As Carer’s Week (9–15 June) gets underway, posture expert James Leinhardt highlights how the UK can support elderly people to live independently for longer through adopting at-home recovery solutions.
James, who champions the incredible work of NHS clinicians and carers across the UK, has spent over 15 years supporting people with complex neurological conditions in both NHS and private settings.
‘The NHS does an absolutely phenomenal job at supporting the elderly. But we’re facing a demographic tidal wave, with millions more people ageing into their 70s, 80s, and beyond, and the pressure on NHS teams will only grow,’ says James.
‘That’s why we’ve got to act now to support recovery where it increasingly happens: at home. When older people have the right tools to sleep better, sit better, and move more freely, it lightens the load, not just for themselves, but for the whole system that’s trying to keep up with the UK’s increasingly aging population.’
It comes amid estimates that the over 85s population will increase to nearly 5 million by 2025, that’s according to Age UK. The charity says there are now 22 million people aged over 50 in England – equivalent to two in five of the total population – and the over 85s is the fastest growing age group.
The rapid increase in Britain’s aging population is being dubbed by experts as a ‘silver tsunami’, as experts predict that this increase will trigger a massive shift in demand on public sector services, social care and housing solutions as they struggle to deal with the ‘tidal wave’ of additional support required to support a growing elderly population.
‘Patients are often sleeping on poor quality mattresses, whether that’s in hospital beds or at home, and it is effectively like getting people to sleep in a bowl of porridge. Their movement is restricted and their joints tense, which increases the risk of pain and makes it harder for people to move and recover.’
‘Most of the time, the issue isn’t the system. It’s that people want to do the right thing, but they’re not given the kit or the know-how to do it,’ says Leinhardt, who is a TED speaker and founder of award-winning sleep posture brand Levitex.
‘The people delivering care, whether they’re nurses, carers, or 89-year-old spouses, are heroes. We just want to back them up.’
Age UK estimates that 2 million people aged 65+ already have unmet needs for care and support. Among them, 600,000 older people struggle just to get in and out of bed.
‘These aren’t luxury problems,’ James adds. ‘This is basic mobility, basic dignity. The right posture support can be the difference between someone needing round-the-clock help, or being able to move, rest, and recover on their own terms.’
In light of the rising needs of recovery solutions at home, James has developed the The Levitex Rehab Range to bridge this gap between hospital care and at-home recovery. It brings tried-and-tested clinical support tools, like lumbar cushions, pressure-relieving seat toppers, and spinal alignment aids, directly to the people who need them most. And crucially, each product comes with guidance on how to use it for maximum benefit.
‘It’s the same kit we use for Olympic champions and people recovering from life-changing injuries. But it’s just as relevant for someone trying to help their mum recover from a hip operation,’ says James. ‘We’re making the best rehab tools more accessible, so people aren’t relying on folded towels and crossed fingers anymore.’
Full details about what is included in the new homecare range can be found here.
Image via Shutterstock
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