Mobility Equipment Supplies

In our 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond, it is not always easy to stay upright. That is because after age 25, our balance begins to decline. Falls in the later years often result to wrist and hip fractures, which can have a devastating effect on our lifestyle or even threaten our life.

We juggle many activities, responsibilities, and people in our lives with grace. But sometimes we can be physically tossed off balance by a wet floor or uneven pavement. Falls can occur anytime, anyplace, and to anyone while doing everyday activities, such as climbing stairs or getting out of the bathtub.

As we age, our sight, hearing, muscle strength, coordination and reflexes change, weakening our balance. Also, some health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and circulation problems, affect balance. Even some medications have been known to make people dizzy.

Unfortunately, all of these factors make falls more likely. But then, you do not have to be one of them. You can take simple steps to improve your balance and reduce your risk of falling.

And since balance tends to erode over time, regularly performing balance exercises is one of the best ways to protect against falls that lead to temporary or permanent disability. Balance exercises take only a few minutes and often fit easily into the warm-up portion of a workout. Many strength-training exercises also serve as balance exercises. Balance-enhancing movements may simply be woven into other forms of exercise, such as tai chi, yoga, and pilates.

Balance exercises can help us maintain our balance and confidence at any age. This can also improve our coordination. For older adults, balance exercises can promote independence.

Balance may be improved with exercises that strengthen the ankle, knee, and hip muscles, and with exercises that improve the function of the vestibular system, which regulates ones balance.

Nearly any activity that keeps us on our feet, such as walking, can help us maintain good balance. You can also include balance exercises in your daily routine. Try balancing on one foot while waiting in line, or stand up and sit down without using your hands. For a more targeted approach, try specific balance exercises. If you have severe balance problems or an orthopedic condition, get your doctor’s approval before doing balance exercises.

Once a physical therapist has reviewed a complete medical history and thoroughly examined you, he or she will develop a personalized plan. This may include a walking regimen with balance components such as changes in surfaces/terrains, distance, and elevations. The physical therapist may also teach specific strengthening and balance exercises that can be performed at home.

Exercise A:

* Stand directly behind a table or chair and place your feet slightly apart.

* Lift one leg six inches out to the side.

* Hold this position for 10 seconds.

* Repeat with the opposite leg.

Exercise B:

* Stand directly behind a table or chair and place your feet slightly apart.

* Slowly bend one knee toward your chest lifting your foot six inches off the floor.

* Hold this position for 10 seconds.

* Repeat with the opposite leg.

Exercise C:

* Stand directly behind a table or chair and place your feet slightly apart.

* Lift one leg straight back, keeping your knee straight.

* Hold this position for 10 seconds.

* Repeat with the opposite leg.

The above exercises should be performed two to three times a day.

Balance Exercise Safety Guidelines:

* Be aware of your posture. Try to maintain your weight over your ankles.

* Avoid fast movements including quick turns or changes in position.

* Use a chair as a place to not only perform seated exercise but also to hold on to while standing.

* Always get up slowly when rising from a chair.

* Don’t close your eyes when exercising or standing from your chair.

* If you are taking medications, ask your doctor if there are any side effects which may cause light-headedness or decreased balance.

*** Lost your balance and fell? Visit www.doability.co.uk. We might be able to help you.

Bathrooms at home usually need adaptation if an elderly or disabled wants to stay in the house and remain independent. Ensuring bathroom access and safety may require room customizations.

Falls often happen as people get in or out of the bathtub. Non-slip suction mats or non-skid tub liners or stickers can help prevent falls and provide firm footing.

Grab bars around the tub are a must for safety. These bars should be institutional-grade and installed according to the manufacturer’s directions for firm and solid support.  Using towel rods in place of them is strongly discouraged. Improperly installed bars, as well, will not support a person who loses balance.

Various types of bars and poles are available from plumbing supply companies. The type, number, and positioning of supports depend on:

• The wall space around the tub;
• The wall structure;
• The plumbing arrangements; and
• The disability of the person using the tub.

Two kinds of grab bars are often needed at the bathtub for the disabled or elderly:

1. For use in getting in and out of the tub from a standing position;

2. For use when lowering and raising the body to and from a seated position in the tub.

U-shaped bars are available in 12- to 40-inch lengths. They may be installed vertically or horizontally to a wall.

A vertically placed U-bar, attached to the side wall at the foot of the tub, allows safe entry and exit. Note that the foot of the tub is the end where the water faucets and drain are located. This vertical bar should be about 32 inches long, and placed near the edge of the outer tub.

