In 2021, Tenura participated in the Purple Tuesday campaign. Our goal for the campaign was to make the website more accessible for disabled individuals. We are continuing with this initiative in the coming year. We also helped to spread awareness and key information about some causes close to us and our customers:

• World Occupational Therapy Day 2021
• Global Arthritis Day 2021
• International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2021

More products from the Tenura range are now available in cardboard cartons as we move away from plastic packaging and towards eco-friendly alternatives, and 2022 will be no different. You can read about our eco-friendly initiatives in the ‘Fixing the Plastic Crisis’ blog.

 

We enjoyed watching the fantastic Paralympians competing at the Tokyo Paralympics and created a blog looking at ways to make sports more accessible for the disabled. We are excited to watch the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games in 2022. 

 

Our Opening Times

You may be thinking of purchasing some Tenura products in time for Christmas. Tenura order cut off before Christmas is December 22nd at 1pm for expedited, December 23rd at 3pm for standard services, subject to stock availability. Should you require your products over this period, please get in touch with us as soon as possible to arrange this.

 

Our services will be limited over the festive period. Tenura US’s opening times are below:

 

December 24th – Closed

December 31st – Closed

December 27th – Open with reduced capacity

December 28th – Open with reduced capacity

December 29th – Open with reduced capacity

December 30th – Open with reduced capacity

December 31st – Closed

January 3rd – Business resumes as normal

 

 

If you want Tenura US updates, you can subscribe to our newsletter or follow our social media accounts to stay informed on opening hours and other helpful information:​

• Facebook
• Twitter 

We hope you have a Happy Christmas and New Year. See you in 2022!

1992 is when the International Day of Persons with Disabilities was announced and held every year after on the 3rd of December. United Nations lead this observance day and hope those contributing do so in celebration through learning and action. In this blog, we will discuss ways to join in the celebrations in a COVID-friendly way.

A Reflection on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2020

Last year's theme was an important one and something many of us hadn't cast much thought upon, "Not All Disabilities Are Visible". The theme made people worldwide re-evaluate the stereotypes that stem from the term disabled. Thanks to this campaign, autism, hearing impairments, or conditions that affect the brain, neurological system, and mental health became widely recognized in terms of disability.

What is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities Theme 2021

We are happy the Coronavirus pandemic is leveling out to a form of normalcy. With this year's theme at the forefront of our minds, 'Fighting for rights in the post-COVID era." We can take a deep look into supporting disabled people following the global pandemic.

How Can We Help the Disabled In This Post-COVID World

To best understand how we can support those with disabilities, we have taken a look at the Government's statistics regarding the disabled and how they feel post-COVID.

Mental Health and the Disabled Post COVID

People with disabilities have stated that their mental health has been negatively affected by Coronavirus, and they are having feelings of anxiety, boredom, stress, and loneliness. Almost half of the disabled population reported feeling lonely as an effect of the pandemic, which is significant.

So how can we help? A great way to combat many of the above feelings is by talking about them to others. Some great listeners and advice-givers include family members, friends, or professionals. Verbalizing problems decreases stress levels and opens up the room for conversation and discussion, relieving anxiety and stress.

24% of UK disabled people stated they hadn't spoken to anyone about their worries.

Healthcare and the Disabled Post COVID

40% of disabled people have stated that access to healthcare for non-Coronavirus-related issues has been affected. It's an ambiguous statement, covering many areas from travel to treatment by healthcare professionals at hospitals and GP practices.

So how can we help? If you are a healthcare professional, make sure you positively impact any patient and provide the correct information to allow the individual to seek proper treatment. For anyone who has a disabled relative or friend, make sure they have access to transport and can make their appointments. There are online portals to order online prescriptions, so helping them set up an account can give the disabled person a means of acquiring medication without mobility barriers.

Shopping and the Disabled Post COVID

It is our fundamental human right to have access to water, food, and other essentials, and this is an area some people with disabilities are finding tricky. 27% of disabled people have stated that having access to groceries, medications, and other essentials have been affected by the Coronavirus.

