We are back for another exhibition year at Rehacare. It will take place between the 14^th and 17^th of September 2022 in Düsseldorf. We look forward to seeing you there. You will be able to find us in hall 5, stand 5G35­/5.

The show promotes the latest products and services in relation to the healthcare industry. The designs companies create are amazing and can be so impactful for the consumers.

You can come to speak to us and discuss the Tenura range face-to-face whilst also getting your own hand on experience with the products. We love introducing the collection of innovative daily living aids to new faces, especially when they can see the versatility the products offer.

There's always so much going on, and I am sure this year will be no different with a selection of forums and lecturers in attendance discussing sport, culture, disability and entertainment.

Bring on Rehacare 2022!

Physiotherapy awareness day takes place on the 8^th of September every year, with a special focus on Osteoarthritis for 2022.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis, which can occur due to injury, hereditary factors, age, weight and gender. It affects people of the age of 45 and is a more prominent condition in women, 12:1. Osteoarthritis affects the joints and can cause tenderness, pain, stiffness and knobbly-looking joints. It can also have an effect on the muscles around the joint, and they can become weaker and waste away due to the lack of movement, likely because of the pain when moving the joint.

 

Can Osteoarthritis Be Cured?

No, it can’t be cured, but there are daily things you can do to help maintain an independent lifestyle and reduce pain. 

• Exercise – you can follow the Tenura guide for hand exercises
• Losing weight – this will put less strain on your joints, lightening the load on your knees
• Medication – seek advice from your doctor for the correct course of painkillers
• Anti-inflammatories – Inflamed areas of skin can be treated with anti-inflammatory

 

What Products Can Help With Osteoarthritis?

Even the NHS website mentions the benefits of assistive devices that can help with Osteoarthritis. We want to add to that list and demonstrate a few Tenura arthritis aids that can help.

Improve Your Writing With Arthritis Aids

If you struggle to write as your wrists and muscles become painful, try a cutlery grip around the pencil or other thin handles objects such as cutlery or a toothbrush.

Get a Better Grip with Silicone Grip-Enhancement

Grip strips and silicone grip rolls are a great way to improve your grip on many objects, no matter their size. Use grip strips around small objects or handles, and the grip roll can be wrapped around larger objects for more grip and control over them.

Stand and Sit With Improved Mobility

Osteoarthritis can affect the knees, which makes standing up and sitting down tricky. You can use a Tenura non-slip floor mat to aid you when moving. The floor mat provides the user with grip and a good foothold to assist with mobility and reduce the risk of slips and falls.

 

Enjoy all the products mentioned above, plus all other Tenura daily living aids at a 10% discount with the code PAD10.

If you want to improve your mobility when in a vehicle, we have outlined some helpful Tenura products that be of great help. Things such as getting in and out of the car can be a pain so let's see if we can help with this issue.

Help Getting In and Out of a Car

Placing a Tenura non-slip floor mat in the footwell and, if required, one just outside of the door, on the floor, can help you get the foothold you need to exit the car safely. Tenura floor mats are anti-slip and reduce the risk of slips and falls.

Improve Car Seat Comfort

Use Tenura non-slip fabric under your car chair cushion so that it doesn't slip whilst you are on the move. If the cushion moves out of place, it could cause further discomfort for the passenger.

Stop Loose Objects Sliding When You're on the Move

Things such as your medication, phone or a drink can slide around the car if you haven't secured them. They can distract the driver, so you should place your loose articles on a Tenura Extreme mat, which means you will have a visual aid, helping you remember where you put your belongings and improving the safety of the journey for all.

Get a Better Grip On Your Seatbelt

By wrapping Tenura silicone grip roll around your seatbelt, you can ensure a better grip. The silicone is grip-enhancing and soft, and it will allow you to grasp the seatbelt better. You can even build up the silicone to make the seatbelt wider and more comfortable to hold.

Line Your Boot to Prevent

The stuff you store in your boot often isn't secured and therefore will move about whilst you travel. This movement can affect the car's motion; however, lining your car boot with Tenura anti-slip fabric can prevent this. Tenura anti-slip fabric will keep your belongings in place, making them easier to remove from the car when you've arrived.

Improve Grip on Car Door Handles

On the inside of the car door, you can wrap Tenura grip strips around the handles to add the soft silicone that's grip-enhancing. This will improve your grip on the handle and make it easier for you to exit the car safely.