Horizontally placed support bars are best for lowering and raising the body to and from a sitting position in the tub. A 12- to 15-inch bar may be placed at the foot end of the tub and a longer one along the back wall.

Diagonally placed grab bars are not recommended because the hand may slide; and if footing is not secure, falls are more likely to occur.

If the tub is free-standing at both ends, like in most older homes, and the end wall is too far for grab bars to be secured, a vertically placed pole on the access side of the tub may be used. This pole should be about 1.5 inches in diameter and extend from floor to ceiling. Place it between 1 foot 3 inches to 1 foot 6 inches from the end of the tub, close enough to the access side to reach from a sitting position. It also can be used to grasp with one hand while operating the water controls.

Angle bars from the back wall or behind the tub to the floor, with wall posts, may be used when one or both tub ends are enclosed by a wall. This is useful for persons needing to use both hands to enter and exit the tub.

A variety of portable seats, chairs, and benches are also available if sitting on the bathtub floor is difficult or impossible. One seat has side flanges that adjust to fit any bathtub. Inside-the-tub chairs with backs for greater comfort are also sold in the market today. An inside/outside transfer bench with adjustable legs allows the person to sit on the bench that extends outside the tub then slide to the inside of the tub.

Any chair or bench must have non-slip rubber tips and should be safe and comfortable. When using this type of seats in the tub, a hand-held shower head is preferable to use.

An angle bar attached to two walls provides support while standing, and also aids in sitting and rising from a bath bench or chair.

If the shower floor is slippery, non-slip suction mats or rubber silicone treads should also be used there.

A non-skid bath mat on the floor outside the shower is a necessity.

The standard 15- to 17-inch height of toilet seats creates a problem for many people, especially those with arthritis, hip, knee or back problems. Elevating the seat 5-7 inches more will give better leverage in regaining a standing position.

There are several types of removable and permanently fixed raised toilet seats available in stores. For a more permanent raised toilet, a plumber can put the stool on a wooden platform made to fit the toilet bowl base. If you are building a new bathroom, consider a wall-hung toilet that can be hung at any height.

A portable bidet for cleaning the perineal area without hands or paper may be attached to any standard toilet bowl. It is electrically powered with a mechanism for spray washing with warm water and drying with a flow of warm air. This promotes independence for persons with very limited hand/arm functions.

Grab bars around the toilets are a must. Many types are available, and the choice will depend on:

• Available wall space near the toilet;
• Nearness to other fixtures in the room; and
• Needs of people in the household.

If you have a physical limitation, we recommend you consult a physical therapist or a housing specialist to help you select and recommend placement of grab bars and other accessories for safety in the bathroom. If you are unsure of your wall structure, or do not have proper tools or skills, we suggest you hire a carpenter to install and/or make the new adaptations.

And for the latest bathroom and toilet aids for the disabled and the elderly, visit www.doability.co.uk.

Another year has come to an end, and the year 2009 is now nothing more but a part of history. So for 2010’s first article, I thought of sharing with you the history of wheelchairs.

It is uncertain as to what can be considered the first wheelchair, or who invented it. The first known dedicated wheelchair invented in 1595, called an invalids chair, was made for King Phillip II of Spain by an unknown inventor.

But the wheelbarrow, a 3rd century invention from China used for moving the sick or disabled, is said to be the oldest evidence of wheeled chairs.

In 1655, Stephen Farfler, a 22-year-old paraplegic watchmaker, built a self-propelling chair on a three-wheel chassis.

In 1783, John Dawson of Bath, England, invented a wheelchair named after the town of Bath. He designed a chair with two large wheels and a small one. The Bath wheelchair outsold all other wheelchairs throughout the early part of the 19th century.

However, the Bath wheelchair was not that comfortable, and during the last half of the 19th century, many improvements were made to wheelchairs. Comfort for the disabled person became more of an issue. Convertible chairs, with reclining backs and adjustable foot rests, were then invented. An 1869 patent for a wheelchair showed the first model with rear push wheels and small front casters. Between, 1867 to 1875, inventors added new hollow rubber wheels similar to those used on bicycles on metal rims. In 1881, the push rims for added self-propulsion were invented.

It was also during this time when some wheelchairs were made from Indian reed, with large wheels either front or back, weighing 50 to 58 lbs. depending whether it had push rims or not.

In 1900, the first spoked wheels were used on wheelchairs. In 1916, the first motorized wheelchair was manufactured in London.

