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.

Initially, this observance day was known as WFOT Occupational Therapy International Day, until 2010 when it was renamed Occupation Therapy Day/World OT Day. The observation day became official and globally recognized in 2010.

The organization behind OT day is the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, WFOT, which provides a supportive community for occupational therapists globally with over 100 organizations and 580,000 occupational therapists in their membership program. Their key goals are to provide a "global voice for occupational therapists" and "set the standards" for OT practices. They want to educate their members with the latest industry news and techniques, delivering this via their approved education programs.

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists is pushing the focus this year on displaced persons and marginalized communities and how best to support them as occupational therapists.

This crucial topic is at the forefront of people's minds following shifts in the soci­oen­vi­ron­mental climate following the recent events and those seeking refuge from Afghanistan.

World OT Day 2021 Theme

This year's World OT Day theme is "Belong. Be you.", which lends itself to their latest initiative. They are releasing content regarding diversity, adversity, and inclusion, and how we can work together to improve community relations and resilience. We all come across struggles in daily life. Some people in our local and global communities have a more challenging time overcoming adversity, recently highlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement and the scenes in Kabul following the evacuation of troops in Afghanistan.

 

For some readers, you may be unaware of the essential work that occupational therapists do, especially concerning the above. Still, this blog will demonstrate how vital their role is in our communities and why we need to show our support.

Occupational therapists can help those living in crisis or transitioning to a new location after seeking asylum. They can utilize socio-political occupational therapy techniques to help patients further. They can help by giving a person structure to their daily lives to provide a sense of normalcy. Their work improves the patient's mental health and integration into their new local communities. Integration is paramount and can be acquired through education and bridging the gap between cultural differences. These techniques aim to develop the patient's independence.

As you can imagine, moving to a new area or even country, things can vary, from the types of food to the typical clothing fashions. It was not a choice for displaced humans to move, and the migration was involuntary or even coerced. These people could be fleeing persecution, war/conflict, and violations of their human rights. So, understanding culture is beneficial for all parties involved, especially as there may be a language barrier in the initial move.

If you are an OT and want to improve your knowledge surrounding this year's theme, there are two free courses available from the World Federation of Occupational Therapists website:

• WFOT Disaster Management for Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapy: Working with Displaced Persons

Get Involved in World OT Day 2021

You can be involved in World OT Day via the #WorldOTDay hashtag, post a picture of you celebrating at your practice, and help spread awareness. They also have some social media images and other content you can use to help promote World OT Day via their website.

Other hashtags you can use include:

• #WorldOc­cu­pati­onal­The­rapyDay
• #Occu­pati­onal­The­rapyDay
• #WFOTOc­cu­pati­onal­The­rapy­In­ter­nati­onalDay

The WFOT has partnered with PromOTing Occupational Therapy. Their theme is to "Pay it Forward", calling Occupational Therapist practitioners and students globally to volunteer some of their time to help make a difference in the world. They have also made a map detailing the countries that have taken part over the years.

If you are looking for some accounts to follow so you can share their content and join in on the conversation, be sure to view:

• World Federation of Occupational Therapists
• World OT Day
• Tenura's Facebook and Twitter accounts

We Support World OT Day + Claim Your Free Gift

We want to give away a pack of 4 anti-slip coasters with any purchase. The drinks coasters are made from non-slip silicone, which prevents drinks from being easily knocked over and spilling. To claim the free gift, add the discount code FREECOASTEROTD at checkout. We hope you have enjoyed this blog and will get involved in this year's OT day. Make sure you don't miss out on other healthcare observation days and future free gifts by subscribing to our blog.

Please note, you must spend over £10 on the Tenura website to redeem the offer via the discount code. The promotion is running from 14/10/21 to 14/11/21.

To help advocate for World Arthritis Day 2020 (10.12.20), we thought it would be a great idea to answer some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding arthritis.

Can Arthritis be Cured? / Can Arthritis be Treated?