 

We hope you have found some car aids that you can use to improve car travel safety. If you require more information about the products mentioned in the blog, follow the product page links or contact us via phone, email or the enquiry form at the top of the website.

Come and see us at the FIME Show this year (July 27-29). We will be at stand U35 in the Platinum Hall! We love this exhibition and come back every year to meet the latest and greatest in the industry. Come and talk to us to discuss the prospects and benefits of working with Tenura.

FIME Shows are great fun and connect the healthcare community, bringing us all under one roof. It’s a leading medical trade fair and exhibition where we come to display ground-breaking products and services, such as Tenura daily living aids. 

The FIME show lets you get hands-on with the products and speak to us face-to-face.

There’s quite the array of speakers this year, from Harvard professors to record-holding athletes. Each speaker imparts useful information that can help develop goals in your personal and professional life.

If you want to explore the Tenura range beforehand, you can via the products page. You can also get in touch for more information you can by phoning, emailing or using the enquiry form at the top of the site.

When you see the different types of grip we use in daily lives, it can help you to create your own exercises to help you stretch and improve hand dexterity, so let's explore some of the typical grips:

• Hammers Grip/­Cylindrical Grip

Holding a hammer, screwdriver, golf clubs, and wheelbarrow handles

• Precision Grip

Holding thin items like a needle or thread

• Hook Grip

Carrying a bucket or pulling a suitcase

• Pinch Grip

Holding a coin, flipping it over to view each side

• Lumbrical Grip

Holding a plate or tray flat on your hand

• Tip-to-Tip Grip

Picking up small items like crumbs, coins or pins

• Spherical Grip

Opening and closing jars

Products to Help you Complete Tasks that Require Grip

We are happy that you are taking time to read this blog to gather some helpful information on grip strength and how it can improve your life in daily tasks. We thought we would round up some products that can benefit those who need to improve grip strength.

Tenura Cutlery Grips

Cutlery handles are thin and can be tricky to grasp if you lack grip strength or dexterity in your hands. So, sliding on Tenura cutlery grips on utensils increases handle size, allowing you to grasp a more comfortable wider handle. You can use Tenura cutlery grips to improve your grip on many items around the home, including toothbrushes, hair combs, pens and pencils. This means you can now brush your teeth and hair with comfort as well as write and draw.

Tenura Jar Openers and Bottle Openers

These two products can help in a myriad of ways, from the primary function, opening bottles and jars, to helping you twist taps on and off and getting a good grip on smooth door and cupboard knobs. Tenura jar and bottle openers help with tasks that require your spherical grip.

Tenura Grip Strips

Similarly to cutlery grips, you can wrap grip strips around handles to improve your grasp on the object. The soft silicone is grip-enhancing, allowing you to get a proper hold of the item and reduce the risk of it slipping out of your hands.

You can use the grip strips on the items listed under cutlery grips, but you can also wrap the silicone around handles that wouldn't fit into cutlery grips. For example, you can wrap the silicone around the handles of walking aids like canes or rollators to improve your grip on the handle. You can wrap silicone strips around knives to ensure you have a safe and secure grip. When completing DIY tasks around the house, you may reach for a hammer or screwdriver, and these can be enhanced with the use of Tenura grip strips.

Tenura Grip Rolls

When carrying a briefcase, bucket or object by its handle, you use the hook grip. To make the grip more comfortable, wrap soft silicone around the handle, building up more of the silicone by wrapping it around a further few times to create a bigger handle and improve your comfort.

Your gardening hobby doesn't need to subside just because you have been experiencing dexterity or grip strength issues. You can wrap grip roll around your watering can, trowel or garden rake handles.

 

Why is Grip Strength Important?

You use the lateral pinch to unlock your home or a cupboard with a key. When playing sports like netball or basketball, you use a lumbrical grip. The types of grip we use are dependent on the situation and fall into two main categories, precision and power. Each grip by design allows you to make a precise action or a powerful movement.

A lack of grip strength can affect many tasks, for example, holding a toothbrush or grasping a knife to cut food. It can impact your ability to lift objects or hold wide bars such as grab rails. You may want to improve your ability to complete these tasks, so below we have detailed a few hand exercise recommendations that you could try. By doing these exercises daily for a short time, you can improve your hand grip and dexterity.

 

Hand Exercises to Improve Grip Strength

There are many exercises you can complete to help maintain your grip. So let's explore a few that are easy to do at home or on the go.

