The Careflex Hydrotilt Chair is fast becoming a popular choice for both patients and healthcare professionals. Designed with both of them in mind, the Express Range chair offers a wide range of configurations, comfort and pressure care management options.

Caregivers find our chairs easy to move, manage, clean, and maintain, while the user’s every need can be accommodated to deliver maximum pressure care, effective posture and easy transfers.

Health facilities managers love our lifetime warranty: Our Hydrotilt chairs are designed to provide a superb return on investment. We also offer accessories and replacement parts for all our chairs.

Free Movement and Total Configurability

The Hydrotilt offers a “Tilt in Space” method of moving the chair’s angle. This is achieved in one movement. It does not need someone to adjust multiple levers, thereby making it both easy and quick. The user can remain seated and neither the hip angle nor knee angles are changed during the tilting movement.

To ensure the user’s pelvis is against the backrest, the length of the seat is also adjustable. The Hydrotilt also offers an elevating leg rest that can be locked at any angle. The footrest angle is also changeable.  All these adjustments are to ensure we are maximising body contact on the chair, therefore to spread the body’s pressure through the biggest surface area to reduce the risk of pressure sores.

A tool for pressure management – adjustable and simple

Once the chair has been set up for the user, the tilt in space action is an additional feature offering care staff the tools to further increase the level of care for pressure care and skin care.  It is recommended that the chair is regularly tilted a few degrees during the sitting period, forward and backwards – this provides a change in pressure distribution for the user. The further back the tilt angle is, the less pressure is being put through the buttocks – it is being spread through other parts of the body.

Designed with a multi-user environment in mind, the chair is reconfigured for the next user in mere seconds. There are both manual and electrical models available, although the design of the chair allows any support person to make adjustments easily.

Specialist Seating

Easy to move, handle and manage, the chair also needs to be comfortable.

By using our patented water cell technology, and combination of foams, the integral pressure care, which comes as standard in the Hydrotilt, is a very effective system for pressure care. The upholstery is another high technology solution. It is both hard-wearing and comfortable, due to the 4 direction stretch properties. It is easy to clean, replace, and disinfect, and at the same time, it offers a vapour permeable material that stops the build-up of moisture.

Careflex Hydrotilt Chair Review

Users in care facilities often ask if they can get a Hydrotilt at home. No matter if you need one at home or you need them for a healthcare solution, our chairs tick all the boxes.

Easy to use, no restrictions on position, patented high-tech materials, and a lifetime warranty, all combine to create specialist seating for both health and comfort.

For more accredited advice and information, please read our website, watch the video, or  contact us and request a demonstration.

Utilising more than 30 years of experience with the NHS and healthcare professionals, we are a premium supplier of posture and pressure care products and seating solutions. Our dedicated team work with care professionals, patients and family members to ensure the right seating solution and enhance quality of life for users of their specialist seating. This includes providing a personalised needs assessment undertaken by a specialist seating advisor and the installation of a seating solution within a short turnaround time.

Are You in a Hurry?

Situations will often arise where an immediate seating solution is the only option for a patient or family member, we have just the range to cover this eventuality with our Express Service. Following an order being placed the item will be ready for dispatch within just 5 days after a personalised needs assessment has been carried out.

We do not stint on items available in our 5 day delivery service range, and a huge amount of choice is available to meet the diverse needs of those who require quality specialist seating only with our grey vinyl chairs, see our seating options below:

Align 3 Chair: an adjustable chair suitable for the needs of many different types of users with mechanisms to alter seat depth and a mobility base allowing for hoist access supporting manual handling processes. This model is a cost-effective option that has been designed for multi-user environments.

Kirton Florien II Chair: a popular, entry level model in the healthcare market with a robust and effective seating system that promotes posture and facilitates greater independence in the user. The design also features a unique, negative forward tilt that provides easier standing transfers, and there is an optional intelligel to seat model that provides high level pressure care.

Careflex HydroTilt Chair: this model has a WaterCell Technology System and is particularly effective for pressure care needs and has a tilt-in-space mechanism and multiple adjustments can be made to seat width and depth. The chair is perfect for multi-use settings and the modular design enables the chair to be stripped down to facilitate hygiene and infection control.

Careflex SmartSeat Pro Chair: a modular design with facilities for multiple adjustments and suitable for users with complex needs including those related to posture and pressure care. The design assists healthcare professionals in offering maximum adaptability for clients to ensure the best possible care is provided. The chair can be adjusted using a four part backrest and will support a number of postural asymmetries and align head and trunk as well as providing pelvic stability. Users include those with dementia, neurological conditions, strokes and head and spinal cord injuries.

USE THE EXPRESS SERVICE TODAY

Whether you need a quick seating solution for a loved one, or are a healthcare professional wishing to provide your patient with optimal care, the Express Delivery Service can provide the perfect 5 day delivery service option. Contact Felgains Formal today to discuss your requirements or request a brochure today.