In 1932, engineer, Harry Jennings, built the first folding, tubular steel wheelchair. That was the earliest wheelchair similar to what is in modern use today. That wheelchair was built for his paraplegic friend, Herbert Everest, who wanted a wheelchair that could go in an automobile. On 1933 in Los Angeles, together they founded Everest & Jennings, a company that monopolized the wheelchair market for many years. An anti-trust suit was actually brought against Everest & Jennings by the Department of Justice, who charged the company with rigging wheelchair prices. The case was finally settled out of court.

In 1934, Samuel Duke, independently of E & J responded to the demand in Chicago. He developed the second manual, lightweight, folding wheelchair for the market.

Over the years, the causes of changes in wheelchairs were brought about by the introduction of the automobile and the need to get wheelchairs into cars; the increased number of injuries due to automobiles; the development of rehabilitation and re-education programs for the injured; improved medical services; and the demand for independence of disabled people.

Wheelchair sports were introduced as a form of therapy in the rehabilitation program of Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, England between 1944 to 1947. They had their Annual World Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Games. At present, there are more than 70 member countries in the International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation.

Wheelchair sports improved the physical function of disabled people. It created more active individuals who want to do more. It increased the demand for performance in manual wheelchairs. Wheelchairs used in sports are lightweight, versatile, and stable.

Early power chairs used belts in the drive-train. The motor turned a rotor which had a belt wrapped around it, and the belt transmitted the power to the wheels. Today’s chairs use direct drive, meaning the motor turns gears which in turn move the power through a gear transmission to the wheels. Direct drive is more reliable and needs less maintenance.

Power chairs were actually once called “electric chairs”, until marketers realized that the public thought of electric chairs as machines of execution. The early power chairs were manual chairs with batteries and drive mechanisms jury-rigged on. The chairs were bulky and difficult to navigate with. Designers have since fixed those problems, and modern power chairs have all their elements integrated into a coherent system. While the first power chairs used electric power only for moving the wheels forward, today’s systems include powered adjustments for seats, foot rests, back pads, and head rests.

Innovation continued, with the first voice activated power wheelchair being used in Norway in 1984, enabling its young user to attend university classes. A new class of portable power chairs was also manufactured, that could be folded and put in the boots of most cars. In the 1990’s, innovation focused on custom power wheelchairs, with the manufacture of bases that can be tuned to suit the individuals needs.

Current innovations are extremely exciting, if rather expensive at the moment. One of the most exciting new developments of the moment is the Ibot. Not only does it rise up on two wheels, if someone tries to push you off your balance, it is better able to keep its balance than a human.

Unfortunately, with a price approaching $30,000, it is not for everyone.

Where wheelchairs will go from here is uncertain, but you can be sure they will be very different from now. It is likely that at some point there will be power chairs controlled by neurological impulses from the brain. Spanish scientists are currently working on a brain to computer interface which will allow users to control their chairs, while Texas Instruments recently demonstrated what they claimed was the first thought controlled wheelchair.

For the latest wheelchairs in the market today, visit www.doability.co.uk

Wheelchairs are used by people for whom walking is difficult or impossible due to an illness, injury, or disability. The earliest record of the wheelchair in England dates from the 1670s.

Here are some famous people who use and used wheelchairs:

STEPHEN HAWKING

He is a well-known example of a person with Motor Neuron Disease (MND), and has lived for more than 40 years with it. The internationally renowned physicist/mathematician has defied time and doctors’ diagnosis that he would not live 2-years beyond his 21st birthday after he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The symptoms are very similar to those of Cerebral Palsy. He cannot walk and talk, and has difficulty in holding up his head, swallowing, and breathing. He has been using a special computer that displays the text he types and speaks what he types with an electronic voice.

Hawking knew what he wanted to do by the time he was eight. He did not want to study medicine, a career his parents hoped he would follow. Instead, he decided to be a scientist and chose physics. He was interested in studying the universe. He attended Oxford University in England, as an undergraduate student. He received his Ph.D. in 1966 from Cambridge University. By the time he was 35 years old, he was Cambridge’s first Gravitational Physics professor and received the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics Award. He has also published a book called A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes. The book tries to explain many of his physical and mathematical ideas and calculations without using math. The book became a best seller and was made into a movie.

FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT

He was the 32nd President of the United States. Elected to four terms in office, he served from 1933 to 1945, and is the only U.S. president to have served more than two terms of office. In August 1921, while his family were vacationing at Campobello Island, New Brunswick, he contracted a near fatal case of polio, which resulted in his total and permanent paralysis from the waist down. He refused to accept that he was permanently paralyzed. He tried a wide range of therapies, including hydrotherapy. Fitting his hips and legs with iron braces, he laboriously taught himself to walk a short distance by swiveling his torso while supporting himself with a cane. In private, he used a wheelchair, but he was careful never to be seen in it in public. In 2003, a peer-reviewed study found that it was more likely that his paralytic illness was actually Guillain-Barré Syndrome, not Poliomyelitis.

Pres. Roosevelt established a foundation at Warm Springs, Georgia to help other people who had polio, and he directed the March of Dimes Program that eventually funded an effective vaccine.

THEODORE DEREESE PENDERGRASS, SR.

His career began when he was a drummer for The Cadillacs, which soon merged with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. He was invited by Melvin to become the lead singer after he jumped from the rear of a stage and started singing his heart out. On March 18, 1982, in Philadelphia, he was involved in an automobile accident when the brakes failed on his Rolls Royce and he hit a tree, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down with a spinal cord injury. After completing six months in rehabilitation, he returned to the studio to record the album Love Language, featuring the 1984 ballad “Hold Me”, a duet with a then-unknown Whitney Houston.

CHRISTOPHER REEVE

He was an American actor, director, producer, and writer. He portrayed Superman/Kal-El/Clark Kent in four films, from 1978 to 1987. In the 1980s, he also starred in several films, including Somewhere in Time (1980), Deathtrap (1982), The Bostonians (1984), and Street Smart (1987). In May 1995, he was paralyzed in an accident during an equestrian competition. His horse balked at a rail jump, pitching him forward where he landed head first. His injuries left the actor paralyzed, unable to use any of his limbs or even to breathe without the help of a respirator. He was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He lobbied on behalf of people with spinal cord injuries, and for human embryonic stem cell research after his accident. He founded the Christopher Reeve Foundation and co-founded the Reeve-Irvine Research Center. He was dedicated to increasing public awareness about spinal cord injury and to raising money for research for a cure. He was also the Chairman of the American Paralysis Association and Vice Chairman of the National Organization on Disability. He died at age 52 on October 10, 2004 from cardiac arrest caused by a systemic infection. Never has a person with a disability commanded so much media attention in recent history.

ITZHAK PERLMAN

He is an Israeli-American violinist, conductor, and pedagogue. He is one of the most distinguished violinists of the late 20th century. He contracted polio at the age of four. He made a good recovery, learning to walk with the use of crutches. Today he uses a wheelchair or walks with the aid of crutches on his arms and plays the violin while seated. Critics say it is not the music alone that makes his playing so special. They say he is able to communicate the joy he feels in playing, and the emotions that great music can deliver.

Perlman began his music career at the Academy of Music in Tel-Aviv, Israel. In 1958, at the age of 13, he won in an Israeli talent competition. This made it possible for him to travel to the United States to tour and appear on television. He then stayed in the U.S. and continued his musical training at the Juilliard School in New York City. In 1964, he won a contest among young musicians known as the Leventritt Competition. Winning opened doors for him to perform his violin music all over the world. In 1986, he received the nation’s Medal of Liberty from U.S. President Ronald Reagan. His joy of making music has captivated audiences and has achieved him a level of respect and admiration among people of many nations. Great violin concertos make up the core of his recorded music, ranging from the baroque to the contemporary. He is also featured in the hit movie Music of the Heart.

Itzhak is also a well known advocate for people with disabilities, actively promoting laws to ease access to buildings and transportation.

TANNI GREY THOMPSON

She is the disabled athlete that most people instantly recognize. She has competed in Paralympic Games since 1988, representing Britain at distances ranging from 100m to 800m. She has won fourteen paralympic medals including nine golds, and has broken over twenty world records. As a wheelchair athlete, she was also the winner of London marathons in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2001. In recent years, she has established herself as a TV presenter, including BBC TWO’s From the Edge disability magazine programme.

PAT STACK

He was a left-wing revolutionary, and was part of the Socialist Workers Party’s organizing committee. He uses a wheelchair, resulting from a Thalidomide pregnancy. Unlike Roosevelt, he does not keep his disability hidden. As well as having a brilliant political understanding, he is a great speaker and does several meetings every year at Marxism in London. He wrote the “Stack On The Back” article in Socialist Review, the SWP’s monthly magazine, from the 1980s until late 2004.

You have a wonderful family and a great circle of friends until one day, something very unfortunate happens to you. You get into an accident and you find out that you can no longer enjoy life as you used to. In an instant everything seems to be falling apart. You dreadfully thought that you might no longer be in a position to support your family financially; that you could lose your job; and that simply, all your dreams can crumble into pieces.

Disability may come in many forms. Some disabilities have to be faced from birth; others are developed during a person’s course through life. They can manifest suddenly, or gradually develop over the years.

A sudden disability is really hard, and naturally, you will be down about it, yet with a few changes you might still be able to live your life to the fullest.

1. Give yourself time to come to terms with your disability.

The whole world is upside down and you are in the middle of it believing life will never be the same again with you just being miserable fighting your disability. You might lose your friends because you will no longer be able to socialize as you used to. But this is also the time to find out who your real friends are, who will be there to support you no matter what. Allow yourself time to let all the negative emotions go away. It is good to know that there are people who you can talk to, and counseling might be appropriate at this time.

The process of accepting your disability can be a long one. But you should soon start to realize that feeling sorry for yourself will get you nowhere. You still have a life that you can enjoy. Now is not the right time to dwell in the past, but concentrate on the things that you still can do in the future. Consider all your strengths and the qualifications you have. Seek the help of a career consultant who will be more than happy to help you find a suitable job you might still be able to do bearing in mind your limitations.

Thinking positively is no easy matter but it is important to be enthusiastic about life again. There are only two choices for you to make. You can stay depressed and complain about your disability for the rest of your life, or you can try to make the most of your life.

The important point to realize is that a disability is not a punishment for something wrong you have done.

2. You are not alone.

There will be times that you might want to share your problems with your friends but you do not want to bore them with it. At the end of the day if you recount to people how hard life is treating you, they will only tell you how much harder their life is. Rarely will you come across somebody who understands and will be willing to listen to you, but aside from that, you have to find those who can share their own problems with you. It is therefore advantageous to join support groups.

It is important to appreciate those who organize these support groups and put disabled people in contact. Enjoy the support of your like-minded friends but only to enrich your life. Do not get stuck in complaints about your misfortune. Surround yourself with people with whom you feel great. Avoid people who are distracting you from achieving your goals. Just be yourself. Do not listen to criticisms.

You are not on your own. There are others with similar problems you can join forces with. Use the support of others who are in a similar position as you to improve each others’ lives. It is alright to complain about your condition in the short term, but in the long term, concentrate on the positive. Feeling sorry for yourself will take you nowhere.

3. Nurture yourself.

The only person you can always trust is you. I know it sounds funny but you will always be in your own company. You can either cheer yourself up or make yourself miserable. But first and foremost, you need to take care of yourself and keep yourself as healthy as possible.

You cannot always cure your disability but you can learn how to live your life the best possible way. There is so much you can do to help yourself feel better. Try and find something that you enjoy. Develop an interest or a hobby. Praise yourself for any little achievement you have, no matter how small. If it helps, put your favorite poem on the wall, or any positive quote to remind you every time you pass by it.

4. Concentrate on the present, do not dwell in the past, nor worry about the future.

The present is the most important part of your life. Take a moment to reflect on how you feel. Meditation techniques are beneficial because they help us discover more on who we are. That is not an easy matter in today’s extremely stressful society.

As a result of your disability, you might have less power to influence matters in your life now. Worrying only makes our worries come alive. Do not worry of what could go wrong in the future. Just let anxiety go, and allow reality to happen instead. Do not believe things will always end up badly.

5. Try to eliminate stress from your life.

We should try and live in harmony with everybody else. This might not always be easy. If you are angry with somebody, take a few deep breaths and explain calmly to the person why you are angry and what you would like the person to do instead. Do not swear at anybody or accuse them of being an idiot, the response you will be getting should be less hostile.

Social contact and support from members of familar organisation and community can help contribute to happiness in great amounts.  Sending positive thoughts to others can help you live a stress-free life.

6. Get yourself a mobility equipment.

Mobility equipment can make you feel less incapable of doing things on your own. These are available at www.doability.co.uk

During the Christmas season a lot of people travel in and out of town to be with their family and friends. And because of this, I would like to share some air travel tips for those who are using mobility equipment, especially wheelchairs and scooters.

1. Make your airline reservation as far in advance as possible.

2. Inform the reservations agent that you will be traveling with a wheelchair or scooter.

3. Tell them if you need assistance in boarding.

4. If you will be taking a long flight and you are able to use a standard plane restroom but are unable to walk to the restroom, ask that they make an aisle chair (narrow straight back chair with wheels underneath designed to fit an aisle of an airplane and is used to assist passengers that cannot walk) available for you during the flight. Some airplanes have a privacy curtain that includes the aisle that would allow a companion to assist you. Keep in mind, though, that airplane restrooms are quite small.