So how can we help? When shopping and being generally out and about, be mindful of others, and keep your 2m distance to make others feel safe in the store. If you have a disabled friend or relative, ask if they need any assistance. If they do not feel comfortable leaving the house, create an online groceries order or help them order goods online. Assess where the disabled person needs additional help and find ways to make this practical and safe.

 

Coronavirus has affected us all but has taken a toll on some of society more so than others. We need to come together as we did for the NHS and make sure that we as a community are inclusive and accessible to all people no matter their circumstances.

Many products on the market can improve the lives of those with disabilities. At Tenura, we have a range of disability aids that can help in all areas of life. We are offering you a 10% discount to support the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2021.

You can redeem the code at checkout, receiving 10% off Tenura products such as:

• Tenura bottle and jar openers, these nifty gadgets are grip-enhancing and make removing lids from containers easier and more comfortable. They are perfect for anyone with weak grip strength.
• Tenura non-slip bath stickers once applied to your bath or shower. They add a non-slip layer that reduces the risk of slips and falls in a frequently wet and notoriously slippy area of the home. These bath stickers are the solution for people needing mobility assistance in the bathroom.
• Tenura table mats work well as placemats or on dinner trays to stop plates from sliding. For people with Parkinson's, hand tremors can make carrying a tray tricky but making sure the objects on the tray won't slide can be helpful.
• Tenura floor mats, you can place them around the home, anywhere you need to add non-slip properties, for example, near your couch to give you a better foothold when standing or sitting down, you can use them in tandem with mobility aids such as walking sticks or wheelchairs.

Use code IDOPWD10 for 10% off the whole Tenura range (valid until 01/12/21).

Some companies are taking up the Purple Tuesday initiative to make their company values align with the disabled community. This blog will outline how you can get involved and what Tenura is doing to ensure we provide inclusive customer service.

So, What’s Purple Tuesday All About

Fourteen million people in the UK live with a disability, equating to roughly 22% of the population. With that many people classified as having some form of disability, you’d think we would have better infrastructure as a nation to cope with the challenges the disabled community face.

 

We are excited to be taking part this year and joining in with over 5,000 organizations, pledging towards the Purple Tuesday campaign. Each organization reflects inward to evaluate their customer service to make it a better experience for the disabled.

How Technology and Companies can Help

As technology and our understanding of disabilities continues to grow, the future for inclusivity is bright, which is precisely what Purple Tuesday is all about.

The technology push towards a more accessible customer experience is essential. It can start with ideas such as website accessibility, voice recognition devices, and providing different channels disabled customers can access your services. Companies coming up with technology advancements in the name of disability inclusion are fantastic, as all these changes can vastly improve a disabled person’s experience with your company.

Companies can make changes offline too, which includes; training staff helping them to communicate with disabled people, installing wheelchair ramps, and creating clear signage.

If you are a company that wants to join in on the Purple Tuesday campaign, you can via their website, you need to register, then pledge a commitment that will benefit disabled people using your company. Put your ideas into action and deliver on your goals, so you can celebrate your achievements when it comes to 2nd November.

How You Can Help

Those of you speaking out on social media, informing others about businesses stepping in the right direction, and making those positive-discrimination steps is impactful. Helping companies recognize ways they can improve accessibility helps create the market pull, pulling companies in line with the values of the disabled community and beyond.

You can use the following hashtags to join in on the conversation:

• #PT2021
• #Purple­Tu­es­da­y2021
• #Disabi­lity­In­clu­sion
• #Acces­sibi­lity­ForAll

Tenura’s Pledge to Purple Tuesday

We aim to provide a better user experience for disabled people using the Tenura website. We want to be inclusive, and with products aimed at those who are disabled, it seems like a step in the right direction.

