Tag: Paralysis

A day in the life, Adapted technology, Awareness, Home automation

9 Assistive Products to Support Quadriplegic Independence

| Charles Merritt

As a quadriplegic, independence means everything. These tools make daily tasks easier, safer, and more empowering. Below are 10 highly-rated Amazon items!

RMS Deluxe Sock Aid

1. RMS Deluxe Sock Aid

Summary: Foam-handled sock aid makes dressing effortless for limited mobility users. Ideal for putting on regular socks without bending.

Rating: ★★★★½ | Reviews: 39,000+

👉 Buy on Amazon

Vive Health Transfer Board

2. Vive Health Transfer Board

Summary: Lightweight wooden board with built-in handles supports safe transfers up to 400 lbs between beds, chairs, and vehicles.

Rating: ★★★★½ | Reviews: 200+

👉 Buy on Amazon

Adaptive Utensils

3. Special Supplies Adaptive Utensils

Summary: Easy-grip utensils with wide, non-slip handles make eating easier for users with limited hand function.

Rating: ★★★★½ | Reviews: 500+

👉 Buy on Amazon

Tablet Holder

4. Lamicall Gooseneck Tablet Holder

Summary: Long, flexible neck clamps onto beds or chairs, perfect for hands-free streaming, reading, or gaming.

Rating: ★★★★½ | Reviews: 20,000+

👉 Buy on Amazon

RMS Compression Stocking Remover

5. RMS Compression Stocking Remover

Summary: Lets users remove tight socks or compression garments without straining legs or back.

Rating: ★★★★½ | Reviews: 1,800+

👉 Buy on Amazon

Liftware Steady Spoon

6. Liftware Steady or Level Utensils

Summary: Battery-powered eating utensils that stabilize shaking and improve independence at meals.

Rating: ★★★★½ | Reviews: 300+

👉 Buy on Amazon

OXO Weighted Utensils

7. OXO Good Grips Weighted Utensils

Summary: Stainless-steel utensils with added weight and wide handles for better control during use.

Rating: ★★★★½ | Reviews: 1,000+

👉 Buy on Amazon

Weighted Cup

8. Spill-Proof Weighted Cup with Lid

Summary: A double-handled, spill-resistant drinking cup for easy use without spills.

Rating: ★★★★½ | Reviews: 700+

👉 Buy on Amazon

Echo Show 10

9. Echo Show 10 + Smart Plug Bundle

Summary: Voice-activated display with Alexa for calling, controlling lights, and smart home devices hands-free.

Rating: ★★★★½ | Reviews: 150,000+

👉 Buy on Amazon

✅ Final Thoughts

These tools not only help but empower. From daily dressing and transfer aids to smart home tech, they build confidence and restore independence. Shopping with our links helps support the Quadcapable mission at no extra cost to you—thank you!

Support the EMPOWER Care Act and Community Living

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities.

AAPD power button logo
Support the EMPOWER Care Act and Community Living
Join Today’s National Call-In Day!

Money Follows the Person (MFP) is a Medicaid program that has helped over 75,000 people with disabilities and seniors move out of nursing homes or institutions and back into their communities. MFP restores the dignity and liberty of people with disabilities by promoting and supporting choice and community living.

Funding for the MFP program expired in 2016, and states have already scaled back their plans by approximately 40%. We need your help and advocacy to get the Senate and House of Representatives to pass the bipartisan EMPOWER Care Act (S.2227 and H.R.5306), which would extend and improve the MFP program. Last year was the first time that the number of people that transitioned to the community had declined.

By passing the EMPOWER Care Act and funding the Money Follows the Person program, Congress can help more people with disabilities transition out of institutions and nursing homes and back into the community. Without action NOW, more people will be trapped in institutions.

Help people living in nursing facilities and other institutional settings move back into their communities!

Take Action

Use the advocacy tool below to send an email, tweet, and Facebook post directly to your Senators and Representative to tell them to support the EMPOWER Care Act and fund the MFP program.

Click here to contact your Members of Congress

The letter is already written just a few clicks goes a long way!

Lung health

How I Strengthen My Lungs with the Incentive Spirometer

| Charles Merritt

Strengthening lungs with incentive spirometer

September 12, 2014 · Saint Petersburg
Charlie has had a good night tonight. He only de-sat’d once with his O2 dropping into the 80’s. The nurses bagged him to give him some extra O2 & his O2 came right back up & has remained above 90 for the rest of my visit.
He is in good spirits tonight & looks better to me. His O2% is at 40% & peep is at 8 so we are well on our way to getting off this vent!
I will be leaving around 11p…

…Tina Kendrick at Bay front Hospital.

For those that may not know; I was not able to breathe, on my own, for several months after breaking my neck. Clinical term, “ventilator dependent.” As a C-3 complete quadriplegic a tracheostomy is usually a part of everyday life but through rehabilitation and respiratory therapists that cared enough to work with me I was able to be weaned off the vent.

