Products and services at the Marketplace Homecare & Nursing
Among others, the Marketplace Homecare & Nursing informs about the following topics:
Anti-bedsore systems for preventive care and therapy
Anti-bedsore systems, alternative pressure overlays and positioning aids can effectively counteract sores among patients who are confined to lying in bed. Numerous exhibitors at REHAB will provide information about the options available and the latest models.
Preventive care is better than healing. This motto also applies to decubitus problems. Anti-bedsore preventive care is so important because the therapeutic process can be long and difficult. Anti-bedsore systems are useful aids that should be used as a supplement to regular changes of position of the patient.
Anti-bedsore aids help distribute the pressure of the body’s weight in order to guarantee the best possible blood flow. Various different systems, forms, materials and surface types are available depending on the illness, mobility and risk of bedsores for the individual patient.
Anti-bedsore mattresses relocate the body’s weight onto the largest possible body area, so that the pressure is not too strong in individual places. Air-filled alternating pressure mattresses consist of air pockets, the air pressure of which is automatically changed at regular intervals. In this way, different areas of the body are pressure-loaded and pressure-relieved in alternation. Soft positioning mattresses are soft and pressure-relieving due to their special structure and foam filling.
Pain-relieving mattresses also have a particularly soft spring system. They alleviate pain and are designed to counteract insomnia. Anti-bedsore overlays are available for sitting on chairs and wheelchairs, for feet, legs, arms and the entire body. Positioning aids or position supports include anti-bedsore supports, anti-bedsore seat cushions, blankets, rolls and wedges.
Mechanical respiration at home offers many advantages to patients
For people with chronic pulmonary diseases, or diseases of the respiratory tract or respiratory muscles, mechanical respiration at home can alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. When choosing the right system, it is important to take individual needs into account.
Patients with a chronic undersupply of oxygen frequently suffer from shortness of breath, headaches, sleep disorders and rapid exhaustion. The inflow of oxygen via respiratory devices helps alleviate symptoms and increase mobility and performance and can prolong life, depending on the form of illness.
For patients who require long-term oxygen therapy (LOT or LTOT), fixed-position oxygen concentrators and mobile inhalation devices are available, alongside systems with gaseous and liquid oxygen. In some cases, the inflow of oxygen by day or by night can be sufficient, i.e. when intermittent ventilation is provided via respiration devices. Often, however, an inflow of oxygen over 24 hours is necessary. One option is to supply oxygen non-invasively via a breathing mask, while another is invasive supply via a tracheostoma and a tracheal cannula. Both options are suitable for both continuous and intermittent ventilation.
In addition to the fixed-position and mobile oxygen systems, active respiratory gas humidifiers for humidifying, warming and purifying the respiratory gas can be used. Further aids are respiratory therapy devices for secretion mobilisation and cough assistants. At REHAB, exhibitors will present the entire range of products available for successful ventilation at home.
Enteral nutrition for individual needs
Enteral nutrition secures the supply of fluid and nutrients for people who are unable to eat and drink in sufficient quantities – temporarily or permanently.
Age-related chewing difficulties, swallowing difficulties and problems resulting from a stroke, injuries or cancer in the mouth and throat areas, loss of weight due to illness or unconsciousness can make artificial feeding necessary. When patients are still able to drink, the nutrients required are frequently supplied in the form of medical nutrient drinks. These are available in versions that are tailor-made to many indications and with different tastes.
If the patient is no longer able to drink or cover their needs through nutrient drinks, enteral nutrition is required in many cases – in other words, the supply of nutrients through a tube that runs through the nose or mouth and oesophagus and into the stomach. The gastric tube can also be inserted directly into the stomach through the abdominal wall (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, or PEG tube). It thus guarantees a temporary or permanent supply of fluid and nutrients.
Nutrients fed through a tube can reach the gastrointestinal tract in portions by means of a gravity system that usually hangs on the infusion stand. Alternatively, a feeding pump can enable continuous feeding for disabled and ill people. Mobile patients can also take the pump with them in a special carrier bag. REHAB offers information on the broad range of medical devices, tubes and nutrient drinks.
Everything you need for home nursing
Nursing at home in a familiar environment is something that nearly all people in need of care need. REHAB offers an overview of the nursing aids required for patient care at home and intensive home nursing.
Nursing aids for people with disabilities help make home care easier and contribute to the alleviation of symptoms. They can support severely disabled and severely ill people in their mobility and increase the quality of life of those affected.
