Jan 30

WHY CHOOSE A FOLDABLE ROLLATOR?
It is very useful if the rollator can fold so that it does not take up unnecessary space. You can put it in the back of your car or on public transport. The walking aid should help you get out and about or around the home as easily as possible.

Additionally, a walker that does not stand up when folded means that it will need to be picked up off the floor and unfolded. If you are already having difficulties walking, then this might make you more prone to falling over when you are trying to pick the rollator up and unfold it. Therefore, it is vital that you get a rollator that can stand up on its own even when folded.

ARE THEY ADJUSTABLE?
Yes. Since people come in different shapes and sizes, it is important that you get a walker, which will fit your size and height. Some walkers are very adjustable. The handles and seat can be adjusted to suit your height. This feature is to ensure that you can sit on the seat properly, comfortably, and safely.

FOUR-WHEEL VS. THREE-WHEEL ROLLATORS
Four-wheel rollators are generally more stable than three-wheel rollators for the same reason that you do not see many three-wheel cars around. They are a little more prone to tipping over than a four-wheel option.

LIGHT VS. HEAVY ROLLATORS
Weight can be an important factor for the ease of use particularly when the user is weak. A heavy walker will make it more difficult to move around, also making it harder to put into the back of a car, onto public transport, up a curb, or just over a bump.

LARGE WHEELS VS. SMALL WHEELS
The size of the wheels will determine to some degree how smooth the rollator is when going over an uneven surface. Larger wheels will be smoother because it will not fall into smaller holes as easily as larger wheels. You could expect a more rough/bumpy experience from a rollator with small wheels.

IMPORTANCE OF A ROLLATOR SEAT
A walking aid with a seat is useful if you have difficulty walking any distance. It allows you to stop as soon as you get tired to take a rest. This is important if you are feeling weak and need to stop quickly to catch your breath.

ARE THE BRAKES EASY TO APPLY?
Yes. If you have weak hands then the brakes need to be comfortable and easy to apply. The park brake is essential to hold the walking aid steady and stopping it from rolling away when you try to sit down, assuming that the walker has a seat. If you try to sit down with no parking brake on, then the walking aid may roll away and you could find yourself flat on your back.

CAN YOU CARRY THINGS ON YOUR ROLLATOR?
Yes. Being able to carry walking sticks, canes, drinks, oxygen cylinders, meal trays, baskets/ bags is useful when going outside or for use in the home. Some walkers come equipped with a range of accessories which will enable you to carry essential equipment you need for getting around safely.

Trying to personally modify the walker with your own equipment can be dangerous and make the walking aid unstable. If accessories are available, then these would be tested to ensure the safety of the walker is not compromised.

HAS THE ROLLATOR BEEN TESTED? IS IT SAFE?
Walkers should be developed in accordance with the applicable standard for walking aids, the most common standard being ISO 11199-2. Make sure that your rollator has passed these standards.

WHAT IS THE WEIGHT CAPACITY OF THE ROLLATOR?
It is important that the rollator is able to hold your weight should you be sitting on it. Bariatric walkers will be more suitable for heavier users because they will have a higher weight capacity, but also because the handles will be further apart. However, if the handles are further apart, you will need to check that the rollator will fit through normal doors.

DOES THE ROLLATOR HAVE WARRANTY?
It is worth checking the warranty to make sure you can return it if there are any problems.

CAN YOU GET SPARE PARTS EASILY?
Parts may sometimes break or are faulty. It is worth checking how easy it is to get spare parts so you do not have to purchase a new rollator to fix a minor problem.

HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT ADVICE?
The Disabled Living Foundation has a website which offer probably the most up to date and comprehensive list of products (see Living Made Easy). They aim to provide a similar service to Assist UK, a charity supported by professional therapists who provide free impartial advice to people looking for disability equipment in the UK.

Ricability is also a useful charity devoted to consumer testing products for older people and people with disabilities who are about to publish a guide on walking aids.

Enabled by Design is also a very good resource. They are a community of people passionate about well designed everyday products and provide independent reviews by their community members on the products they have tested.

From my experience, retailers need to be treated with some degree of caution. There are some very good retailers who are there to serve their customers’ needs. Still, there are others who are more interested in supplying the products which give them the highest mark up or they may be committed to purchasing particular types of walkers. It is worth doing an internet search to see what other products are available and come in armed with this information to the retailer. The problem is that there are so many products available in the marketplace that it is impossible for the retailers to stock and know about all products that are available, so it is worth doing some research for yourself on which product you think is most suitable for you.

