pressure preference and employs cellular air bubbles for ventilation and evenly distributed air as protection from pressure sores. Vicair seats employ many small, permanently sealed air cells and can be adjusted by unzipping the liner and removing or adding air cells. They have a compartment design that creates stability, minimizing shear forces. These cushions provide temperature and moisture regulation due to their open structure.
Some quadriplegics prefer foam cushions. The Jay Cushion line has great reviews from quadriplegics. The J2 and the Jay Fusion are the more popular in the series. These foam bases minimize skin breakdown. Gel cushions are also preferred by some quadriplegics because they’re designed to both help regulate body temperature and redistribute pressure.
“I won't use anything that could lose air. Jay fusion has worked for me and you don't have to worry about it leaking.” Pam, C4
Shower chairs
Many quadriplegics prefer to use a healthcare grade shower chair with an elevated leg extension, a reclining back, an open-front commode seat and anti-slip handgrips. They run around $350 to $450, but for your comfort and safety don’t compromise with a chair that isn’t built for quads. Gurney style shower beds are significantly more pricey.
For the bathroom that isn’t accessible and can’t be remodeled, there’s the ShowerBuddy which allows even a complete quad to fit in a regular tub shower.
“I love my ShowerBuddy, but it was NOT cheap, around $3,500. I could have installed a roll-in shower for cheaper, but I can take my buddy anywhere. As long as there’s room in the vehicle!” Savannah, C5
“I can’t fit my shower chair in a regular tub, but I can fit it in the bathroom! We just put away everything that can’t get wet and use a showerhead with a super long hose and shower me right in the middle of the bathroom! We put plastic bins under the chair to catch a lot of the water.” Amanda, C4-5
Inflatable bathtubs are also safe for full body bathing, and they come with a hose shower that hooks on a bed post. You can also buy an inflatable basin for hair washing.
“My husband bought me a portable bathtub called a tubble. He set up a twin size bed frame and put plywood on top of it. Then filled it with water and used my hoyer to put me in and out.” Melissa, C4-5
Figure out what works for you.
ADAPTIVE CLOTHING
Try loose, baggy or “distressed" shirts that are soft and stretchy and easy to get on.
Yoga pants with a fold-down waist are a favorite for women. Buy them in boot-cut if you have a catheter bag to wrestle through.
Try denim with rips if you are able to hook your fingers in the holes to pull pants and shorts on and off.
Quad belly? Don’t zip your jeans; just tie a flannel around your waist. Women try maternity jeans.
Shop adaptive clothing for clothes and shoes with Velcro, snap and magnetic closures instead of buttons, pants with side zippers and snaps (look up tear-away pants) and slippers that adjust in width to accommodate swollen feet and ankles.
Check out:
abldenim.com
izadaptive.com
adaptationsbyadrian.com
agapparel.com
janska.com
magnaready.com
rollinwear.com
wheelchair-solutions.com
INCONTINENCE SUPPLIES
If you have home health care services, your nurse's should provide some of the supplies you need such as catheters and sometimes gloves. your health insurance may pay for wipes, pull-ups, underpad chucks, gloves, catheters and more. Always explore that option first.
You can also check out these websites for incontinence care products at lower costs than many brand sites: