Probably, nobody would want to get a pay cut as long as they are in a position to go to the office and work. However, several circumstances arise at times that render them unable to do so. They may range from anything like a severe accident to a prolonged illness causing weakness to ageing related issues. Disability aids come to their rescue in such times and help them upkeep their self-reliance.

One of the important disability aids is an over chair table. It fits on to the chair easily and enables people with mobility restrictions to perform activities like reading, dining, eating or working on a laptop.

So, let's see how you can stay at home while recuperating and still save yourself from a pay cut by upkeeping your work efficiency in case you have a desk job.

Factors to Optimize Your Work from Home

1. Lighting

The quality of lighting can influence your productivity, mood and well-being.

Poor lighting - whether too dim or too bright can strain your eyes. The best kind of light is the type that is neither too dim nor too bright and soothes your eyes - the natural daylight. If it isn't feasible, try to go for a desk lamp that simulates daylight.

Besides, the positioning of lights also matters. The lighting should be uniform enough so that you don't have to squint but also ensure that it doesn't cause glare on your laptop screen.

For that, you need to position your desk lamp in a way that the bottom of your lampshade is about the height of your chin when turned on.

2. Sound

While at home, there are so many noises around you that can divert your attention. There may be horns honking outside, neighbours' chattering, dogs barking, etc. If you think that these noises may reduce your efficiency, use a good-quality pair of noise-cancelling headphones and play some soothing music to enhance your focus.

5. Chair

After your table, your chair forms the other crucial piece of furniture that helps you work comfortably. While buying an ergonomic chair, you should look for the following features.

• Lumbar Support -Your chair should support your lower spine and the curve in its back should follow the natural curve of your lower back.
  
  
• Height -A height-adjustable chair may be an ideal option as you can set its height as per your comfort level and desk. While adjusting height, make sure your feet lie flat on the floor instead of dangling.
  
  
• Arm Rests -Your arm rests should be at a height that prevents your shoulders from hunching and keeps your arms parallel to the floor.
  
  
• Reclining Ability -If you have spine issues, a recliner chair variant may be a better choice than a non-reclining variant. A tilt angle of 135° is generally ideal for your spine rather than 90°.
  
  
• Material - Though the choice of material is generally subjective, you should consider a material that keeps you cool in summer and warm in winters for prolonged sitting periods.

For instance, a velvet back chair may be suitable for winters and a mesh or cotton back chair may be suitable for summers. Further, the material of your chair should be durable and long-lasting.

In a Nutshell

Just like all disability aids, an over chair table helps make your life easier by letting you transform your home into a makeshift workplace and continue working seamlessly even when away from your office.

Anything from a minor illness to severe accident may render a person bed-bound.
 

An overbed table is one of the few disability aids that might make performing daily routine activities easier for bed-bound people. It fits over your bed and lets you do your work while at rest. Just like many disability aids, this equipment also has several variations.

Let's understand these and how you can choose the right one for your use.
 

Types of Overbed Tables

The purpose of use and construction design are two main criteria for the classification of this type of tables.
 

A. On the Basis of Purpose of Use
 

• Inpatient
  Inpatient overbed tables, as the name indicates, are for care centres, clinics and hospitals. Bed-ridden seniors or recovery patients may find them useful for dining, reading, etc.
  
  

  Generally, they can bear a weight of over 100 pounds. A patient can dine, read or write on them. Doctors can even put heavy medical equipment on their surface.

• Bariatric
  Bariatric overbed tables are similar to inpatient overbed tables in function and appearance. The difference is: a larger table top to support larger patients.
   
• Paediatric
  
  These type of tables are especially for kids. A variety of colours and kid-friendly designs can make the environment cheerful for kids.
   

  You can feed them or let them enjoy activities like reading, writing, painting, etc. on them. They might also be useful in paediatric hospitals as hospital trays to cater to sick kids in an efficient way.
   

B. On the Basis of Construction Design
 

1. Adjustable Tilt Top
 

As the name indicates, these tables have adjustable table tops. You can easily tilt them to some degree for optimal use. This may prevent your neck or back from straining.
 

They again are of two types:
 

• Single Surface
  
  They have a single resting surface. Generally, they come in handy to serve food to patients in bed. They can also support other activities like reading or writing, but only one at a time.
   
• Dual-Surface
  
  They have tabletops in two sections, one larger and the other smaller. Easy tilting of the table-top makes them highly useful and versatile.

  The larger section is useful for putting a laptop on, eating, reading, writing, etc. The smaller section is to accommodate the things you can't afford to tilt like drinks. Slip guards on the edges prevent objects from rolling off.
   

