Welcome to “The OT Series: Real Talk on Funding, Practice & AT with Sarah Collison”, a 4-part podcast series by Enable Lifecare.  

Hosted by Chanelle Olivier (OT), the series features an in-depth conversation with Sarah Collison, an experienced OT and respected voice in the profession. Together, they dive into the challenges and opportunities OTs face today — from NDIS funding changes to the realities of AT prescription and approval. 

In this first episode Behind the Scenes of OT Practice: Funding Shifts & Real-World Challenges, Sarah shares candid insights into: 

• How reduced travel funding rates are changing the way therapists work 
• Why OTs are rethinking how they bill for kilometres, tolls, and non-billable time 
• The tough decisions around telehealth — when it helps, when it hinders, and why it may not always support best practice 
• Practical strategies for caseload management to reduce costs and stay sustainable 

This conversation is full of practical takeaways and honest reflections that every OT can relate to. 

Stay tuned for Episode 2, where Chanelle and Sarah dive deeper into the Assistive Technology (AT) process before funding. 

In this episode of Fast Intelligent Care, we’re taking a deep dive into the fundamentals of pressure injury prevention and management — essential knowledge for healthcare professionals, carers, and anyone involved in patient care.

We’ll break down:

• The causes of pressure injuries — exploring both internal factors we can’t control (like age, BMI, or certain medical conditions) and external factors we can prevent or reduce (such as pressure, friction, shear, and microclimate).
• Key terminology — why we now say “pressure injury” instead of “pressure sore” or “pressure ulcer,” and how this shift changes the way we think about responsibility and prevention.
• Core concepts in pressure care — including reactive hyperemia, pressure redistribution vs. pressure relief, and the roles of immersion and envelopment in support surface design.
• Practical prevention tips — from repositioning and weight shifting to understanding the science behind alternating air mattresses.

You’ll also hear helpful analogies — like the “layer cake” effect for shear forces — that make these concepts easier to understand and explain to others.

Whether you’re new to the topic or refreshing your knowledge, this episode will give you the tools, terms, and techniques you need to approach pressure care with confidence.

In this powerful episode, we delve into the often overlooked yet crucial aspect of pressure injury prevention. Join us as we hear a deeply personal story highlighting the long-term impact and risks associated with pressure injuries, even among young and healthy individuals.

You'll learn:

• How easily pressure injuries can occur, illustrated through a compelling real-life experience.
• Why regular and thorough skin checks are vital, especially for vulnerable or immobile individuals.
• The irreversible nature of pressure injuries and why prevention must always be the priority.
• Practical tips on effective pressure management, including nutrition, hydration, and correct repositioning.
• The broader impact of pressure injuries on patient well-being and healthcare outcomes.

This episode serves as an essential resource for healthcare providers, caregivers, and anyone committed to enhancing patient care through proactive prevention strategies.

Join the conversation—share your experiences with pressure injuries and your insights on prevention strategies in the comments section.

In this episode of the Fast Intelligent Care, we dive deep into one of the most critical safety concerns in care environments: fall prevention with beds. Falls from bed can result in severe injuries, especially in clients with disorientation, mobility issues, or neurological conditions. Fortunately, modern profiling beds and height-adjustable solutions offer innovative ways to mitigate these risks.

• Why bed height matters and how adjustable beds can reduce injury severity.
• The difference between high-low beds and floor-level beds, and when to use each.
• How safety stop mechanisms can strike the right balance between accessibility and safety.
• The importance of caster brakes (including tandem brake systems) in preventing unintended bed movement.
• Using side rails and padded panels effectively – including crucial considerations around:
• Entrapment risks
• Suffocation prevention
• Caregiver accessibility
• How bed width impacts client safety, comfort, and carer support during mobility or hygiene routines.

• Fall prevention is not just about minimizing the distance to the floor — it’s about enabling safe transfers, proper visibility, and quick response.
• Each feature (like side panels or brakes) brings benefits and trade-offs. Knowing the client’s needs and risks is essential to choosing the right solution.
• Equipment should support both client safety and caregiver efficiency.

Have you had a client experience a fall from bed? What worked — or didn’t work — in your setting? Share your thoughts in the comments. We’d love to hear your insights!

👉 Coming Up Next: Stay tuned for our next episode focused on Pressure Care – where we'll explore mattresses, support surfaces, and prevention strategies.

In this insightful episode of Fast Intelligent Care, we explore the vital topic of pressure care management using profiling beds. Whether you're an Occupational Therapist, carer, or clinician, this episode provides practical guidance on how beds can play a transformative role in preventing pressure injuries and enhancing comfort for clients.

What We Cover:

🛏 The Mechanics of Pressure Relief:

Understand how repositioning, both independently and with caregiver assistance, helps redistribute pressure to prevent skin damage.

⚙️ Key Bed Functions and Features:

• Auto-regression: How beds that elongate with movement reduce shearing forces.
• Modified Trendelenburg Position: Leveraging gravity to aid caregiver repositioning and pressure redistribution.
• Knee Break vs Head Raise: Why the order of adjustment matters for minimizing pelvic sliding and skin trauma.

