Active Mobility Blog

Specialist disability accommodation is housing for people with extreme functional impairments or high needs. It makes accessing supports easier — the SDA Design Standard provides detailed requirements for this kind of accommodation, including improved liveability, robust construction, accessibility and high physical support, improving the overall standard and quality of living. 

As we age, our bones, joints and muscles start to weaken and some tasks require more effort than they did before — some tasks may be near impossible. 

Whether you’re newly disabled or planning to move out of your family home for the first time, you might be looking into independent living options in your community. At a glance, finding accommodation that meets your specific needs might seem like a challenge — unfortunately, most houses and apartments in Australia have not been designed with disabled tenants in mind.

Australians have a longer life expectancy than ever before — the average lifespan for Australians is now 83 years (81 for men and 85 for women). This provides more time for making memories and living life to the fullest; however, falls often interrupt this. As we age, our surefootedness declines and our bones become brittle, meaning falls are more common and the consequences are more severe. 

Manual handling is described as any activity which requires a person to exert force to lift, lower, push, pull, carry, move or restrain. Unsafe manual handling techniques in aged care can cause musculoskeletal injuries that can impact the carer’s ability to work as well as their quality of life. 

Hoists have become an essential part of moving, transferring and handling patients in both domestic and medical settings. Not only are hoists safer for the patient, but they are safer for the carer as well — hoists eliminate the need for manual handling and the risk of back strain and workplace injuries. 

Manual wheelchairs are light, have the option to fold and do not require charging, making them an excellent choice for those who love to travel and do not need assistance propelling themselves forward.

Electric or “power” wheelchairs are an excellent alternative to manual wheelchairs if the mobility and disability of the patient allow. You can control a power wheelchair using an in-built control panel or joystick, giving you more confidence and independence.

Hoists are often required in aged care settings due to a “no lift” policy. The goal is to create and maintain a safe workplace and to protect staff members from developing injuries from lifting or moving their patients.

COVID-19 has taught us the importance of cleaning and disinfecting surfaces to help stop the spread of infection. This is even more critical in medical settings (e.g. nursing homes, hospitals) where the risk of COVID-19 infection is even higher — tools, equipment and even commonly touched items like door handles must be disinfected to stop the spread of illness.