5. On newer wide-bodied jets, there is one accessible restroom. It is large enough to fit the aisle chair inside, making it possible to transfer to the toilet. These planes generally carry an aisle chair, but it is best to confirm if one will be on board.

6. Always make sure that they have a record of your requests 48 hours prior to departure.

7. Some planes have lift up arm rests on some of the aisles. You can request to be seated there if they are available. It makes transferring easier. Some passengers prefer to request bulkhead seats that have more legroom, but the arm rests on these seats do not lift up.

8. On the day of your departure, arrive early at the airport.

9. Always check your wheelchair or scooter at the boarding gate and request that it be brought back to you at the gate when you arrive.

10. It is suggested that you use gel- or foam-filled batteries (dry cells) in your scooter or power chair. Standard acid-filled batteries or wet cells will be removed by ground crew and packed in special containers for transport.

11. If you use a fold up manual wheelchair, you can request that it be stowed in the on-board coat closet. Usually, there is only room for one wheelchair and the service is available on a first come first serve basis, so you should arrive early to make your request. (Not all planes, though, have a coat closet.)

12. Make sure your name and address is on your equipment and that it has a gate delivery tag if it is being stowed below.

13. If you have to change planes, request that your own equipment be returned for the layover. This not only gives you independence while in the terminal, it reduces the risk of it getting lost or damaged. Since wheelchair users are usually the last to get off the plane, make sure you allow enough time to make your connection. At least an hour, and at big airports at least an hour and a half.

14. Remove seat cushions and any other parts that could easily become separated from the wheelchair. Take these items into the cabin with you. Attach instructions on scooters or power chairs detailing how and where to disconnect the batteries, including instructions for any other disassembly or prep that might be necessary for transport. If you have a large power chair, be aware that on some planes like the MD80’s or Super 80’s the cargo opening is only 26″ high, therefore some disassembly may be required. Having instructions on your equipment are very important because the crew at the other end didn’t see how it came apart.

15. If you need assistance transferring to the plane seat, take responsibility for yourself, and tell the staff how to help you or pick you up. They should be trained, but it is always safer not to assume anything.

16. Before landing, remind the flight attendant that you will need your equipment brought to the gate so they can radio ahead to make the arrangements. This can help speed things up.

17. If you encounter any problems, ask to speak to the “Complaint Resolution Officer” (CRO). Each air carrier is required to have a CRO available by phone or in person at all times. This person is specially trained in dealing with issues of travelers with disabilities.

18. If you are traveling with a scooter or power chair, make sure you arrange for transportation that will be able to accommodate your equipment upon arrival.

19. You may also opt to rent a mobility equipment at your destination. Many theme parks and other attractions that require a lot of walking have scooters or wheelchairs available for lease.

For more mobility equipment information, check out www.doability.co.uk

‘Tis the season to be jolly.. however, some people go into depression during the Christmas season. This is mostly true for those who are away from their loved ones during this time of the year, and also for our disabled and elderly loved ones who feel that they cannot be part of the merriment and celebration.

Depression is often synonymous to being sad. Sadness is a part of being human, a natural reaction to painful circumstances. All of us will experience sadness at some point in our lives, although not everyone will really succumb into depression.

Depression is not just limited to sadness. Sometimes it is caused by discouragement, helplessness, and a lack of self-worth. In some cases, it becomes a medical condition, a physical illness with many other symptoms than just an unhappy mood.

While depression can hit any one in all ages and in all walks of life, nobody is more prone to it than people with disabilities and the elderly. For the disabled, depression comes from the feeling of helplessness experienced as a result of their disability and lack of independence. They feel and believe that there is nothing they can do on their own, and worse, it leads to a feeling of emotional and mental emptiness. The elderly are at high risk for depression, too, because they are more likely to have experienced illness, death of loved ones, impaired function, and loss of independence compared to younger people. The cumulative effect of negative life experiences may be overwhelming to an older person. Not to mention the physical impairments caused by old age. In general, they pretty much have the same experiences as the disabled.

There is hope though for these people, since in many cases depression can be avoided or eliminated all together. Here are a few helpful tips to reduce depression:

• The first and most important thing to do to get out of depression is to set your mind. You have to convince yourself to stop becoming a “victim” of depression. Stop dwelling on what you cannot do or what you cannot control. Believe that you are not helpless. Think positively.

• Once you have set your mind to it, the second step is to consider what you can still do. In short, count your blessings. Focus on what you have, what you can do and what you can use. Plan to use them to your advantage.