One step we have taken to reach our goal of a more inclusive website is a website audit. The website audit picks up areas where we can make our website accessible. We will be implementing these ideas in the coming years, as we have big plans, ranging from image naming formulas that aid those using screen readers to releasing a guide on website accessibility in the form of a blog. We started our strategy last year and have been making small manageable steps towards our goal ever since. As I am sure you appreciate, these adaptations take both time and money.

To further help us towards our website accessibility goal, please send an email informing us of any website accessibility techniques you feel we could implement.

We want to show our appreciation to the community pledging towards a better future by offering you a 10% discount on all Tenura products via our website. Use the discount code PURPLETUES10 at checkout to redeem. 

This promotion is running from 26/10/21 to 16/11/21.

I can safely say that 2020 was not the year we were all expecting! Luckily 2021 is in sight.

For me, 2021 holds a wealth of opportunity, and I will hopefully get to see more of my friends and family (of course, as and when the government deem it safe). Staying connected with my friends and family in the coming year is going to be one of my main focuses, and I believe this to be in line with that of the UK population. We have all missed out on seeing family during milestones such as birthdays.

During this time, please keep in your mind, relatives or friends who are struggling to live independently and may require your assistance from time to time, check up on them and make sure they are doing well, this is what Christmas is all about. We know it can be challenging to spread the Christmas spirit when barriers such as lockdowns are in play. However, these people are a part of our community and deserve the utmost care.

2021 in terms of Tenura is another full year of helpful videos, and continued commitment to deliver our high-quality products inter­nati­onally, to help everyone worldwide who hasn’t yet discovered the wonders of Tenura.

Fingers crossed we will see you at one of the exhibitions we plan on attending. However, it is too early to give any more details on the whereabouts, as we know, from our 2020 experience, these details are subject to change. Subscribe to the blog to stay up-to-date (and receive a 10% off discount code).

As for our opening hours during the Christmas period, they are as follows:

Date	Opening Times
Thursday 24th December	Close at 12:00
Friday 25th December	CLOSED
Thursday 31st December 2020	Close at 12:00
Friday 1st December 2020	CLOSED
Monday 4th January 2021	OPEN + FULLY OPERATIONAL

If you are going to make a purchase and would like it in time for Christmas, we suggest ordering before the 23^rd December.

From the bottom of our hearts here at Tenura, we wish you all the best for the new year, and we hope that Christmas goes as well as it can, even if we can’t be with our loved ones, we can connect with them in other ways.

Now is a time to reflect, reminiscence and create goals for a joyous new year. Let us know your aspirations for 2021 by connecting with us on our socials (Facebook and Twitter)

For those who reside in California, the Proposition 65 Law is very familiar in day to day life. However, other states may not be aware of this regulation. Tenura would love to bring some light to this situation, and inform our customers of the benefits of using Tenura over other companies.

To start off, California’s Safe Drinking Water & Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, known as Proposition 65, states that businesses must provide warnings when exposed to certain chemicals that are known to cause cancer, birth defects, and reproductive harm. The state of California closely monitors the list, and ensures that if these chemicals are used and customers are not told of the composition, there could be serious fines for that company’s actions. The state can charge up to $2,500 per day, when a business does not inform their consumers of potential health risks.

What Are These Chemicals?

The Chemicals that cause these types of life altering issues are called phthalates. Companies will add these chemicals into plastics to make them flexible. They are banned and restricted in numerous parts of the world, including Europe and the US. Right now the list contains six chemicals, but you would be surprised as to what these chemicals are going into! Here are some examples:

• Binders
• Lunch Boxes
• Handbags
• Raingear
• Gloves
• Garden Hoses
• Ink / Pigments
• Medical Devices
• Perfume / Nail Polish

How Are You Exposed to These Chemicals?

1. Breathing in Phthalates that are in the air and dust
2. Consuming Food contaminated with Phthalates from packaging
3. Undergoing Surgeries / Medical procedures that use devices containing Phthalates
4. Absorbing Phthalates through the skin by touching end products
5. Transferring Phthalates from hand to mouth, from touching the end products

What is Tenura Doing to Make a Difference in Your Health?