Specialist seating involves correcting and accommodating postures, achieving stable positioning, alignment, and pressure area care. We have over 30 years’ experience servicing the healthcare industry. We cater to care homes and care facilities with real expert advice that you can count on. Let our team of Product Advisers support those in your care today. Our Customer Service excels at furnishing the best Specialist Seating and fulfilling your every need.

“Meeting the Needs of Those in Care for Specialist Seating in the Care Home”

Is the seating for one person who has specific needs?

The most satisfactory solution for those in care requires the correct sizing and features for each individual. It is important to gain the proper pressure relief and implement the right postural management for each person in the Care Home. If the seating is for one specific resident, we offer home visits to discuss, assess and trial products to ensure that the seating solution perfectly suits the needs of this individual.

Is the home looking to purchase several chairs to accommodate 60% of their residents?

We provide seating solutions which can be adjusted each day to suit the needs of different users in a care facility – in multi-user environments. There are many unique Specialist Seating options to choose from. We accommodate your residence by providing a wide range of seating for the needs and multiple conditions of all individuals in care home environments.

Do the chairs need to get to the next floor? What is the size of the lift?

Chairs are equipped with wheels for maximum manoeuvrability. They easily go from floor to floor and an assessment is necessary for us to be able to ensure that our seating solutions will fit within the lift of the care home if a specialist chair needs to be moved around the premises for patient use.

What are the pressure needs of the residents?

Specialist Seating in the Care Home requires distributing the body’s pressure through increased contact with the chair. Pain relief is achieved with better support, it is extremely vital that we understand the needs of the patient who requires a Felgains FormAL chair.

What type of hoist is used to transfer residents?

Seating solutions incorporate hoisting options into the mechanism. Access points are available to accommodate the transfer needs of each resident.

How do the residences transfer into chairs? Hoist? Stand frame? Are they ambulant?

Transfer operations may vary for each individual, depending on the mobility constraints that they have. We provide multiple seating solutions that can be tailored to specific needs for patients in need of postural support.

What needs and conditions do the residents have in the specific home? Does the home specialise in a specific condition?

Multiple care homes will specialise in different areas, whether it is a home for the elderly for those with Dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke rehabilitation and those who may have learning difficulties, and those who have nursing care needs with conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease, for example.

For multiple care homes specialising in postural support products, we are able to provide seating solutions for the following positional challenges and aspects:

• Anterior pelvic tilt
• Posterior pelvic tilt
• Scoliosis
• Kyphosis
• Lordosis
• Windsweeping
• Contractures
• Pelvic Obliquity

Administer Your Specialist Seating in the Care Home Today

You can significantly improve the future health and quality of life for family, friends, or patients by booking an assessment to address the needs of each individual or contact one of our experts for an informal chat.

Contact Us
Felgains FormAL
33 Knightsdale Road
Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 4JJ

Tel: 01473 463900

Email: sales@felgainsformal.com

The skin is the largest organ of the body and one of the most important. Not only does it act as a protect barrier from the outside environment, but it is critical in performing other functions such as temperature regulation and circulation. However, the skin can become damaged over time, if the necessary care and management is overlooked. Skin cells can begin to die off after only 6 hours. This is one of the reasons why the proper pressure care management is so important. Let us take a look at this condition in more detail in order to appreciate how it can be effectively treated.

What Causes Pressure Damage?

Sometimes referred to as pressure ulcers, these sores tend to form if the skin is placed under prolonged periods of pressure. These conditions often develop where the skin is naturally thinner. Examples include the hips, the ankles and the tail bone. Those who suffer from issues with mobility (and therefore sits for longer periods of time) are at a higher risk of developing pressure ulcers. Some of the primary symptoms include noticeable changes in skin colour, areas which are particularly sensitive to pain and skin that feels hot or cold when compared to the surrounding locations. A pus-like fluid may also drain from the area in question. It is estimated that more than 700,000 individuals throughout the United Kingdom suffer from pressure damage every year and if left untreated, these sores can even lead to death (due to conditions such as gangrene and sepsis).

A Serious and Yet Preventable Situation

Many are unaware that skin cells can die in less than six hours, so pressure sores do not necessarily develop over long periods of time. Thankfully, more than 95 per cent of these ulcers are preventable if the correct steps are taken. Some common methods of management include maintaining good hygiene, switching positions every 15 minutes and drinking plenty of fluids. While these are all excellent suggestions, the fact of the matter is that technology has come a long way in recent years. There are many specialised pillows and ergonomic chairs which will help to evenly distribute the pressure around sensitive areas. Thus, the chances of developing an ulcer are dramatically reduced.

Proactive and Effective Management

Experts believe that the NHS spends more than £3.8 million pounds every day on pressure care management alone. The good news is that there are now many alternatives in order to lessen the chances of pressure damage occurring. One of these involves the bespoke seating solutions provided by Felgains Formal. If you or a family member are dealing with pressure ulcers, we are more than happy to help. Please feel free to contact one of our expert representatives at your convenience. We will be more than happy to answer any questions and to discuss your options further. No one should be forced to live with the plight of pressure sores.