Squeeze a stress ball

This action uses the joints in your hand, flexing them and making them stronger - this movement helps with spherical grip

Pinch the stress ball

To practice and improve more dexterous movement, pinch the stress ball, using the pinch grip

Flex your wrists

Complete small circular motions and then get larger in rotation with each movement. It helps restore your joint mobility whilst also stretching your tendons and other parts of the joint

Thumb Circles

Similar to the above, you make a circling motion with your thumb and fingers, which can improve flexibility. This hand exercise can help you with many grips where the thumb is required, like cylindrical grips and lumbrical grips

Digit Stretch

Stretch your fingers and thumb out, then curl them into a fist, then repeat

 

We hope you have found this blog helpful. Please explore the Tenura products to find ways to improve daily tasks that require grip strength or mobility.

In this blog, we explore the history of Parkinson’s, giving advice surrounding the importance of this awareness month and how you can provide support and get involved. Lets make a difference…

A Brief History of Parkinson’s

The disease was first discovered by James Parkinson, who was an English surgeon. The disease was named after James and his work into its discovery. James Parkinson’s most famous work is Shaking Palsy, which became the foundation for understanding Parkinson’s. His principles were later refined and described by Jean-Martin Charcot and William Gowers. Their efforts helped create treatments and standardise the study.

Thanks to their work, we now have defined characteristics (Parkinsonisms) of Parkinson’s. For example, the loss of facial movements and reduced eye motion known as Hypomimia, or masked face and facial masking. Hypomimia can start as early as stage one and progress as the condition takes hold. It is a misconception that the first sign of Parkinson’s is a tremor, but difficulty sleeping and smaller than usual handwriting are more common.

Another misconception is that Parkinson’s only affects the older generation, but 137,000 people under the age of 50 have early-onset Parkinson’s, which equates to 0.2% of the population.

Their work shaped the specialist roles of healthcare staff that help those with Parkinson’s, which include:

1. Physiotherapist
2. Movement Disorder Specialist
3. Occuaptional Therapist

Each of these key positions will help in different aspects of the person’s life, focusing on rehabilitation and support.

Ways to Support Your Loved One With Parkinson’s

Educate Yourself and Teach Others

It’s essential to have a good understanding of the topic, allowing you to help those in your community or family who have the disease. You can be more considerate and provide better support when knowledgeable. 2021’s theme of Parkinson’s Awareness Day stressed the importance of #KnowMorePD.

Reach Out to Someone with Parkinson’s

Certain individuals with Parkinson’s can become closed off, so reaching out and checking up with them is crucial for their mental health.

Participate in Charity Events and Fundraising

Up and down the UK, there are many events held year-round that you can participate in to help spread information and raise awareness and money for this important cause. There are many fun ways to get involved, catering to various interests, from walks and runs to bake sales and coffee mornings.

Share Information and Resources Around PD

2018’s theme for Parkinson’s Awareness Day, Start a Conversation, asked people to get involved in the observance day by spreading knowledge and information about the topic to inspire others to get involved. Speak to the community, your family, friends, neighbours, local businesses and healthcare teams.

Getting Tips On Parkinson’s Treatments

Parkinson’s Foundation 2019 theme stated that awareness is the ‘Key2PD’. They asked the community to share helpful tips to help those living with the disease. Knowing how others are coping independently with struggles associated with the disease can improve welfare. This information can help healthcare providers see trends in treatments. Make sure to go on social media and see the tweeted tips under the #Key2PD hashtag.

Create Plans to Prepare for Parkinson’s Challenges

This plan is to help improve mindset and mental health, so plan items into the day that will inspire you, such as a walk or a phone call with a friend. If there are certain tasks around the home you need some help with, stick them on the calendar and see if friends or a professional could provide the help required. There’s no need to put off the task fully. Mark it on your calendar and plan for it, which helps to minimise stress. 2020’s theme, #Plan4PD, inspired this tip.

Find Products that Can Alleviate Issues

At Tenura, we have many helpful products for those with Parkinson’s. We listed some of the most common symptoms and some products that can provide help:

Tremors are uncontrollable shakes, often in the hands and fingers, making opening containers tricky. Having a silicone jar or bottle opener can make opening bottles and jars easier as well as providing a good grip on other objects like taps or doorknobs.

 

Impaired posture and balance can increase the risk of slips around the home. Placing a Tenura non-slip floor mat in areas where additional grip is required, such as a foothold near a sofa or at the side of a bed, can help reduce this risk.