Tenura offers a wide range of independent living aids. We have something for all areas of the home including worktops, trays, handles, and tables. Unlike numerous manufactures, Tenura daily living aids are made entirely from silicone. This means they are non-toxic and chemically harmless. There is no worry about phthalates within our products, as with the use of silicone, we don’t need them.

Tenura’s main goal is take care of the little things by helping people maintain an independent lifestyle. Not only do we supply materials for adults, but children as well. That is why our chemical composition is so important to us. We are here to help people become and stay independent. We know that with our silicone based daily living aids we can do just that!

If you would like a copy of our Proposition 65 Statement, please give us a call or use the contact us form and a member of our sales team will be in touch as soon as possible.

In modern day life it is virtually impossible to avoid plastic, but with the growing epidemic of plastic pollution, it is in our best interests to minimise the amount we use.

Plastics harm the environment by seeping into soil and water, degrading our beaches, killing wildlife, choking our oceans and killing millions of marine animals each year.

There is now a huge campaign to reduce the plastic foot print by governments, environmental groups and worldwide supporters.

We are part of the problem and now need to be part of the solution.

Our problem is that we live in a throw away culture and urgency is needed to move away from this lifestyle involving single use plastic.

Even If we make little changes in our day to day life, that can help to reduce our own plastic footprint.

Together we can have a huge impact in reducing the plastic footprint.

Below are a few pointers to go plastic free at home.

Plastic Bags

Purchase reusable bags made from durable, environment friendly materials that will last time and time again.

Plastic Bottles

Refillable, glass water bottles are much better for the environment and yourself.

Plastic Straws

Skip a straw or buy a reusable metal one.

Shop Local

Local farmers markets are ideal for plastic free shopping; as most items are displayed loose and likely to accommodate your needs. Most food presented in these markets hasn’t travelled great distances to get to you, therefore the carbon footprint is low.

Buy in Bulk

Reduces the amount of plastic packaging.

Reusable Party Cutlery

The amount of single use party ware we throw away in our lifetimes would add up to a considerable amount.

 

Recycle When Possible

This will give your used packaging the best chance of being disposed of correctly to reduce the pollution created from waste.

The ‘Attenborough Effect’ has sparked a rise in beaches around the UK having a big clean up. With a rise in 18 beaches since last year being awarded for their litter free sands. Over the past 12 months, this movement has led to a 53 percent reduction in single-use plastic.

Large fast-food and coffee franchises such as McDonalds, Starbucks and Sheetz are leading the way in the eradication of their single-use plastic straws as well as offering reusable cups.

Certain Supermarkets are also taking action to reduce plastic packaging on their products by creating plastic-free aisles so consumers can buy products loosely, or bring their own containers.

The UK has also banned products containing microbeads within the last year.

What Effort is Tenura Making?

Here at Tenura we are making the move from plastic to cardboard packaging, starting with our jar and bottle openers. By 2020, the entire Tenura range will be packaged in cardboard retail boxes.

Cardboard is a very durable material, which allows products to withstand long transportation times. It prevents moisture from accessing goods within the packaging and prevents them from becoming damaged.

Cardboard is biodegradable and recyclable, with it also being more easily and widely recycled than any other material. In addition, it would create lighter packaging so this would also reduce the emissions used when transporting.

For more specific information on our new cardboard packaging, or to place an order, you can contact the Tenura sales team via phone or live chat. Alternatively complete our contact us form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Swiss and American researchers recently released a study stating that bath-time toys, rubber ducks predominantly in this case, become a haven for disease-spreading bacteria.

The Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, ETH Zurich and the University of Illinois, counted the microbes found in the murky, stagnant water that resided in some of these bath-time toys. In 4 out of the 5 toys studied, they found that the water squeezed out of them contained “potentially pathogenic bacteria” such as Legionella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bacterium which is “often implicated in hospital-acquired infection”.