Currently, a cure is not known for arthritis. However, there are many treatments available that can decelerate and help minimise the pain and other symptoms surrounding arthritis. If you believe you or someone you know has arthritis, seek a doctor’s advice immediately.

To treat arthritis, you can use prescribed medication. There are some lifestyle changes you can make too, such as spending more time in the sun, as Vitamin D helps maintain healthy bones and allows the autoimmune system to work correctly. Sunshine is especially helpful for those with rheumatoid arthritis which is often caused by an autoimmune response in the body. You can read more about this in our "Activities in the Sun for People with Arthritis" blog.

There are various operations doctors can perform depending on the type of arthritis and its severity, with the well-known being, joint replacement surgery. During this surgery, a prosthetic joint replaces an arthritic joint.

Can Arthritis Spread?

Rheumatoid arthritis is currently perceived to spread via a person’s blood vessels. If a person has rheumatoid arthritis their arthritic joint releases synovial cells contained in the synovial sac (the sac lubricate joints to avoid friction and wear), these cells travel around the body, affecting other joints-according to a study at the Kerckhoff-Clinic, Germany.

Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis does not spread through the body. Due to this, a person with osteoarthritis may overcompensate, heavily using other joints to remain balanced and mobile. Overcom­pen­sating can cause those other joints to have excess stress put through them, which can be damaging, and this is why it is crucial to seek a doctor’s advice as soon as symptoms of arthritis occur.

What does Arthritis Look Like?

Arthritis can cause edema (swelling) in the affected areas, along with red-ish skin. In acute cases, joints are misshapen, so much so, the affected area takes on a new shape resulting in a crooked finger or toe. Knobbly abscesses can contribute to the malformed appearance, these abscesses are the body trying to protect itself, as the joints wear down, the body attempts to regrow the bone, and it doesn’t always grow in the shape it once was. Another indication of arthritis is small mucous cysts that develop on the hands.

What does Arthritis Feel Like?

Initially, it is said to feel achy, similar to a burning sensation which comes and goes depending on your activity level. In the later stages, the pain tends not to subside and remains in the affected joints. Around affected joints, the skin may be warm to the touch due to inflammation caused by irritated joints. Joints tend to become stiff and seize up, which is why the NHS recommends exercise.

How can you Participate in World Arthritis Day 2020?

We are glad you asked, there are many ways you can support World Arthritis Day. You can raise awareness and spread knowledge through your family, friends and social media. You can participate in local healthcare organisation’s charity events, appeals or fundraisers. Perhaps you could start a fundraiser yourself or participate in a fun run.

One of the ways Tenura will be supporting World Arthritis Day is through our marketing channels. We will be posting helpful information all month regarding Arthritis and Tenura arthritis aids. You can learn more about Tenura arthritis aids through our blog.

A quick low down of some helpful arthritis friendly Tenura products:

Tenura Non-Slip Coasters and Anti-Slip Mats

Non-slip coasters and anti-slip mats provide a place to rest things such as mugs and plates, the silicone grips onto the objects which keeps them held in position. A person with arthritis may find these anti-slip mats to be helpful, as you can use them in conjunction with the silicone jar and bottle openers to open containers with one hand, allowing you to use the less arthritic hand.

 

Tenura Silicone Jar and Bottle Opener

Jar and bottle openers enable you to open containers with ease. Tenura silicone has grip-enhancing properties that allow you to get a firm grasp of lids. For a person living with arthritis, these openers can be a great help as pain, swelling, or other flare-up symptoms can make objects a struggle to hold.

 

Tenura Silicone Cutlery Grips

Arthritis can cause reduced movement in your hands and fingers that makes holding onto cutlery difficult. By sliding Tenura cutlery grips onto utensils, you no longer require the full motion used to clutch cutlery as the surface area is now greater.

 

Tenura Silicone Non-Slip Grip Strips and Rolls

Create bespoke arthritis aids using Tenura grip strips or rolls. You can cut Tenura silicone down to the size and shape required. Many of our customers who live with arthritis use the grip strips around handles of cupboards, pans, DIY and gardening tools, to mention a few. Tenura silicone is both a non-slip material and grip-enhancing, which is why it is perfect for use on handles, you can get a firm hold without the risk of things slipping out of your hands.