🧰 Accessories That Empower Clients:

Learn about supportive tools like bed levers, rails, and overhead poles that enhance client independence in bed mobility.

📐 Clinical Guidelines and Best Practice Angles:

• Head raise: keep under 30° to reduce shearing
• Side rolling: aim for a 30° tilt, not a full 90°
• Knee break: limit to 5° for comfort and effectiveness

📏 Why Bed Size Matters:

Explore how choosing the right bed size supports safer rolling and positioning—especially for clients with larger body types.

💬 Your Turn:

Have insights or experiences using profiling beds for pressure management? Share your thoughts in the comments or on our social channels!

🔔 Stay tuned for our next episode where we shift focus to fall prevention features in modern beds.

In this episode of Fast Intelligent Care, we dive deep into one of the most critical areas of client support and safety — bed assessments. Whether you're an occupational therapist, clinician, or care provider, this episode gives you the tools to conduct smarter, safer, and more person-centred bed assessments.

Join us as we break down assessment considerations using the PEO model — Person, Environment, and Occupation — and explore how to match individual needs with the right bed features, from profiling beds to height-adjustable electric beds.

• Person Factors: Understanding the client’s physical limitations, bed mobility, cognition, pressure injury risk, upper limb function, and medical conditions like edema.
• Environmental Considerations: Room size, bed placement, under-bed clearance, caregiver access, and equipment compatibility — especially with hoists and casters.
• Occupation Elements: Transfer methods, repositioning needs, and ensuring the bed supports both client independence and safe working heights for caregivers.

• Knee break functions
• Vascular leg raise
• Auto regression (preview for next episode)
• Overhead self-help pulls and bed rolls
• Compatibility with hoists
• Tandem brake systems

• How to reduce pressure injury risk using strategic bed adjustments.
• When and how to choose bed size based on client mobility and safety.
• Smart setup strategies to avoid hoist-related hazards and manual handling risks.

In our next episode, we’ll explore pressure care and fall prevention features in detail — don’t miss it!

In today’s episode of Fast Intelligent Care, we explore a trending clinical question: is it safe for clients to sleep in recliner chairs? As this practice becomes more common among patients and clients—especially those with limited mobility or chronic conditions—we look into the pros, cons, and clinical considerations around this issue.

• Why some clients choose to sleep in recliners rather than beds.
• The benefits recliner sleeping can offer—for comfort, breathing, independence, and more.
• The significant clinical risks, including pressure injuries, fluid retention, and long-term musculoskeletal issues.
• Best practices for clinicians and carers to mitigate risks when recliner sleeping is unavoidable.
• Equipment suggestions to enhance both comfort and clinical outcomes.

Whether you're a healthcare professional, OT, caregiver, or just curious about better care strategies, this episode will give you practical tools and deeper insight into a nuanced issue in modern home care.

Building on Part 1 of our podcast series (listen here), we delve into the intricacies of postural supports within the realm of mobile chairs, specifically focusing on the various postural presentations encountered in clients. The salient point of our discussion lies in the differentiation between standard backrests and complex postural backrests, which are essential in addressing the diverse needs of individuals with varying degrees of postural challenges. We explore common postural presentations, such as posterior and anterior pelvic tilts, pelvic obliquities, and scoliosis, while emphasizing the clinical benefits of tailored postural accessories. Our discourse further elaborates on the importance of customizing the seating system to ensure optimal support and comfort for users, thereby mitigating associated risks such as pressure injuries and discomfort. We invite listeners to reflect on their experiences with these postural supports and share insights garnered from their own practices.

In this episode of the Enable Lifecare Podcast, we continue our deep dive into mobile seating solutions—specifically, the essential role of postural supports in princess chairs.

We explore a wide range of common postural presentations seen in clinical practice, including:

• Posterior and anterior pelvic tilts
• Pelvic obliquity and pelvic rotation
• Kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis

You’ll learn how these postural conditions affect spinal and pelvic alignment and how the right support systems can improve comfort, function, and pressure management.

We also break down the differences between standard backrests and complex postural backrests, helping clinicians determine which solution best suits their client’s needs. Detailed discussion covers:

• Multi-adjustable waterfall backrests
• Cocoon backrests
• Complex winged backrests
• Profiled headrests
• Rigid external lateral supports
• Four-point pelvic positioning belts

You’ll walk away with practical strategies for tailoring seating systems—such as how to accommodate spinal curves, correct for asymmetry, and adjust for fixed versus flexible postures.

This episode is ideal for Occupational Therapists, seating specialists, and carers supporting clients with moderate to high postural needs.

The exploration of postural supports within mobile seating systems unveils a critical discourse on the alignment and stabilization of individuals with diverse postural presentations. We delve into a spectrum of common postural anomalies, including posterior pelvic tilt, anterior pelvic tilt, and various forms of pelvic obliquities and rotations. Each condition presents unique challenges that necessitate tailored interventions to optimize comfort and functionality in seating arrangements. The discussion emphasizes the significance of selecting appropriate postural supports, distinguishing between standard backrests and complex postural backrests, to cater to the specific needs of individuals, particularly those with severe postural challenges.