• The third step is to take action. Execute your plan. Of course, if depression is a reaction to an illness, or caused by a disease, then the best way is to cure that disease or illness first. For the disabled and elderly, there are living aids that help reduce the feeling of helplessness causing the depression. Mobility equipments aid people with disabilities and the elderly to be more independent and live a normal life, and this is really the most important step in battling depression. These devices have been specifically designed to aid people in maneuvering around with minimal effort and facilitating tasks, from opening a jar of jam to using the bathroom.

Depression can be beaten. It is just a matter of having the personal will to get out of it. Of course, a little bit of support from friends and family wouldn’t hurt as well.

*** For all your disability equipment needs to assist in getting rid of depression, visit www.doability.co.uk.

Christmas is fast approaching. To the Christian world, it is the most anticipated holiday of the year when families and friends get together and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Christmas, however, is no longer just for Christians anymore. People from different cultures and religions all across the world celebrate this special day. It is a day of gift giving, of merry making, of being together. To children, it is all about the gifts under the Christmas tree or inside the Christmas stockings left by Santa Claus.  To adults, it is all about preparing a hearty meal for family and friends and decorating the whole house with a Christmas tree and festive lights. It is, arguably, the happiest season for many people, except some.

Sadly, there are the elderly and the disabled among us who cannot enjoy the season as much as we do. Because of their conditions, they are often confined indoors. Their movements are very limited and the things they can do will require a lot of effort on their end. It doesn’t mean, however, that they are doomed to have a sad Christmas. This is where family and friends come in and help out.

The first and perhaps most important thing to do to make it a happy Christmas for them is for their family and friends to be with them. There is nothing lonelier than being alone and away from your family and friends during Christmas. Elderly and disabled people tend to be emotional and are at high risk of depression than the rest. The mere presence of people who care for them and people they care for makes a big difference. A short visit or, much better, a dinner with them will surely uplift the emotions of these people and would surely make them feel good. And I guess this is true even for the young and healthy.

If being physically present is not possible, being “virtually” there will work wonders. A short phone call, a web chat, or even a handwritten postal mail coming from a loved one is better than nothing. Just the fact that they know they are remembered and are not forgotten on such a special day surely goes a long way. As the old saying goes, it’s the thought that counts.

Surely, it doesn’t stop there. There are more ways that we can make our elderly and disabled loved ones feel special and loved this Christmas. We can give them gifts, of course, but not just gifts. We can give them gifts that are appropriate for their conditions and gifts that can help them move around and enjoy the yuletide season more. Gifts like coats for the cold weather, walking aids and other mobility products are perfect for them. It gives them a semblance of independence and capability to do some activities that they can’t do by themselves. With these, they can join you in your stroll outside to go greet the neighbors a Merry Christmas. They can roam around the house and mingle with guests during Christmas dinner. They can even walk towards the porch or the lawn and see their grandchildren enjoy the snow and build a snowman on an early Christmas morning. Doing all these things makes them feel alive, special and important. These are moments that money cannot buy but because of some well-thought-of material gifts, you can make all these possible for them.

*** Make your elderly and disabled loved ones the happiest people this Christmas, buy them the perfect gift at www.doability.co.uk.

In my previous article, I focused on how medical organizations from around the world try to reduce harm from falls in their own facilities on a macro level. Now I am going to delve on more practical advice on how to reduce the incidence of falls within our homes or workplace.

Risk assessment provides a useful framework when tackling accidents caused by trips, slips and falls. Here is a five-step approach for this:

1. Look out for anything that may cause an accident. It could be objects lying around the floor like toys or rubbish; a wet floor; or basically, the proverbial banana peel that can cause people to slip.

2. Identify and decide who is at risk. It could be young children, the handicapped, or the elderly.

3. Take preventive measures, like doing repairs or renovations, making sure the area is regularly cleaned and cleared of any obstruction.

4. Keep a record of what you have changed. Now this one is a bit of a stretch to expect at home, but for commercial establishments and public places, it is certainly necessary.

5. Continually monitor your living space or work area. This is more of a continuation of the first 4 steps. It wouldn’t be effective if you just stop at recording and don’t follow through, so there has to be constant monitoring.

Now here are more practical tips to prevent the incidence of falls:

- Keep pathways clear. Arrange your furniture in a way that it allows easy movement, and not serve as an obstruction. Clean pathways and remove any unnecessary clutter, like boxes, telephone cords, and loose wires from high-traffic areas. Make pathways that are wide enough for plenty of people to use, to avoid possible collision.

