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Assistive Devices

Assistive Devices

Armed with cameras and curiosity, three students visited the Caverly's. They wanted to capture first-hand the flavor of this therapist's lifestyle (not to mention her homemade scones and pear preserves).

The students were greeted by Nancy standing on the ramp outside the Caverly's temporary modular home. Inside the front door, Nancy props her wooden "country" cane on the back of an antique chair. A plexiglass "city" cane hangs from a shelf of cookbooks in the kitchen. Nancy tells how little children often ask if her cane is made of glass. She tells them, with a twinkle in her eye, that she fills it with water and keeps her goldfish in it.

Nancy uses a Swedish-made wheeled walker in her kitchen for multiple purposes. Her balance and endurance have declined due to post-polio syndrome. The walker, with a built in basket, tray and bench allows her to carry garden squash, roast pork tenderloin, and fresh baked bread to the table. She sits on the walker's built-in bench to save energy for two of her passions: gardening and cooking.