FAQs

Suantha™ > FAQs

The following is a list of frequently asked questions for health-care staff, residential care home managers, and in-home users. Please refer to the resources page for demo video and product manual.

FAQs for

Clinicians and Carers

What is the major difference between Suantha™ and traditional high care chairs?

Suantha™ was invented to offer an alternative for people assessed as immobile. Thanks to its limited range recline mechanism, Suantha™ maintains strength and independence while minimising the risk of further physical decline. Suantha™ also minimises the risk of manual handling injury for support personnel.

When do I use Suantha™?

Suantha™ is appropriate for use when a person is assessed as no longer mobile or has experienced a decline in mobility and could regain mobility with intervention.

Who decides if Suantha™ is appropriate?

Typically, a Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist would assess the person as needing the chair.

How does Suantha™ promote better health over a regular geriatric chair?

Studies have shown that just 24 hours of bed rest can lead to rapid and significant muscle mass loss in older people. The deterioration of upper body muscles and adverse changes to respiratory and gastrointestinal systems have also been reported from prolonged use of high care chairs. Suantha’s™ limited range recline:
  1. promotes continued independence
  2. minimises the risk of muscle deconditioning
  3. minimises the risk of pressure area wound development.

Staff have injured themselves using geriatric chairs. How is Suantha™ different?

We know the majority of injuries sustained by employees of aged care homes are a consequence of manual handling. That’s one of the main reasons we designed Suantha™, with one-touch buttons and self-propelling motor enabling it to be moved safely and easily. Manual handling tests performed in a gait lab at Flinders University show significantly less force is required to push and pull Suantha™ compared to traditional high support chairs. In fact, up to 30kg of force is used when reclining traditional high care chairs; Suantha™ doesn't register any force at all.

Is Suantha™ a medical device? It doesn’t look like one.

One of the best design features of Suantha™ is that it is a medical device, but it doesn’t look like one. We know the mental wellbeing of an individual can be negatively affected by the medical device they are prescribed, which is why we designed Suantha™ to look ‘less hospital, more hotel’. Hidden wheels, motor and control console add to its homely appeal, and the contoured armrests allow it to fit underneath regular dining tables so users can remain socially connected to their friends and family in any environment. As an added bonus, the purchase of a Suantha™ chair could come out of your annual furniture upgrade/replacement budget or medical devices budget.

How easy is Suantha™ to clean?

Suantha™ uses durable, Tritan materials that are water-repellent and stain resistant. It has less ‘nooks and crannies’ to clean than standard geriatric chairs and features a removable seat pad and incontinence cover.

How do I use Suantha™?

Please refer to a demo video on the ‘resources’ page. We recommend booking a time for 1-1, site-specific training (pending availability) on how to use the functions of Suantha™.

Is there a set-up time?

No, once it has been fully charged (maximum of six hours or overnight) and staff have had training, it can be used straight away.

How much does Suantha™ cost?

If you would like to order Suantha™ for your organisation, please email us at sales@suantha.com.au or phone 1300 544 858 for a free, no-obligation quote.

FAQs for

Senior Management

Why was Suantha™ invented? Who invented it?

The birth of Suantha™ was driven by the shared vision of two nurses to rewrite the culture of care in the aged care industry, underpinning the ethos of ageing well. Suantha™ was invented to cover two major concerns for the aged care industry:

  • rapid decline for people using geriatric chairs
  • workplace manual handling injuries for staff.

How will Suantha™ benefit the business?

Every brand wants to be recognised as leaders in their industry. Currently, there isn’t an alternative for a high care chair on the market. By offering Suantha™, you will be considered a trailblazer in the philosophy of ageing well. Key benefits:

  • safe to use
  • tested to Australian/New Zealand Standards
  • TGA approved
  • weight distribution tested
  • clinically-trialled
  • potential for reduced reporting of quality indicators (industry benchmarking)
  • better experience for residents and staff
  • cost savings for staff
  • less workplace injury
  • back-up service for warranties, repairs and maintenance.

Why is Suantha™ more expensive than other geriatric chairs on the market?

Suantha™ is no ordinary high care chair. It is an investment in the future of your staff, and the individuals they support. A higher initial outlay may result in less time lost to manual handling injuries, not to mention healthier, happier staff. And by allowing individuals to remain as independent as they can, it may be possible to reduce the ratio of supporting staff members to one per person, instead of two.

How will Suantha™ benefit residents?

The aesthetic of Suantha™ changes its appearance from a clinical contraption to ‘just a chair’ – it is designed to look as inviting and in-place as any ordinary loungeroom chair. Other benefits include:

  • enables residents to remain socially engaged; the chair fits under a standard dining table
  • supports rehabilitation
  • reduces the risk of further physical decline
  • reduces the risk of pressure area injury.

FAQs for

Users

Why would I use Suantha™?

Suantha™ has been proven by research to be the better seating solution for older people assessed as being immobile. Its innovative design and cutting-edge features support individuals to live healthier, happier and longer lives. Suantha™ enables you to:

  • remain socially connected and present at mealtimes
  • move in and out of the chair freely and safely, if you are physically able to do so
  • retain muscular strength and key bodily functions
  • rehabilitate, depending on your personal circumstances.

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