Fish and chips have never tasted so good for
local TGA customer Scott
Fish and chips are such a treat for Scott. True, they’re a treat for many of us but so much more for him. Scott has a back injury and learning disabilities and support workers were using a manual wheelchair to take Scott out. It was hard for Scott and hard for his support workers as Scott lives in hilly Sudbury, Suffolk. Making friends, getting to the supermarket, even going to the local chip shop was a struggle, simple activities but essential for a positive life. The answer? A Strongback manual wheelchair with an electric Powerpack attached underneath to drive it. More than just TGA products, ‘life-changing solutions’ as Maria, Scott’s care manager, describes them.
Maria Kornat works for ivolve. ivolve is an adult social care provider offering residential, supported living and complex nursing. At Sudbury Supported Living, Maria manages care for Scott. She is passionate about the difference her company makes to the people they support and is ‘hugely excited’ about the changes she has seen in 59-year-old Scott. “His new wheelchair and Powerpack have literally changed his life,” begins Maria. “It’s much, much bigger than Scott just having his mobility back; these products have improved every aspect of every day for him.”
People who find walking difficult and can’t propel themselves in a wheelchair can be pushed by others. But what if the wheelchair is heavy to lift, hard to push and uncomfortable to sit in? This was the predicament facing Scott and his care team until they discovered the Strongback with a Powerpack.
The Strongback is a folding, lightweight wheelchair with a unique curved backrest so users have better posture. As in Scott’s case, the attendant controlled Strongback is commonly combined with a Powerpack which drives the wheelchair forward and is controlled by the person pushing the wheelchair. This means pushing a user up hills and over uneven ground is much easier as the motor mounted under the wheelchair takes the strain.
It was Scott’s sister and brother-in-law who started it all. They wanted to help Scott and his support workers get out more as Maria goes onto say: “They asked TGA about a solution and Antony from their Sudbury showroom came round in January to assess Scott and talk about what he needed. Once it was decided that a Strongback wheelchair with a Powerpack was right, it was delivered and Antony came back to train our trainer, Suzanne. She then trained our support workers on how to use them safely.”
A couple of months in, these products have changed the course of Scott’s life. “He tells everyone how proud he is of his new wheelchair and how fast it goes,” laughs Maria. “For Scott, he feels as if he is in a racing car. It’s amazing and benefits him and his support workers. They have already been out so much more including to the local church, St. Andrews. Scott had a wonderful time meeting up with Reverend Chris, they chatted for ages. Chris gave Scott a Bible and now he’s reading it at home on the days he doesn’t want to go out, he loves it. He’s also been to Mick’s Fish and Chip Shop in Great Cornard – this is going to be a regular thing for him now. He can wheel himself in and pay for his food over the counter by himself. This is one of so many things he has been enabled to do thanks to his wheelchair, it means so much.”
“His Strongback and Powerpack are also helping him form new relationships. He’s meeting people. And for someone who has mobility issues and learning disabilities it can be hard to form local friendships but now he is getting out in his community. People are getting to know him like the staff at the supermarket. And for me, it’s not just about him being mobile, it’s about Scott having something to look forward to, to get excited about.”
“His support workers are being helped as well as they are not having to strain to push Scott in a manual wheelchair. They find the Powerpack controls simple and it reverses which makes moving Scott much easier. Before, it was such hard work, it’s been life changing for everyone.”
As Maria reflects on the differences in Scott, she sums up by saying: “It’s so lovely to see the changes in Scott. Going to the supermarket is huge as he’s not having to choose things from pictures online. Scott can go out with his support workers and physically buy the things he wants. He is not wasting money and so much more choice.”
“So, it’s changing his finances. It’s changing his health. It’s changing his mood. It’s massively increasing his opportunities and choices in life. These are important goals for us in our organisation and we’re enjoying being on this journey with him. And that’s not just to the chip shop!”