Writing style changes, and with Parkinson’s, it often gets smaller due to more limited hand movements and the difficulty and pain of holding a thin pen or pencil. By increasing the width of the pen with a Tenura cutlery grip, you can make writing a more comfortable task for the person with Parkinson’s.

 

If you want to get involved in this year’s Parkinson’s Awareness Day, use the following hashtags:

• #UniteF­or­Par­kinsons
• #KnowMorePD
• #Parkin­son­sA­ware­nes­sMonth
• #Parkin­son­sA­wareness
• #Together4PD

You can also get a 10% discount on the Tenura range, including the products above.

The discount code is: PAM10, and will be valid for one month.

Feel included and relieve the stress by visiting an accessible destination. Tenura has put together a list of the best destinations in the UK that have disability accessibility at the center.

 

Do you fancy staying in an accessible holiday cottage?

Hoe Grange Holidays is highly rated by the disability community. Located in the Derbyshire countryside, the four cottages that make up Hoe Grange Holidays are quaint rustic-style cabins, complete with NAS (National Accessible Scheme) certification. There is a range of aids available, including a profile bed, hoists and shower chairs, all at no extra cost. You can also hire a mobility scooter to explore more of the Derbyshire county. In terms of activities at Hoe Grange, there is a playground, hot tubs and BBQs. Fun for all the family.

Hoe Grange Holidays has achieved the Visit England "We're Good to Go" Mark, which means they abide by all the COVID laws to keep residents at the cottages safe?

 

 

Would you like a fun day out at the zoo; access all areas?

Zoos and wildlife parks are brilliant places to go for a day out, they are fun and informative. You can go on your own adventure and see animals from around the world. The Yorkshire Wildlife Park is situated in Doncaster where you can visit lions and lemurs, camels and otters, plus much more. You can hire wheelchairs, and the whole park has been made accessible with wheelchair-friendly routes, which include ramps, wide doorways and flat flooring.

 

I have visited Yorkshire Wildlife Park and can attest that the zoo, for the most part, is situated outdoors and has wide pathways allowing you to adhere to social distancing guidelines. It is also a great day out.

 

Are you a thrill-seeker looking for an accessible theme park?

Paulton's Park has over 70 thrilling rides and has themed events to entertain you and your children. You can even stay over. The park has thoroughly accommodated for the needs of their disabled guests. For those who are dependent on a wheelchair or mobility scooter, entry is free. The park is designed to be fully accessible, with all paths being flat and wide. They have a queue assist policy to enable guest priority when they are unable to queue due to health reasons. Trained guide dogs are also welcome. All these amazing accessible features should help you have a great family outing.

 

In terms of your safety during the pandemic, Paulton's Park has stated, "robust cleaning and hygiene measures remain in place, this includes additional hand sanitising locations, hand washing troughs, Perspex screens and social distancing markers." on their website. You must also wear face coverings whilst in any indoor attractions.

 

An Excellent Guide to Accessible Places - Euan's Guide

We hope our summary guide to accessible destinations in the UK has been helpful. You should also see Euan's guide as it is an excellent source, providing you with a wealth of information on accessible destinations in the UK. Such destinations include parks/­playgrounds, hotels, supermarkets, restaurants and events. It can help you narrow down accessible destinations by the type of aid you require (e.g. hearing aid or walking stick).

As Helpful members of the public update Euan's Guide, therefore, COVID advice for each destination isn't always available, so I suggest you visit the attraction's website or give them a call for their most up-to-date COVID related information.

 

What daily living aids could I use when visiting an accessible attraction?

A Tenura anti-slip floor mat may be a great daily living aid to take with you as it can provide a foothold when you want to go from a standing position to a sitting position or vice versa.

Anti-slip grip strips when wrapped around the handles of a walking aid. Tenura grip strips can provide a comfortable non-slip surface.

CupCaps can be helpful by keeping spillages to a minimum when out and about. They keep liquids in the container and keep drinks fresher for longer.

You can explore the entire range of Tenura daily living aids here.

If you go to one of these accessible places, please connect with us on our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and let us know how it went. We also have a helpful webpage that has website resources for those who are disabled.

Winter Paralympics 2022, are you ready?

This quadrennial event is ready to take place in Beijing this year. It will commence on Friday the 4th to the 13th of March. Channel 4 is where you can tune in to watch the games.

Some Interesting Facts about the Paralympics

The Winter Paralympics debuted in Sweden in 1976, 16 years after the Summer Paralympics started and 80 years after the first modern Olympic games were held.