2. Non-Adjustable Top

They can be a good option for patients with mobility restrictions. As they are light in weight, they can be more convenient to use. Generally, you can adjust their height as per the height of your bed.

They are comparatively less versatile due to their non-adjustable tilt angle.
 

3. Folding

They are lightweight yet durable and strong. They are ideal for a variety of activities like eating, drinking, reading, or working on a laptop.
 

They are foldable, adding to their ease of use and storage. Raised edges around their top surface prevent things from falling off.
 

Things to consider when picking an Overbed Table:
 

It is important to consider the factors in your particular situation before making your choice.

There are several that can help you select the right one:
 

Dimensions

The dimensions of the overbed table you pick should fit your requirements. Consider the framework of your bed and the space you have. Make sure that your bed has enough clearance space beneath it to let you roll the wheels freely.
 

Tilt

The adjustable tilt top variant can be the right choice if you want support for performing multiple activities besides dining like writing or reading. However, for a single activity at a time or minimal use like dining, a non-adjustable variant may be more suitable.
 

Storage
 

The heavy duty variant can be the right choice for hospitals and health care centres. For home or for greater accessibility and ease of use and storage, folding overbed tables can be ideal.
 

Height
 

Most of these types of tables have adjustable heights. This feature makes them adjustable for different bed heights. You can set them in a position and lock them. The height-adjustable variants are also useful for wheelchairs and recliners. Therefore, going for the adjustable height variants always can be useful.
 

To Wrap Up
 

Disability aids might help make a person's life better post an injury, illness or accident. An overbed table also makes a great difference for a patient with mobility restrictions.

Analyzing all the types of overbed table available before choosing the one that suits you the best is crucial. Besides your own analysis and assessment, consulting an occupational therapist is a good idea before making a choice.

Being aware of the range of bathroom disability aids is important for people looking to retain an independent life in old age. Keeping oneself clean and being able to wash alone is something we all want to do for the duration of our lives. With the onset of certain physical conditions, this is more difficult. Thankfully, special equipment and adaptations are available which make things easier.

Getting in and out of the bath

Many people lose flexibility and strength as they get older. This can make the process of getting in and out of the bath difficult. A bath step placed next to the outside wall of the bath can make it less of an obstacle.

Similarly, a bath seat inside the bath itself raises the height of its floor. This reduces the distance of travel getting and out and puts less strain on the body.

A support rail fixed to the wall next to the bath is also helpful. This provides a point of contact which again helps with lowering or raising oneself. There are also rails available which clamp onto the side of the bathtub.

These have some advantages over wall-mounted grab rails. Not only do they assist with the process of bath entry and exit. As they are usually about waist height, they also help when climbing the bath step, or even standing next to the bath drying off.

Aids to assist with one’s balance are important in bathroom or wet-room settings. Because of the hard wet surfaces, people can be prone to slipping in this environment. While grab rails fixed to the walls or bath itself are useful, large vertical poles are also an option.

Floor-to-ceiling support poles

These fit to the entire height of the room from floor to ceiling and are sometimes equipped with horizontal support rails attached. They provide a purpose-built support point on which the user can lean, assisting their balance. The advantage of this sort of installation is that its position is flexible and does not need to be wall-mounted.

This type of fixture requires installation by a qualified tradesman. It is crucial to use fixings suitable for the specific flooring and ceiling of the bathroom concerned. A floor to ceiling pole is useful to help getting up from the toilet, in and out of the bath or just for support while getting dressed or undressed.

A tradesman is also necessary for a wall mounted shower seat. These fit within shower cubicles and are ideal for those of have difficulty standing without support. These typically have slatted or perforated seats, allowing excess water to drain off. This reduces the chances of the user slipping. Many have patterned indentations on the sitting surface to serve the same purpose.

Many people prefer a wall mounted shower seat because it is easy fold out of the way when not in use. Most designs allow the seat to flip up against the wall. This saves the bother of moving a free-standing stool in and out of the cubicle as and when required.

Some models have fold-down legs which drop beneath the seat when it folds out from the wall. These tend to have a greater weight-bearing capacity than those without legs. They may also feel slightly more stable when in use. It is obviously crucial that you know the weight limit of any wall mounted shower seat before sitting on it.

Bathroom disability aids like perching stools are also useful if you struggle to stand for sustained periods. These are useful for the bathroom sink, for example. Perching stools are tall chairs with a tilted sitting surface. This allows the user to ‘semi-sit’ as they brush their teeth or use the bathroom mirror. Some have armrests and backs, offering extra support. They all have non-slip feet, meaning they will not slide around on tiled bathroom floors.

Perching stools are also useful in the kitchen. Some people have difficult standing unsupported while preparing food at the work-top, or washing up at the sink.