DoAbility UK is the exclusive distributor of Volaris Rollators in the UK and Ireland. They have a extensive line of rollators that would definitely suit your needs.

Jan 27

The Health and Social Care Bill initiated a campaign to modernise the National Health Service, setting patients at the center of everything.

The proposed changes will lead to improved quality care, more choices and better outcomes for patients, in addition to long-term economic funds for the NHS that will be used for reinvestment to improve care, as said so by the Government. Under the recent measures, there will be a defined legal responsibility for the NHS and the entire care system to constantly improve the quality of patient care.

Nevertheless, the College of Occupational Therapists is a bit concerned over the NHS reforms described in the bill.

The scale and speed of change persists to be disturbing. In the midst of major restructure, patients must continue to receive the care they need. Occupational therapy is a lifeline for many people, building their confidence, independence, and skill to carry out tasks most people take for granted. This in turn avoids superfluous visits to hospitals and decreases the need for longer-term care, which has an enormous financial significance for the NHS. Occupational therapists and other Allied Health Professionals must work together with GP Consortia to commission services needed by the local community.

Occupational therapists support raising standards of healthcare within the NHS but access to occupational therapy should be equitable and widespread. The government has accepted that occupational therapy is vital to rehabilitation, devoting £162 million more in the Health and Social Care Bill 2011, which also includes the following proposals:

* Make commissioning closer to patients by giving liability to GP-led groups
* Advance public health by developing Public Health England
* Boost accountability for patients and the public by setting up Health Watch, as well as local health and wellbeing boards
* Free the NHS from political micro-management by supporting each trust to become foundation trusts and organizing independent regulation
* Decrease bureaucracy by streamlining arm’s-length bodies

These measures will save the NHS over £5 billion by 2014, and then £1.7 billion every year after that, which is enough money to pay for more than 40,000 extra nurses, 17,000 more doctors, or 11,000 additional senior doctors every year. The bulk of the savings would come from a considerable reduction in bureaucracy following the elimination of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities, as well as a reduction in management staff of approximately 24,500 posts. The changes would pay for its own by 2012 and the subsequent savings would provide the NHS a stable financial foundation for the future.

Modernising the NHS is a requirement, not an alternative. In order to meet increasing need in the future, there should be changes. Steps to improve health outcomes are vital to make them at par, or even better, with the standards of the finest international healthcare systems, and to lessen the NHS money spent on bureaucracy. This bill will deliver changes that will improve the effects on patients and save the NHS £1.7 billion annually, using it to reinvest into services for patients.

This is the beginning of a cultural move to a patient-centred NHS. The proposals started out in the Health and Social Care Bill would strengthen the NHS for the future and put together the changes needed for vital modernisation to make more patients and NHS staff in control.

The Health and Social Care Bill aspire to mobilise the entire NHS to improve outcomes for patients. The reforms present the opportunity to build up a system designed to bring about these outcomes. The values and principles of the service are still the same, preserved in the NHS Constitution and in the efforts of its staff every day.

It is vital for the service to keep its heart and purpose of improving excellence for patients and to make the amendments a foundation for improvement.

Jan 15

People with limited mobility find it hard to enjoy the comforts of home, especially what is supposed to be a relaxing bath. They usually struggle to get in and out of the bath, making bath time a dreaded moment.

Relaxation and personal hygiene is very important even for those with mobility issues. That is why special bath seats or shower boards have been designed to make sure that bathing is fun and safe.

The Shower Board Robust is a durable option to sit in the bath. It is lightweight and can easily fit in the bathtub. All you need to do is place the shower board on the tub, without having to make extra adjustments.

The disabled is also particularly worried about losing their balance while using a shower board. Nevertheless, the Shower Board Robust has extra-dimensioned tubes to handle heavier users. The seat is made of aluminium profiles, furnished with a handle for safe transportation to and away from the board. It also has a comfortable contoured seating area making bath time a pleasurable experience.

Visit DoAbility UK today for a wide range of shower boards and bath seats.

Jan 15

People who need assistance walking often resist mobility aids in the beginning. They feel that such aids only suit the elderly. Yet, walking aids should be regarded the same way as a pair of glasses – a special tool that can help you perform better. The first mobility aid that someone with a walking problem may require is a walking stick.