While differences have been found in others, many bath-toys have produced similar results and the reason is down to the material. The plastic materials, with low-quality polymers in them, release carbons that can serve as food for the bacteria. While some of the bacteria is present in the water, bodily fluids, various contaminants and soap are also added. The additional components add microbes and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous and when the bacteria are introduced to this balmy brine and the carbon released from the bath-toys material it creates a formula that produces a haven for bacteria to grow and thrive, so much so there was a strikingly high number recorded. Up to 75 million cells per square centimetre of a variety of bacteria and fungus. The research had lead to the conclusion that without the carbon produced from the low-quality polymers in the material, this number would have been much less dramatic.

The presence of bacteria is important for the development of a child’s immune system, but too much can lead to infections. The increase of which can be avoided by better quality bath toys that feature higher quality polymers thus preventing the growth and fungus and bacteria.

Tenura Antimicrobial Daily Living Aids

With Tenura for the most part being hand held daily living aids intended for use around food and drink, we too faced similar issues in making sure our products did not subject our users to these risks as well as others.

Initially creating our daily living aids from a non-toxic material, silicone, we removed the need for phthalates to be used in our products to make them pliable enough for their purpose. Phthalates have been used in similar products. It helps to soften cheaper materials to give them a more rubber like finish. The problem with phthalates, is that they are toxic and exposure to them can have long term detrimental health effects. This has resulted in them being banned or restricted in parts of Europe and the USA.

To help combat bacteria the only additive we used is an anti-microbial powder, added during the manufacturing process which prevents the build-up of bacteria and protecting against mold and fungi. This solitary additive is intended to help protect our customers, as well as add value through longevity to our daily living aids.

View the range on the website. Spend $60 or more and we will deliver your order to you free of charge.

Here at Tenura, we feel very much like evangelists of slip prevention. We have always seen the world as a hazardous place. It’s always inevitable that slip and fall accidents happen in slippery and dangerous areas if the correct precautions are not taken.

A good example of this was Dolphins Lineman Laremy Tunsil, who suffered and unfortunate slip and fall accident in the shower at the hotel the Dolphins were staying in before their game against the Titans. This injury to his ankle led Tunsil to miss the game after 4 solid starts.

This fall shows that it doesn’t matter what your physical stature, slips and falls are always around the corner, especially in places like wet rooms, bathrooms or showers. Many people see slips and falls as something which happens to those who are impaired, disabled or elderly. However, events like this really show how this can happen to anyone and can have serious effects on your life. We wish Laremy Tunsil a swift recovery.

Tenura believes a form of slip prevention should be in all baths, showers and wet rooms. Unfortunately, many of the current items for this, such as the common bath mats can create a trip hazard of their own and harbour bacteria easily if not cleaned often. Bath mats can also fold over or lift when moving your foot over them, creating a secondary trip hazard that is just as, if not more dangerous than the first.

Tenura Non slip bath and shower stickers are made from a non abrasive anti slip material called Aqua Safe. Aqua safe is an embossed PVC plastic which is completely waterproof and has very high grip levels, making it perfect for applying in areas where water will constantly sit. This materials non abrasive surface is extremely comfortable to walk and rest bare feet or soft fabrics on, preventing the damage or injury an abrasive solution could cause. Tenura non slip fabric and discs create a form of non slip surface without the need for a mat. These strips and discs can be applied directly to a dry bath, shower or wet room and be used instantly, without the danger of lift or creating a trip hazard.

Tenura aqua safe strips and discs can be found in white and transparent colors, allowing you to match and not disturb the aesthetics of bathrooms and showers whilst still offering effective slip protection.

To find out more about Tenura aqua safe anti slip bath and shower stickers, please visit the website, or alternatively contact us via phone, email or the contact us form.

 

(Picture found at: http://­ftw.­usatoday.­com/­2016/­04/­laremy-tunsil-gas-mask-bong-nfl-draft-miami-dolphins)

As you can see, our new site is now live! We have been working on this for the past few months to bring a much more simplified user experience to all of our site visitors which we hope will allow you to make better informed choices with our daily living aids.