The United States has the most Paralympic medals to its name, 2,598, of which 919 are gold. The country that has won the most Winter Paralympic medals is Austria, and they’ve won a total of 332 medals, of which 104 were gold.

The mascot for the Winter Paralympic games is a cartoon version of a Chinese lantern, and the design encompasses traditional Chinese paper cutting and Ruyi ornaments. The name of this mascot is Shuey (snow), Rhon (to include, to tolerate), Rhon (to melt, to fuse), 雪容融.The design of the character and name promotes inclusion with the aim of increasing communication between world cultures and the inclusion of people with disabilities.

There are Six Terms to Segment the Athletes:

The classification within the Paralympics can help keep the competition fair and safe as sports can be dangerous. The six segments are as follows:

• Amputee
• Cerebral Palsy
• Intellectual Disability
• Wheelchair
• Vision Impaired
• Others

There are Six Winter Paralympic Sports

Most Winter Paralympic sports are broken down by disability with two main categories; vision impairments and physical impairments.

The Olympics have 15 winter sports, and the Paralympics have 6, and these sports are divided into 2 categories, snow sports and ice sports. Ice sports are played in mixed teams, meaning both men and women compete simultaneously.

Snow Sports	Ice Sports
Alpine Skiing (Slalom & Giant Slalom)	Para Ice Hockey
Cross-Country Skiing	Wheelchair Curling
Biathlon (Cross-Country Skiing & Taret Pratice)
Snowboarding

The latest of these winter paralympic sports to be sanctioned by the IPC is Snowboarding, first introduced at the Sochi Paralympic Winter Games 2014.

In the UK, there are over 50 ice rinks, of which many offer disability assistance to help those with disabilities learn and take up the sport. The UK is certainly making an effort to make snow sports accessible, and it’s thanks to trainers getting additional training to support those with disabilities and the advancements in technology and adaptive equipment.

The Paralympics gets praise for its inclusivity, and rightly so; however, disabled women have only recently been allowed to compete in Para Ice Hockey (2010).

Let’s Explore Some of the Adaptations to these Sports

Sports can be dangerous and challenging, so having adapted equipment to ensure that you are safe and perform at peak performance leads to success. There are many ways to make sports accessible. We are taking a look at how you can adapt preexisting equipment and accessories to make sports more accessible to persons with disabilities.

How to Make Sports More Accessible with Tenura Products

Let’s look at ways Tenura products can help disabled people participate in sports and adapt their equipment for better results and comfort.

Taking On And Off Your Snow Boots

For many snow sports, you will require snow boots, and they can be tricky to take on and off, so we suggest you use a Tenura non-slip floor mat to help. Place the snow boot onto the floor mat to keep it in place whilst you put on the boots. Floor mats help with mobility and increased grip.

Drying Out Your Equipment

Snow melts and causes wet puddles, but thanks to the lattice structure of Tenura non-slip fabric, your equipment will be able to dry out above the water. You can place your boots or skis upon the fabric to help dry and air them out.

CupCaps to Prevent Spillages

If you have had plenty of practice at your snow sport, you may be able to take a drink on the go, and we suggest you use a Tenura CupCap to ensure your drinks container is spillproof.

 

Adapting your equipment to be more disability-friendly can help when it comes to participating and taking up hobbies in sports. If you have any more ideas, you would like to share. You can do so via our socials (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn).

In part one of this blog series, we compared vinyl, wooden, quilted and metal placemats to silicone table mats. This time we are going to review those table mats in terms of the following properties:

• Non-slip
• Antimicrobial
• Machine washable
• Inclusivity for people with disabilities
• Heat resistance

We hope this blog provides you with information to help you make an informed decision on your next table mat purchase.

Vinyl Table Mats Vs Silicone Table Mats

Are Vinyl Placemats Non-Slip?

Vinyl table mats offer non-slip properties, but these pale in comparison to Tenura silicone.

If you knock over drinks on vinyl table mats, they are waterproof, but woven vinyl table mats, which are currently trendy, offer little protection, allowing liquids through the gaps.

Do Vinyl Placemats Have Antimicrobial Properties?

Some vinyl table mats have antimicrobial properties, as do Tenura table mats. The antimicrobial protection ensures bacteria can't harbour.

Can You Machine Wash Vinyl Placemats (Dishwasher Safe)?

Some vinyl table mats aren't machine washable due to their low-temperature resistance, so you may will have to wash them by hand. Tenura table mats can be washed either by hand or in the dishwasher.

