REHACARE 2018: INSPIRATION FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING

At the recent staging of  REHACARE 2018, International Trade Fair for Rehabilitation and Care, in Düsseldorf, Germany, a record 967 exhibitors from 42 countries showcased their latest products to 50,600 industry professionals, people with disabilities, their caregivers and families.

“Ensuring that people with disabilities or in need of care and the elderly are active and independent so that they can manage their day-to-day routines is one of the most important issues of our time. The demographic development and the care problems associated with it, but also the growing demands of those affected for autonomy and inclusion are driving the market to offer ever more powerful aids for almost every disability and every target group.  Digitization plays an important role in this, promoting the development of barrier-free products and thus making more inclusion possible,” commented Horst Giesen, Global Portfolio Director for Health and Medical Technologies at Messe Düsseldorf.

   Dr. Martin Danner, Chairman of the National Association for Personal Autonomous Development, praised the diversity and quality of the services and products on display at REHACARE 2018: “If you want to get an overview of the aids  available to people with disabilities today, REHACARE is a must.. Everything is on offer here, from aids to help you in your daily routine to high-tech products. As an independent self-help association, we are delighted to see

that the legislators have initiated speedier updating of the catalogue of medical aids that is maintained by the statutory health insurance companies. In future, those affected will benefit more from technical progress than in the past.”

   Exhibitors awarded top marks to REHACARE 2018. According to a survey, over 90% of the companies were satisfied with their participation, 83% stated that the trade fair was already a business success and 88% are expecting good post-show business.

   “REHACARE is the most important international event for us in reaching end customers”, said Philipp Hoefer, Head of Sales and Marketing at Otto Bock HealthCare Deutschland GmbH. “We have seen a significant increase in visitors and are very pleased with our results this year. We cover a broad spectrum with our products and services in the mobility, prosthetics and brace sectors. We placed our main focus on the first electronic leg brace, C Brace, and bandages that have individually programmable electrodes for nerve stimulation.”

  According to Sabine Tonye, Head of Marketing at ReWalk Robotics, REHACARE’s main advantage is that it is an information platform for both service users and international professionals: “This year, we showcased the Soft Exosuit for the first time, which is used in early rehabilitation for stroke patients with foot lifting weakness. We were very pleased with the response of our presentation and we were able to reinforce many existing relationships and also win new customers.”

   Visitors also gave REHACARE good ratings: 94% considered their visit successful and praised the wide range of products on offer.

   Around 9,000 professional visitors from distribution, importing and purchasing travelled to REHACARE from 80 countries outside Germany this year. They are especially vital to the export-oriented medical aid industry.

   Mobility for people with disabilities was a main topic again for visitors at this year’s REHACARE. Almost every second attendee was interested in this sector, followed by nursing care aids, orthopedic technology and technical aids for communication and information. For about 25%  of the visitors, the automotive show was a special highlight.

   The diverse range of information opportunities and consulting sessions in the forums and themed sections were also well-frequented at REHACARE. This included the REHACARE Forum, with its focus on housing for the elderly, the one-day conference on “Digitally Shaping Our Lives in the Community” about telemedicine applications for healthcare, smart home solutions and online platforms to  connect people to their neighbors and local service providers in their district as well as the premiere of the European M-Enabling Forum with information about accessible communication technology and digital aids for seniors and people with limitations.   Organized by E.J. Krause & Associates, this forum was accompanied by an exhibition. “The exchange between conference visitors, speakers and exhibitors was very active. We have received consistently positive feedback and have already had our first replies confirming attendance to participate in the next M-Enabling Forum at REHACARE 2019,” commented  Regine Gessner, Managing Director Germany of the event organizer.

   Around 400 wound experts, skilled care workers and professionals from specialist sectors in inpatient care, visited the further education and information program held by the Nursing Academy of Lower Rhine, Willich within the context of the Living with Care@Home forum.

    The next REHACARE will take place in Düsseldorf, Germany  from September 18 - 21, 2019. For further information on visiting or exhibiting at REHACARE 2019, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America, 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2920, Chicago, IL 60601. Telephone: (312) 781-5180; Fax: (312) 781-5188; E-mail: info@mdna.com; Visit http://www.mdna.com; Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/Medical_MDNA

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