In general, a differentiation is made in home nursing between “technical nursing aids” and “consumable nursing aids”.
Technical nursing aids include:
- Nursing monitoring technology and measuring technology
- Nursing beds, beds for disabled people
- Nursing chairs, toilet chairs
- Wheelchairs
- Stair ascent devices such as stair crawlers
- Passenger lifts, lifting devices
Nursing consumables are suitable only for single use due to their properties or for reasons of hygiene. These include:
- Disinfectants
- Disposable gloves, finger cots
- Protective aprons and mouth protection
Some severely ill patients can be provided with intensive medical care at home. Here, a nursing service must be available which specialises in intensive care at home. 24-hour intensive care at home requires close cooperation between doctors, the nursing service, the patient and the relatives. Relatives can attend training events in order to support the intensive care of the family member affected.
Incontinence aids for all needs
Aids for incontinence make every-day life easier for affected people and relieve carers. The product selection is quite large and satisfies the most diverse expectations.
There are many incontinence aids for people who are somewhat or fully incapable of holding their urine or stool. Light or serious incontinence, men or women, mobile or bed-ridden people, for day or night: modern products offer the highest degree of hygiene, discretion and comfort. Visitors can gather an impression of the versatility of these important aids at REHAB.
Absorbing incontinence products include
- incontinence inlays with different absorption degrees and sizes, as well as mesh-wear and fixation pants
- incontinence pants combined with an inlay
- incontinence pants, thicker models with fixation pants
- incontinence diapers and diaper pants with high absorption powers and leak protection
- bed protection pads for single-use or reusable
With draining incontinence products, the urine is guided from the urinary tract into a urine pouch which can be worn on the body or placed by the bed. A distinction is made between invasive systems, such as single-use and permanent catheters, and non-invasive incontinence aids, such as the condom urinal for men.
In case of neurologically triggered micturition dysfunctions, many people are capable of improving the quality of their lives through intermittent (repeating) self-catheterization (ISC). In this approach, the bladder is emptied by the affected person several times per day using single-use catheters - with or without integrated collection pouch. Infections of the urinary tract and damages to the kidneys can be prevented while increasing the independence and mobility of the patients.
Nursing services for people with disabilities
Medical care at home is possible for people with disabilities with the aid of nursing services. At REHAB, nursing service providers for the disabled and for ill patients is an important focal theme.
Nursing services offer many different options when it comes to nursing and caring for people with illnesses and disabilities who live at home. They also support relatives and work in cooperation with medical specialists in order to ensure the best possible care. In difficult cases, nursing services also provide home intensive care.
Beyond healthcare provision for disabled and ill people, the aim of nursing is to facilitate the autonomy of the person affected and to enable them to remain in their familiar environment for as long as possible. The nursing services for people with disabilities therefore also include not only medical treatment care and physical nursing care, but also help in running the home and care support measures. This support for disabled or ill people can for example consist of memory training, practicing everyday skills and leisure activities.
The type and scale of the nursing services are oriented to the respective needs and the degree of care required as specified in the application. People with disabilities can apply for a certified care requirement level from the health or nursing care insurance company, and are classified between levels 1 to 5. In order to claim home help services, they must be at least level 2, although exceptions are granted to patients recuperating after a stay in hospital and outpatient treatment after an operation.
Wound care for people with a disability or illness
Professional wound care can accelerate the healing process among people with a disability or illness and improve the quality of life of those affected. REHAB offers the ideal platform for presenting and discussing the wide range of wound care options available.
Acute and chronic wounds must be treated professionally, in order to facilitate healing, prevent infections and alleviate pain. For bedridden patients, it is essential that wounds are treated after pressure loads and blood flow disorders. Chronic wounds can also arise as a result of leg ulcers or a diabetic foot. They require treatment at the correct time intervals in close cooperation with all those involved. For this reason, extensive consultation is required with regard to wound treatment for people with disabilities or an illness and their relatives.
Different methods and materials are used depending on the fundamental illness and the type and severity of the wound. Inactive wound dressings such as mull and greased gauze, interactive or hydroactive wound dressings such as alginates and hydrogels, highly absorbent dressings, antibacterial, deodorising dressings, and many more. Active wound dressings contain bioactive materials such as cultivated skin cells or growth factors.
Another method of treating large wounds among people with a disability or illness is vacuum therapy. It covers the wound surface in an airtight manner and builds up a vacuum with the aid of an electronic pump. This is designed to support the drainage of wound secretions in the foam dressing and to accelerate the healing process.