Are Vinyl Placemats Suitable for Disabled People?

These table mats are lightweight and easy to take on the go, just like Tenura table mats. Both mats are suitable for use with disabled people who require support at mealtimes.

Are Vinyl Placemats Heat Resistant?

Vinyl mats are heat resistant, usually up to 35.6°C, which is impressive but not as remarkable as the 250°C heat resistance of Tenura table mats. So, be cautious when placing hot plates and pans on vinyl table mats as they may warp or melt.

Quilted Table Mats Vs Silicone Table Mats

Are Quilted Placemats Non-Slip?

Quilted table mats have no fundamental non-slip properties. Some will fare better than others, depending on the quilted table mats material. Still, the fabric will be no comparison to silicone's non-slip qualities.

Do Quilted Placemats Have Antimicrobial Properties?

The vast majority of quilted table mats do not have antimicrobial properties, meaning bacteria can harbour on the material and adversely affect a person's health. Some silicone placemats aren't antimicrobial, but Tenura table mats are.

Can You Machine Wash Quilted Placemats (Dishwasher Safe)?

This type of table mat is often machine washable. However, it depends on the fabric dyes, which could bleed or fade if washed at a high temperature. Tenura table mats are far more convenient to wash, as no matter how many times they go in the dishwasher, they will not fade.

Are Quilted Placemats Suitable for Disabled People?

Quilted table mats are lightweight, and you can take them on the go. However, they have no non-slip properties to reduce the risk of spillages for the disabled. Non-slip table mats such as silicone table mats can offer this assistance.

Are Quilted Placemats Heat Resistant?

These table mats have little heat resistance, contrary to Tenura table mats.

Exposure to high heat or flames can cause quilted table mats to discolour/burn or even set alight. However, some synthetic fabrics, such as nylon or polyester, can be fire-retardant.

Wooden Table Mats Vs Silicone Table Mats

Are Wooden Placemats Non-Slip?

Often not, they are slippy unless a lacquer is applied, impacting the table mat's appearance. Sometimes wooden table mats will have non-slip rubber coasters on the bottom, but this will have little benefit in preventing unwanted movement for objects on top of the table mat. To avoid unwanted movement from items on top of table mats, look for slip-resistant mats like Tenura.

Do Wooden Placemats Have Antimicrobial Properties?

Certain types of wood like pine and oak naturally demonstrate antimicrobial properties, and you can treat certain woods to possess antimicrobial properties.

Bacteria, insects and fungi can affect the wooden table mat's appearance, chemical composition and structure, accelerating degradation. The antimicrobial additive in silicone table mats protects against mould, fungi, and a wide range of bacteria, which is vital as placemats are often close to your food.

Can You Machine Wash Wooden Placemats (Dishwasher Safe)?

It is worth noting that wood can stain, especially when in contact with curry or red wine and sadly, you can't put them in a dishwasher to clean, which may leave you tempted to wash the placemat in hot soapy water is fine. However, leaving it to soak can cause it to swell and lose form, becoming a hazard due to its unlevel misshaped surface. You shouldn’t need to soak your silicone mat. We would instead suggest you put it in a dishwasher.

Are Wooden Placemats Suitable for Disabled People?

This table mat isn't suitable for disabled individuals as they can be heavy, bulky and have no beneficial properties for the disabled. Whereas silicone table mats are anti-slip, flexible and lightweight, making them suitable.

Wooden table mats aren't dishwasher safe, so each table mat would have to be hand washed by the carer rather than putting all silicone mats in a dishwasher, which saves lots of time and effort.

Are Wooden Placemats Heat Resistant?

Wooden tablemats can burn, causing discolouration, and if exposed to a high temperature, you could have a fire on your hands. Tenura silicone is incredibly robust even in extreme temperatures (up to 250°C).

Metal Table Mats Vs Silicone Table Mats

Are Metal Placemats Non-Slip?

If the metal table mat has a pattern etched in its surface, making it tactile, it has better non-slip properties. However, this affects the ability to keep it hygienic.

Tenura silicone provides a brilliant level of non-slip which stops things on its surface from being easily knocked over, helping you avoid spillages.

Do Metal Placemats Have Antimicrobial Properties?

Not all metals are antimicrobial, but silver is an example of a naturally antibacterial metal. The quantities of such metals within the placemat will determine if the placemat is antimicrobial. If unsure, check with the manufacturer. Tenura's silicone mats are antimicrobial, but some of our competitor's silicone mats are not.