Strengthening lungs with incentive spirometer:

This post identifies one of the tools I used to be able to breathe on my own. Which, also equaled eating regular food, drinking fluids, and being able to talk to my love ones. If you have had a tracheostomy you know the feeling of hopelessness when you can’t talk to someone (cont. below)…Strengthening lungs with incentive spirometer

Strengthening lungs with incentive spirometer

I have mixed feelings Strengthening lungs with incentive spirometer but the one thing I know for sure is that it works. However monotonous and ridiculous it may be to suck on this thing in the hospital or at home; it is pivotal in the recovery of anyone who has lost or deteriorated lung function.

Using your incentive spirometer after surgery will help you keep your lungs clear and will help keep your lungs active throughout the recovery process, as if you were performing your daily activities.(Continue on for step-by-step instructions and video!)

Guess what? You can buy on Amazon!

How to Use the Incentive Spirometer:

-Sit on the edge of your bed if possible, or sit up as far as you can in bed.
-Hold the incentive spirometer in an upright position.
-Place the mouthpiece in your mouth and seal your lips tightly around it.
-Breathe in slowly and as deeply as possible. Notice the yellow piston rising toward the top of the column. The yellow indicator should reach the blue outlined area.
-Hold your breath as long as possible. Then exhale slowly and allow the piston to fall to the bottom of the column.
-Rest for a few seconds and repeat steps one to five at least 10 times every hour.
-Position the yellow indicator on the left side of the spirometer to show your best effort. Use the indicator as a goal to work toward during each slow deep breath.
-After each set of 10 deep breaths, cough to be sure your lungs are clear. If you have an incision, support your incision when coughing by placing a pillow firmly against it.
-Once you are able to get out of bed safely, take frequent walks and practice the cough.

EZ-PZ

Strengthening lungs with incentive spirometer video

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iwKvhV0l8U[/embedyt]

Guess what? You can buy on Amazon! Strengthening lungs with incentive spirometer

References

Strengthening lungs with incentive spirometer

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. National Guideline Clearinghouse:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/how-to-use-an-incentive-spirometer

© Copyright 1995-2015 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved.

This information is provided by quadcapable.com and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This post was last reviewed on: 5/25/2017

Women Think These Are Sexy

Scars
A good friend of mine recently had a surgery and posted a picture of his scar. This prompted me to think about my own scars and whether or not they actually are attractive to the opposite sex? So I’m putting this out there hopefully to get an answer.

This also got me to thinking about my own trials and tribulations and that not all scars are external. Currently we have an epidemic with veterans that are dramatically scarred and living with internal psychological issues. I relate to that with my own internal scars, depression, living with the lack of my extremities makes the future a difficult thing to grasp…Continue reading below survey.

[socialpoll id=”2439879″]

I think the most important part of trudging through the world and our lives is connecting with other people in positive ways. I tried to connect on so many different levels and we are fortunate to have the outlets on social media that allow us to share and socialize without having to be right next to each other. I believe this is all that it takes to make sure your friends and family are staying safe and know that they are loved and like and enjoyed. Sometimes a like on Facebook, a retweet, a follow, or a comment to mean the world to people who are reaching out for help in ways that may not seem like they are reaching.

I appreciate each and every one of you that take the time to read and check out all of the random stuff I try to do to promote awareness for individuals living with paralysis. I hope to continue this for many years to come.

Video of My Morning Routine

I decided it would be “beneficial” to provide a video showing what I do on a typical morning. Specifically, what the attendant has to do to get me out of bed and to get my day started. We have streamlined this process and with the addition of the ceiling lift typically takes about 20 to 30 minutes from start to finish. If you throw a shower into that it takes about 70 minutes.

C3 Complete Quadriplegic Morning Routine-Video

Featured image credit goes to:Colin Furze’s bed Launcher

Colin and his bed in action!

Health

Manually Assisted Quad Coughing

| Charles Merritt

Manually Assisted Quad Coughing

[kwod]
A form of assisted coughing for patients with central nervous system disorders such as spinal cord injury who are unable to generate sufficient force to clear respiratory secretions. After a maximal inspiration, the patient coughs while an assistant exerts gentle upward and inward pressure with both hands on the abdomen. The increased intraabdominal pressure produces a more forceful cough. Manually Assisted Quad Coughing



GREAT VIDEO ON Manually Assisted Quad Coughing

 Manually Assisted Quad Coughing video

Reference: quad coughing

A day in the life, Travel

Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

| Charles Merritt

Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know about Cruising As a Person with Disabilities

First off, I would like to thank Flying Dutchman Travel for providing my accommodations for this vacation. Also The Central Florida Chapter Paralyzed Veterans of America who selected me to participate on this excursion. Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know.