Careflex SmartSeat Pro is a specialist seating solution designed for those in need of postural support and control from a chair. Our SmartSeat Pro can easily be adjusted in order to correct a position into mid-line or accommodate an asymmetric posture. It tends to be very flexible ensuring that any posture type and support can be easily changed for each person’s needs and can be adjusted over time to meet a changing postural need.

This chair’s one-of-a-kind posture seating system is great for those affected by complicated postural positions and users who are at higher risk levels of developing pressure sores – especially multiple sclerosis patients, those suffering from cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and scoliosis. This seat can be used at home, in specialist rehab wards, in brain and spinal treatment centres and specialist neurological departments.

The SmartSeat Pro’s flexibility level comes from its four-part backrest to make sure that you can configure it specifically to the user’s needs. This can provide control and stability to areas such as the pelvis, the trunk and the head. The changeable backrest comes with three upper backrest units that can each be changed in depth, height, rotation and angle. Each of the elements has modifiable wings that you can position separately to create bespoke positioning. This specialist seating solution is ideal for anyone suffering from conditions such as MS, MND, and stroke and/or head injuries.

Changing postural needs is where the Smartseat Pro comes into its own – the range of adjustment to meet these changing needs is huge. With minimal parts and cost required, the Smartseat can be set up to support in a different way based on the clinical needs of the end user.

The key features of the Careflex SmartSeat Pro include:

• Seat depth, seat width, back height and footplate all adjustable without the need of extra parts
• Backrest can accommodate asymmetric back shapes and profiles
• Can be set up for many users – great for multi-user environments
• Can accommodate scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis
• Integral Watercell® technology pressure relief as standard
• Full needs assessment carried out
• Range of colours available for the model
• Tilt in space and back angle adjustment

Careflex SmartSeat Pro Size Options

The seat comes in two size options, namely:

• The small- this has a width of between 28 and 40 cm with three possible heights; 45, 48 and 51 cm. It can accommodate a weight of 100kg.

• The middle size seat comes with a width of between 38 and 50 cm and heights of 54, 57 and 60 cm. The maximum weight it can carry is 160kg.

View the Careflex SmartSeat Pro

Specialist seating is all about positioning, alignment and pressure care. Considering aspects such as skin health and integrity, maximising user function, accommodating postural asymmetries and introducing postural alignment, will, in turn, increase comfort, decrease fatigue, and assist with breathing and digestion for the user of the seating.

The aim of specialist seating is to provide stability to the end user. Good positioning provides stability, stability provides comfort, and comfort delivers an increase in health and wellbeing. All of which leads to healing and a better quality of life.

Examples of when Specialist Seating becomes a need:

• Someone has limited mobility
• A person has no sitting balance (i.e. they cannot sit up straight on their own – no core strength)
• When someone has scoliosis and needs support
• The person is sitting for long periods of time
• Hoist equipment is required for transferring in and out of bed/chair (ie they cannot walk)
• Someone has an asymmetric posture
• Someone has pressure sores or is at risk of developing pressure sores.

These needs may cause a person to be seated for longer periods of time which inevitably has repercussions on the body. The specific needs of a person or patient can be identified through a thorough assessment. These requirements, based on the outcome of the assessment, can then be translated to create the specification of a suitable chair system.

Posture Care
Correct musculoskeletal posture minimises strain on the spine and ensures minimum input from the muscle is required for the body to remain in alignment. An even distribution of weight throughout the body is essential to achieve this. Common postural issues for service users can include pelvic tilting, pelvic rotation or excessive curving of the spine; and slumping of the shoulders. These problems can cause chronic pain and discomfort and be worsening for mobility issues. This, in turn, has been shown to sometimes lead to fatigue and depression.

Pressure care
Pressure pain and ulcers can result from poor posture as uneven weight distribution limits blood flow to compressed areas. This can cause damage to the deeper tissue before being noticeable on the outer layer of skin. By the time pressure sores are apparent, these deeper injuries can become problematic and can be vulnerable to infection. Once affected, the area is often weakened and vulnerable to repeated damage. It is important, therefore, to be vigilant for the presence or possibility of ulceration, with prevention being the aim when considering pressure care.

There are areas of the body which are more at risk of pressure damage, these include the sacrum, the backs of the knees, parts of the spine, shoulder blades and, in some cases, the back of the head. These sites should be considered when selecting seating to ensure damage is avoided.

To fulfill a wide variety of seating needs, variations can be made in the dimensions of the seat, the height, shape, and angle of the back of the chair; and the shape and level of the armrests. Due to these many variations, a skilled advisor is essential to the selection process to match the individual service user to the most suitable model. We employ a team of experienced advisers to assist in seating selection for the expanse of varied specialist seating requirements and carry an excellent range of well-established seating and care products.

You can book an assessment or contact us for an informal chat with one of our experts to help significantly improve the long-term health and quality of life for a family member, friend or patient in need.