Can You Easily Wash Metal Placemats (Dishwasher Safe)?

When handwashing the table mat, you should avoid rough brushes that can leave scrapes and scratches in the metal's finish, where bacteria can harbour. Some metal table mats are just metallic lacquer on top of another material. With harsh cleaning chemicals, these coatings can peel off.

You shouldn't need to use harsh brushes or chemicals on silicone table mats, as you can put them in hot soapy water or a dishwasher. Typically you should avoid placing metal table mats in a dishwasher.

Are Metal Placemats Suitable for Disabled People?

Metal table mats aren't suitable for the disabled as they can be heavy, sharp and tricky to transport, the opposite set of characteristics to Tenura silicone table mats.

Are Metal Placemats Heat Resistant?

Most metals have incredibly high melting points, meaning hot objects such as pots and pans placed on their surface will not deform the metal. Metal is a good conductor, so some metal table mats can get hot if pans are directly placed on their surface. Instead, a silicone table mat may be a more appropriate solution as it has low thermal conductivity and brilliant heat resistance.

To Conclude…

We know that Tenura silicone table mats are a great addition to mealtimes. They can lessen the cleanup time because you reduce the risk of spillages, and you can put them straight in the dishwasher, but let's look at how all the table mats we have reviewed in this blog have fared:

The Best Non-Slip Table Mats Are…

If you are looking for a mat with non-slip qualities, you will want to go with a vinyl, silicone or tactile metal table mat.

The Best Antimicrobial And Machine Washable Table Mats Are…

With the Coronavirus pandemic and health being in the back of everybody's mind, you may be more interested in the antimicrobial properties of your table mats and if they're machine washable. Therefore, silicone table mats are a great choice.

The Most Inclusively Designed Table Mats Are…

Both vinyl and silicone table mats are suitable for use by a disabled person who requires a carer at mealtimes. These table mats reduce the likelihood of spillages, thanks to their non-slip properties. A carer can easily wash them in hot soapy water (or put their Tenura table mats in a dishwasher). These table mats are lightweight, so you can take them out and about.

The Table Mats With The Best Heat Resistance Are…

Vinyl, metal and silicone table mats have heat resistance, some of these materials more so than others. You will need to be the most careful with vinyl as they have the lowest heat resistance (up to 35.6°C), then silicone (up to 250°C), followed by metal. Most metals can withstand temperatures of 500°C. But in your kitchen, you aren't dealing with temperatures over 230°C. It is important to note that metal placemats can conduct heat and will be hot to the touch if you place hot pans on their surface.

Please read part one of this blog series if you want to know more about the above placemats regarding their toxicity, environmental impact, price, and durability.

You can also view and purchase the superior Tenura silicone table mat from our website.

We are glad you are contemplating how you can be more disability-friendly. Combatting discrimination and being disability-friendly are two ways individuals and companies can be accessible and inclusive to the disabled community. In this blog are Tenura's top tips.

What Can I Do To Support Disabled People?

Educate Yourself On Disabilities

It's crucial to be educated on this important topic as it improves your etiquette and terminology, giving you a deeper understanding of the common challenges a disabled person can face.

Use The Correct Grammar

Times change and terminology changes too, so please avoid outdated derogatory language. We suggest you use the term disabled or refer to the person's actual disability, for instance, deaf, but only if required in the conversation.

Donate Time To Charities

You can positively impact charities that support the disabled. There are many exciting avenues to explore, including training a service dog, lending a few hours a week to your local charity shop, and donating items that are no longer required.

Fundraising

You could do a fundraiser to raise money for a particular charity you feel is deserving. Bake-sales, coffee mornings and charity fun runs are always a favourite.

Providing Help For Disabled People

Act, but do so respectfully, recognising a disabled person's independence and avoiding condescending behaviours.

Stand Up Against Discrimination

Some people may feel compelled to speak out against prejudice and steward disability rights. A good understanding of disabilities can allow you to do this in a selfless, wholehearted way but avoid being patronising.

Keep The Conversation Going

Participate in observance days to help spread awareness about disabled causes, conditions, and other things you feel need a light shining upon them in the disabled community. You can actively support the disabled community by sharing information and spreading knowledge.

Support Following The Coronavirus, Reach Out And Listen

Coronavirus has shaken the world in many ways, especially for the disabled community. In our blog inspired by last years theme ('Fighting for rights in the post-COVID era.') of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we delved into the statistics. We addressed helpful ways to support disabled people with their post-COVID worries. Their main concerns included mental health, access to healthcare, shops and transport, and you can read how to make a positive impact via our blog.