A little background about myself. I am a C-3 complete quadriplegic who travels with his fiancée, friends, and family.  Due to needing someone to take care of my particulars. This is my second cruise vacation and my first after becoming a quadriplegic. I am an avid traveler and have become an advocate for persons with disabilities. This was a five day country cruise on the Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas with stops in Key West and Cozumel. Here’s a list of a few things I believe are necessary as you embark on any type of vacation as a person with disability. Using my cruise as an example.Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

    1. PROPER PREPARATION LEADS TO A GOOD TIME. I am lucky enough to have a tremendously smart and loyal fiancée. Who has gotten our preparation for travel down to a science. For the cruise we had to ensure that we were able to charge my power chair, bring along a manual chair in case of power chair failure, and a floor lift. We also tried out our new portable shower chair (not that great). Along with the equipment that allows me to scoot around we also brought a floor lift to get me in and out of bed. We also packed several suitcases full of other accouterments associated with my disability.
      1. Make a list
      2. Double Check Your List
      3. pack everything and double checked again
    2. FIND APPROPRIATE ACCOMMODATIONS: The cruise lines are very accommodating when it comes to people’s disabilities specifically, wheelchair users. Our room was over-sized by about 150 ft.² with a very large role in shower and a space for a king-size bed and a couch. We double checked with our travel agency as well as the cruise line to ensure there was ample space under the bed for our lift to operate correctly as well as double checking that the shower area was accessible as well. *Even though the website says it is always call and double check.
    3. RECONNOITER YOUR DESTINATIONS:

      Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

      In the Marine Corps whenever we went to another country or training in certain environments we were given a detailed briefing and handouts courtesy of the CIA that described that specific area its demographics. Where to go and where not to go. Whenever traveling abroad make sure you have some understanding of the culture as well as any types of threats that may be applicable i.e. kidnapping. Also with Google maps most of the tourist destinations you can Street view. For people like me that like to run amok it may not be as simple.

    4. Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know Always bring a buddy.
    5.  REMAIN PATIENT: Not only with the local populace but with your caregivers and the people with you who may not have a complete appreciation for your lack of mobility. I try to keep a big smile on my face and keep everyone moving because typically I’m the point man. Understand that the people around you specifically, the strangers don’t understand you or your disability but for the most part will do everything they can to accommodate you. Don’t be afraid to ask. 
    6. REMEMBER, YOU ARE ON VACATION: the main thing is to try to have as much fun as possible and not let your disability drag down. Don’t be let down by the things you cannot do (I didn’t get to see the Mayan ruins). But get excited about the things you can do (midnight party on the cruise ship). Believe it or not the person with a disability is usually the center of attention and whether positive or negative your vibe carries on to the people around you.

      They are all looking at you and how you are reacting to the situation. The more positive you can be the better time that will be had by everyone. Learn how to laugh off detours on the ship. Hallways are very small. But the good news is there isn’t much other issues with the boat besides small hallways.  the accessible rooms are close to the end of the hallway and near the elevators.

      So this alleviates the need to go down the hallway. As always if you have any specific questions feel free to contact me and I hope you find your next vacation and can use some of my insights to make it an enjoyable experience.

Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should KnowDisabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

A day in the life

Grad School for Charlie

| Charles Merritt

Two short years ago I was Considered by the VA as being catastrophically injured(C3 complete quadriplegic) during a seemingly harmless dive off of my boat into 5 feet of water. Little did I know that dive would change my life forever and catapult me into a whole new way of thinking.

These types of accidents and injuries tend to careen people into certain directions. The 1st direction is one of depression and of always asking “why me? “The 2nd direction is just trying to live your life one day at a time and be as happy as possible. The 3rd, and my chosen, direction is that of placing a person in a position to become passionate for a cause and to escalate their understanding for advocacy and helping others with a similar injury.

Click Here to Donate through PayPal Directly from My Website.

Donate Now through Go Fund Me

Since the accident I’ve been motivated to keep my family living a comfortable life and to also inject myself into as many positive roles to assist others that may need my knowledge and experience. In particular I become involved with the Paralyzed Veterans of America here in central Florida as a board member. I’ve attended several functions to promote awareness for spinal cord injury diseases and disorders nationwide and locally. I created a blog to share my story and hopes to help others quadcapable.com and I assist whomever I can whenever they ask. Sometimes I even help when they don’t ask.

To continue pursuing my goals I feel further education is necessary and I want to show others in my condition or with challenges that no matter what “if there’s a will there’s a way.” I hope to inspire people with a never quit attitude and an understanding that no matter what there is a community out there that will help you all you need to do is ask.

So I am asking my community to assist me with pursuing a Masters in Business Administration at Stetson University here in Deland Florida. Unfortunately I have applied for a myriad of grants and scholarships and I’ve come in so far but fortunately there is a community behind me that I hope will back me up and see my track record in the goals I have already accomplished will support me in this effort. I have already been accepted and currently enrolled to start school on Tuesday, August 30 with a deadline to pay this semester’s tuition by October 15, 2016.

Thank you
Charlie Merritt
#Charliestrong

Anniversary

Anniversary of My Injury August 23 2014

| Charles Merritt

Today is the kind of day you don’t forget. Similar to a birthday, wedding anniversary, high school graduation, and the birth of a child you not forget the traumatic events that direct your life in a direction without your consent and forever change how you live. Make sure every day you meet your potential, hug your loved ones, and don’t put off anything that means anything. Life can change literally in the blink of an eye. ‪#‎Charliestrong‬