Simple Stuff Works’ healthcare equipment shown to have ‘major health benefits’
Researchers have found in a recent study that Simple Stuff Works’ night-time postural supports can greatly help people with complex health needs sleep in better and safer positions, improving their health and quality of life.
The results of the research will allow Simple Stuff Works to back up claims that its positioning equipment offers users health benefits, giving the equipment more credibility and users more confidence.
Positioning equipment, such as specially adapted cushions and supports, is often used to make sure people remain in a comfortable and safe position while they sleep rather than rolling into postures that could do them harm.
In the first study of its kind, Melanie Stephens, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing, and Carol Bartley, Lecturer in Occupational Therapy from the University of Salford conducted research to see how night-time positioning equipment can help people sleep in safer positions.
Carol and Melanie recruited residents and members of staff at a Four Seasons Healthcare Nursing and Residential home and introduced pieces of equipment made by Simple Stuff Works. They then spent 12 weeks measuring a range of factors evaluating the effects Simple’s equipment had on the residents’ health and well-being.
Aged between 51-89, the participants suffered from a wide range of conditions including dementia, asthma and advanced Parkinson’s, while some were amputees and many experienced depression.
However, Simple’s equipment was found to improve participants’ sleep, their levels of depression and how much pain they were experiencing, and their risk of choking also decreased.
Many of the participants also had better food and fluid intake while half of them put on weight throughout the programme and, in some cases, the medication they were taking was reduced or stopped.
Sarah Clayton, CEO of Simple Stuff Works, said: “Having worked for many years supporting people to use simple, effective night time positioning we have a great deal of anecdotal evidence about their benefits.
“This study however represents the first independent qualitative and quantitative research into the use of our equipment with older adults with complex needs and we are delighted with the significant, wide ranging benefits that were found.
“We hope that this study will be the first of many and that older adults with complex needs will have improved access to this simple, transformative support.”