All the products listed above are made from Tenura silicone, which means they are:

• Antimicrobial (prevents bacteria harbouring)
• Washable by hand or dishwasher (withstanding temperatures up to 250°C)
• Non-toxic (safe to use in all environments)
• Latex-free

To stay up-to-date with all the events and activities during World Arthritis Day 2020, you can follow the hashtags:

• #WAD20
• #WorldA­rt­hri­tisDay
• #ArthritisDay
• #Arthri­tis­Da­y2020
• #Cure­Art­hri­tisWAD

And follow us on our social media channels; Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and don’t forget to tag us in your World Arthritis Day activities.

Tenuras latest addition to the daily living aids range is self-adhesive non-slip silicone reels. This material is our faithful non-slip silicone with an added bonus of a strong self adhesive backing, allowing it to be applied to an area as an effective semi-permanent non-slip surface. This will not only provide excellent non-slip properties, but will not damage any items placed upon it.

The adhesive backing was an additional feature people have enquired about online, at meetings and exhibitions. Now we at Tenura are happy to make this available and supply an inexpensive, self-adhesive non-slip surface.

This material can be used in many domestic and industrial applications such as in tool boxes, workbenches, breakfast bars or side tables, both at home or desks in the office. It can also be applied to handheld objects to increase grip and comfort. Self-adhesive silicone reels decrease the risk of spills and prevent stains from objects resting on its surface. Thanks to the easy peel away backing, this material can be applied quickly and neatly, creating an aesthetically pleasing non-slip surface.

They are highly versatile. This is due to the ability of being able to cut pieces to specific sizes using scissors, making them ideal for when a non-slip surface is required.

The aforementioned cut-to-size versatility makes it perfect for areas where multiple or specific shape applications may be needed.

Like most of Tenura silicone non-slip and grip aids, Tenura self adhesive non-slip reels can be cleaned with a simple combination of hot water and soap, but will lose all non-slip properties whilst wet. Once dry the materials non-slip properties will return, so we recommend allowing the surface to dry properly before using it.

Tenura self-adhesive non-slip reels are 3.2ft x 7.8” giving you a large amount of material to work with for your money. They are 0.011” thick and available in blue.

Should you have any questions or queries about our self-adhesive non-slip reels or any other products Tenura produces you can do so via the live chat feature or calling us by phone. Alternatively, complete the contact us form and a member of our sales team will get back to you as soon as possible.

Utensil grips are a handy addition to day to day life by providing an enhanced surface area around knives, forks, pens, pencils, toothbrushes and many other items, making them easier for daily use. Utensil Grips are perfect for those who suffer from impairments to grip. By increasing the surface area on the utensil, you can decrease the amount of grip required, helping to decrease strain on muscles when trying to grip small objects. However, these products are sized for adult hands, which may prove difficult for children to use.

This presented us with a dilemma. How good is a daily living aid if it can’t cater to everybody’s needs? This brought us to the product we are mentioning for the first time, Tenura children’s Utensil grips!

Tenura children’s utensil grips, like their bigger counterpart, also provide an enhanced surface area allowing children with impairments to be able to use utensils easier without having to accommodate a large Utensil grip. Children’s Utensil grips are 98mm in size and weigh 45g per sheaf. This is a lot lighter than our adult versions. Utensil grips are made from a strong antimicrobial silicone, designed to be durable and prevent the harboring and spread of bacteria.

Utensil grips are easily applied and can be washed by hand or via dishwasher. These are perfect for big industries like charities or organisations who may have a large turnaround of people and don’t have time necessary to clean them all by hand.

Tenura Children’s Utensil Grips come in three vibrant colours options, red, blue and grey. Utensil grips can be purchased directly through our website and come in packs of two. By spending $40 on our website and we will ship your order free of charge. For further queries, please use the contact form or live chat on our site!

 

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)