comparing physical and social outcomes for immobile aged care residents when using a new design high support chair against immobile aged care residents using the traditional design high support chair study (H.S.C. study)

The intervention will be to offer an alternative chair design to participants when they have been assessed as immobile. The assessment for immobility will be performed by a Physiotherapist known to the participant. Once assessed as immobile the site Clinical Nurse liaise with the potential participant to discuss the study, as well as offer the Participant Information and Consent form(PICF). Once consent has been granted a random allocation of either the new design or traditional design high support chair will be performed. The participant will be able to withdraw from the study at anytime, the chair allocated to them will not change. If the participant remains active in the study, they will use the high support chair allocated to them daily for the 12 month study duration. The use of the chair will be based on normative, individualised care for each participant. Most participants will use the chair for up to 9 hours per day, however daily usage times will vary depending on periods of ill health when additional rest may be required. All chair users are also periodically moved in and out of the chair throughout the day for attendance to personal hygiene. All chairs will be in use at ACH Group residential facilities in South Australia. ( new design high support chair n=16; traditional design high support chair n=16) The locations for interventions are: ACH Group West Park, 7 Partridge St GOOLWA, S.A. 5214 ACH Group Yankalilla Centre, 175 Main South Rd, YANKALILLA, S.A. 5203 ACH Group Colton Court, 84 Valley View Drv McLAREN VALE, S.A. 5171 ACH Group Highercombe, 5-11 Sirius Ave, HOPE VALLEY, S.A. 5090 ACH Group Kapara, 80 Moseley St, GLENELG, S.A. 5045 ACH Group Milpara, 147 St Bernards Rd, ROSTREVOR, S.A. 5073 ACH Group Perry Park, 26 River Rd, PT NOARLUNGA, S.A. 5167 ACH Group ViTA, 17 Rockville Ave, DAW PARK ,S.A. 5041 The new design high support chair is vastly different from the traditional design high support chairs in the following ways: 1) Non-clinical in appearance - wheels and handles are completely concealed. 2) Limited recline - this is to hinder the physical decline to upper body muscles, and prevent the chair from being used as a restraint 3) Limited elevation on kick plate - this is to allow feet to touch the floor; minimising pressure area sore development and preventing contracture of the feet and ankles 4) Height adjustable - allows all users to be able to have their feet flat on the floor regardless of their height; minimising pressure area sore development and preventing contracture of the feet and ankles 5) Self propelling controls - the concealed controls allow staff to use the chair without any force; contribute to minimising manual handling injuries for staff 6) Arms of chair contoured - this feature will allow the chair to be comfortably wheeled up to a dining table, promoting social inclusion at meal times. The current style chair cannot fit at a dining table, which means that users of the traditional chair need to eat all of their meals separately. Once the chair has been allocated to the older immobile person, the participant will not need to do anything but use the chair as a normative part of their care. ACH Group provides 24 hour nursing care, all participants will be observed by staff each day. All staff will be trained prior to distribution and allocation of the new design chair. The training package includes design feature rationale, how to use the chairs, as well as education on the measures that will be recorded. All staff will be able to contact the study team at any time, as well as be visited by the study team at scheduled times throughout the 12 month study period.