 

The Facts Regarding Disabled People in the Workplace

Get a better understanding of disability employment within the UK with these facts.

1. Disabled people are over a third less likely to be employed compared to non-disabled people. (Parliament)
2. With one in six of the population living with a health condition or impairment, employers are missing out on a huge number of talented people. (Scope)
3. Disabled people were 60% more likely to lose their job during the pandemic (Learning Disabilities Today)
4. More people are reporting a long-term health condition or disability than did so eight years ago. The increasing number of people reporting a disability is being largely driven by an increase in mental health conditions (gov.uk)

We hope these facts have been an eye-opener and will encourage you to take up some of the guidance below.

 

What Can My Company Do To Support Disabled People?

Make A Public Statement Of Support

The statement lets your customers and potential prospects see the human side of your company and get a better understanding of your brands values. If you support equality for the disabled, let it be heard, and let other companies follow in your lead. You could release something less formal, in the form of a blog post, like the one you are reading now.

Make Sure Employees Within Your Organisation Do Not Discriminate

To prevent such issues, provide a training course or host a meeting complete with relevant educational information. Having a well-informed workforce gives employees the fundamentals necessary to be stewards in events of discrimination within the workplace.

Improve Accessibility Around The Company Building

This means providing a mobility ramp in place of steps to aid those who struggle climbing stairs. Another improvement you can make is to change ordinary doors to automated doors. Automated doors also tend to be wider than a typical door which means the door is wide enough for wheelchair access.

Ensure there is good lighting through the building for anyone who is partially sighted. Other changes you can make include making sure the bathroom is accessible and having modified furniture to aid in mobility and comfort.

Reevaluate And Strengthen Company Discrimination Policies And Keep Them Up-to-date

When amendments are made, inform the employees to follow your latest practices. Enlist an independent adjudicator to access the inclusivity of your company. They can provide a non-biased opinion and their experience and knowledge to further aid in your journey to improving your work environment for the disabled.

Increase Diversity And Enrol On The Disability Confident Scheme

It is a brilliant voluntary Government scheme that encourages the recruitment and retainment of disabled people in the workplace. It promotes increased employee diversity, creating a broadened idea pool. Almost 20,000 employers have signed up for the Disability Confident Scheme.

Participate In Purple Tuesday

At Tenura, we strive towards making our customer service accessible for the disabled community. We would applaud you to do the same. It makes you reevaluate the current structure and adapt it to be inclusive. You can read more about Tenura's efforts in our Purple Tuesday Awareness Day blog.

Record Disability-Related Absences Separate To Sick Leave

To help those with disabilities attend appointments and seek adequate care, record their disability-related absence separate to sick leave, stopping them from being penalised for taking care of their health.

 

Product To Help People With Disabilities At Work

Grip Roll

You can improve a person's grip on many items in and around the office. For instance, you can wrap Tenura silicone grip roll around grab rails in the toilets, and you can cover the pens handle pens to help the person grasp the item and write. You can also wrap the silicone grip roll to cupboard handles to improve the person's ability to open them independently, thanks to the additional grip the silicone provides.

Cutlery grips

You can slip Tenura cutlery grips onto cutlery handles, giving the user a better grip on the cutlery, thanks to the increased handle size.

If someone is struggling to write information down due to their lack of grip strength or dexterity, consider investing in Tenura cutlery grips. The grips slip onto pens, allowing the user to write with ease and comfort as less hand mobility is required to grasp the pen.

Non-slip Fabric

You can cut Tenura non-slip fabric down to a suitable size, placing it under the computer keyboard to prevent any unwanted movement keeping the keyboard in an accessible and comfortable position for the user.

 

Anti-slip drink coasters

We all spill drinks, and some conditions can make a person more prone to doing so, but you can be a supportive employer by having Tenura anti-slip drinks coasters available to staff. These coasters are great, as they keep drinks that rest on their surface secure thanks to the non-slip properties of the silicone mat.

 

Floor mat

If a person struggles to get on and off their chair, they may require more grip underfoot, and investing in Tenura non-slip floor mats may be a great way to provide the necessary help without the need for more permanent solutions like grab rails.

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to read the blog. We hope you have found valuable ways to help the disabled community in your everyday life and at work. If you have any further advice you feel our readers could benefit from, please let us know via our socials, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.