- Provide ample light. Make sure areas like hallways and stairways are well lit. Have rechargeable emergency lights and flashlights handy in case of power outages.

- Safeguard stairways. Keep stairways in good repair. Make sure all stairways have sturdy railings and that steps have a non-skid surface.

- Secure rugs and flooring. Secure loose rugs and carpets with tacks or a slip-resistant backing. Repair frayed carpet and loose floorboards. Avoid small throw rugs as much as possible.

- Keep your bathroom safe. Install grab bars in your shower or bath and near your toilet. Use non-skid mats in the shower or bath.

- Keep necessities handy. Store supplies, clothing, dishes, food, and other everyday items within easy reach.

You can improve your general well-being, and help reduce the risk of trips and falls by keeping yourself active and healthy. A good way to make your muscles stronger and to improve your balance is to have a regular exercise and a proper diet. You do not have to go to the gym to remain active. Simple tasks, like gardening, regular house work, and walking can boost energy levels and improve coordination and balance.

Exercise is very important for older people since they are more prone to falling.

*** For all your disability equipment needs, visit www.doability.co.uk.

So can you spot what’s wrong with this picture? If not, let me give you a hint. It has something to do with the name that you see on the building. If you still do not get it, this article might give you an idea.

How many times have you been to a building with no ramp/s for those on wheelchair? Or go to a parking facility with no parking slots dedicated for the handicapped? Or ride an elevator with no brails on the floor buttons? Hopefully, not too many.

For some of us, these things I mentioned are considered useless and, worse, a waste of precious resources, be it money, work and space. Not everyone realizes though that there is a reason why we have these now, and that people before us fought hard for us to have these “useless” things.

For centuries, people with disabilities have had to battle against biases, stereotypes, and fears. Since the mid 1900s, these people have been fighting for recognition and fair treatment. The stigmatization of disability resulted in the social and economic marginalization of generations of men and women with disabilities, and like many other oppressed minorities, left them in a severe state of impoverishment for centuries. This continued up to the two World Wars. During the 1930s, the United States saw the introduction of many new advancements in technology as well as in government assistance, contributing to the self-reliance and self-sufficiency of people with disabilities. A great advocate for this was the late great US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who had a disability himself. In August 1921, before he became president, while the Roosevelts were vacationing at Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Roosevelt contracted an illness believed by his physicians to be polio, which resulted in his total and permanent paralysis from the waist down. This did not stop Roosevelt from dreaming and achieving greater things, making him one of the most popular US presidents in history. In fact, on October 20, 1995, the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute and the World Committee on Disability established the Franklin D. Roosevelt International Disability Award to recognize and encourage progress by nations in improving the lives of their disabled citizens. This award is still being given up to now by the United Nations.

In the 1940s and 1950s, disabled World War II veterans placed increasing pressure on government to provide them with rehabilitation and vocational training. World War II veterans made disability issues more visible to a country of thankful citizens who were concerned for the long-term welfare of young men who sacrificed their lives to secure the safety of the United States. Despite these initial advancements made towards independence and self-reliance, people with disabilities still did not have access to public transportation, telephones, bathrooms and stores. Office buildings and work sites with stairs offered no entry for people with disabilities who sought employment, and employer attitudes created even worse barriers. Otherwise talented and eligible people with disabilities were locked out of opportunities for meaningful work. This began to change by the 1960s. By then, the civil rights movement began to take shape, and disability advocates saw the opportunity to join forces alongside other minority groups to demand equal treatment, equal access and equal opportunity for people with disabilities. The advocacy continued until in 1973, the Rehabilitation Act was passed, and for the first time in history, civil rights of people with disabilities were protected by law.

Yet all these advancements were not enough.

In the 1980s, disability activists began to lobby for a consolidation of various pieces of legislation under one broad civil rights statute that would protect the rights of people with disabilities, much like what the 1964 Civil Rights Act had achieved for Black Americans. After decades of campaigning and lobbying, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990, and ensured the equal treatment and equal access of people with disabilities to employment opportunities and to public accommodations. The ADA intended to prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in: employment, services rendered by state and local governments, places of public accommodation, transportation, and telecommunications services.

The rest, as they say, is history. And knowing this made me grateful to those who fought for disability rights in the past, and for those who are still fighting for it now. Make no mistake, the struggle continues and it is upon ourselves, the current generation, to make sure that all what the others before us fought for will not go to waste.

Still do not know what’s wrong with the picture? I’m sorry. I gave you all the clues already.