Throughout this episode, we systematically dissect the functionalities of various postural accessories that can be integrated into mobile chairs, such as multi-adjustable waterfall backrests and cocoon backrests. These supports are meticulously designed to accommodate the nuanced requirements of users, providing adjustable features that can be fine-tuned to enhance comfort, alleviate pressure points, and promote optimal alignment. We also emphasize the importance of considering the user’s unique anatomical and postural characteristics when selecting these aids, thereby fostering a more personalized approach to mobility and seating solutions.

In conclusion, this episode serves as an invaluable resource for practitioners and caregivers who seek to enhance the quality of life for individuals with complex postural needs. The insights shared underscore the imperative of a comprehensive understanding of postural presentations and the remedial options available, thereby equipping listeners with the knowledge necessary to implement effective seating strategies in their practice.

A thoughtful examination of postural supports reveals the intricacies involved in accommodating individuals with varied postural presentations, highlighting the need for a bespoke approach to seating solutions. The episode commences with an overview of the most prevalent postural deformities encountered in clinical practice, such as kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis. Each condition is characterized by distinct deviations in alignment, necessitating specific interventions to ensure proper support and comfort. We further elucidate on the critical distinctions between standard and complex postural backrests, elucidating the criteria for selecting appropriate supports based on the severity of the client’s postural requirements.

The discourse progresses to an in-depth examination of the functional attributes of various postural accessories, including adjustable waterfall backrests and rigid external lateral supports. These tools are instrumental in addressing the multifaceted needs of users, particularly those with fixed postural deformities. By employing adjustable features, practitioners can customize the support to counteract the adverse effects of asymmetrical postures and enhance overall stability within the chair. The episode culminates in a synthesis of the discussed concepts, advocating for a proactive approach in assessing and accommodating the diverse postural needs of clients, ultimately fostering their independence and well-being.

In this insightful episode, we engage in a thorough analysis of the intricacies surrounding postural supports utilized in mobile chairs, focusing on the various postural presentations that practitioners frequently encounter. A detailed exposition of conditions such as posterior pelvic tilt, anterior pelvic tilt, and pelvic obliquities is provided, elucidating the implications these presentations hold for the selection of appropriate seating solutions. The conversation underscores the necessity of discerning between standard backrests and those designed for complex postural needs, advocating for a tailored approach to ensure optimal support.

We explore a variety of postural accessories that can be integrated into mobile seating systems, emphasizing the importance of customization in achieving the best therapeutic outcomes. The episode elaborates on the functionality of multi-adjustable waterfall backrests and cocoon backrests, which allow for significant adaptability to cater to the specific anatomical and postural characteristics of the user. This adaptability is crucial in enhancing comfort, promoting proper alignment, and mitigating the risk of pressure injuries.

Ultimately, this episode serves as a comprehensive guide for healthcare professionals and caregivers, equipping them with the knowledge to implement effective seating strategies that address the complex needs of individuals with postural challenges. By fostering a deeper understanding of postural supports, we aim to enhance the quality of care provided to those reliant on mobility aids.

Takeaways:

• In this episode, we explored the significance of postural supports for individuals using mobile chairs.
• We analyzed various common postural presentations and their implications for seating solutions.
• The discussion emphasized the differences between standard backrests and complex postural backrests.
• We examined specific postural conditions such as pelvic tilt, obliquities, and scoliosis.
• The episode provided insights into customizing seating to accommodate diverse postural needs effectively.
• We concluded with a recap of strategies for selecting appropriate seating accessories based on individual postural challenges.

Care chairs, often called Princess Chairs or mobile recliners, are powerful tools for supporting clients with complex needs. But getting it right requires more than just comfort.

In Part 1 of this two-part episode, we explore how to prescribe care chairs with purpose, starting with assessment questions, posture considerations, pressure care, and essential features.

🎧 You’ll learn:

• When and why to prescribe a care chair (not just a wheelchair)
• How to assess posture, pressure risk, transfer type, and cognitive ability
• The difference between fixed vs. reducible posture — and what it means for seating
• Why features like tilt-in-space, drop-down armrests, and integrated cushions matter
• Common prescription mistakes (and how to avoid them)

Perfect for OTs, allied health teams, and clinical decision-makers — this episode reframes the way we think about comfort, mobility, and dignity in care.

In this episode of Fast Intelligent Care, we explore how recliner chairs can be thoughtfully adapted to support a range of transfer methods from traditional sit-to-stand movements to complex side and hoist transfers. Whether your client is experiencing reduced mobility, recovering post-surgery, or managing a progressive condition, the right recliner design makes all the difference.

🎧 What you’ll learn:

• Why vertical lift vs forward tilt matters more than you think
• How drop-down armrests and frame access improve manual and hoist transfers
• Common pitfalls in chair setup that increase fall risk or reduce independence
• Smart ways to future-proof seating for changing mobility needs

💡 Designed for allied health professionals, rehab specialists, and aged care teams this episode is a must-listen for anyone committed to clinical safety and client-centred design.