Walking sticks are definitely the most popular mobility aid. They come in a variety of colours, designs, and styles that offer a personal touch.

Walking sticks are usually made out of wood or aluminium, though some people have been known to use bamboo, glass, or hard plastic. The most familiar shape of a walking stick is the curved hook that users can sling over their arm. A few other handle varieties include orthopaedic-grip handles, swan neck walking sticks, and “T” top sticks. Also available are sticks that may be folded allowing the user to conveniently place the stick in a jacket pocket when not in use.

The Walking Stick Flex by Swereco is made of aluminium tubes with a plastic handle. You may choose between a straight and ergonomically designed handle that gives a good distribution of pressure and a safe grip.

DoAbility UK has an extensive line of walking sticks. If you feel that you need one, you may visit their official website and buy online.

Jan 11

What do you do when you drop a small item and it rolls under the table? I, for one, would quickly drop down on my knees to retrieve it.

Nonetheless, what if it happens to your grandmother, for example? She would definitely have a very hard time getting down on her knees, and an even harder time standing up.

However, aside from the elderly, people who have some conditions that affect mobility also have difficulties with this kind of situation. My mother has fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. Whenever she drops something, it is very hard for her to retrieve it. Well, it is a good thing that there are quite a few people in the house who can help her. Still, what if she is left alone in the house?

Following one such incident a few months ago, I did some checking online. At DoAbility, I found a great helping aid for people with limited movements.

Reachers are long magnetic pickup tools that can help the elderly, the disabled, and even kids reach for small things that are in hard to reach places.

DoAbility has two types of reachers – closed and open. Reacher Closed is made of aluminium while Reacher Open is made of steel tubes. Both are lacquered in different colours depending on their length. Both have small but strong magnets, which can lift everything – from pins to a bunch of keys. Rubber tips are replaceable, and both reachers come in 40cm, 50cm, 60cm, 80cm, and 100cm versions.

Jan 11

Occasionally, people may require assistance with walking. There is a diversity of options for people in these situations, such as crutches, wheelchairs, and walking sticks. Usually, the type of assistance that one needs will depend on the seriousness of their physical state.

Rollators, like the Volaris S7, are a kind of walking-assistance device that, unlike crutches and walkers, does not alter the normal walking gait of the person who uses it. For instance, if you look carefully at someone who walks with a walker, you will notice that the way he/she walks is somewhat unnatural. Rollators, on the other hand, seek to minimize this setback.

They have been well liked in European countries for a while, and recently have made their way into the U. S.

A rollator is somewhat a more high-tech version of a walker. It has four wheels, which are larger than the wheels on a walker, providing more stability. The handles have brakes, which you can squeeze to stop the wheels. The wheels let the user change directions easily whenever he/she desires.

Additionally, rollators are lighter than walkers are; yet, the former is made from stronger material. The height is adjustable on many models, too.

They are collapsible for easy storage and for convenient transport. Countless models feature a basket used to carry items, while some have a seat so that when you get tired, you can sit down and relax a bit.

Jan 2

Even though most people who have a mobility issue are those who are above 50, there are still quite a few who have this problem amongst people much younger. People commonly use adjustable beds in the later years of their lives. However, even though most purchases of these helpful sleeping products are made by older people, there are still many young people who have the need for one of these items. Anyone that is severely disabled due to a deterioration of their health should look online for companies that provide products used by those having difficulties getting about the house.

The main concern with people that find it difficult to get about is the loss of independence in most cases. Everybody likes to get away from their usual environment when they get the chance. Disabled people who rely on a caregiver to help them get around will be just as eager as anyone else to hit the motorway as they make their way to the beach or some lakeshore guesthouse for the weekend. In fact, if you are usually housebound due to a physical injury, you will probably be dying to go somewhere different for a change. People suffering from a health issue who do not seek medical care run the risk of becoming seriously ill. People who wish to avoid any serious health issues should try to visit their local doctor for a check-up at least every two months just to be sure.

Although some health issues affecting people can be avoided by leading a healthy lifestyle, some conditions are unavoidable. However, you should not overlook the importance of checking out the websites that provide helpful information. Anyone looking for items to help them move around easier can take advantage of the sites that provide an array of information about the best companies in this kind of industry.

Whether you are searching for a reputable mobility aids provider or are looking for something else with regard to a serious health problem, it should not take long to discover what you are after on the internet. One thing that can make it quite difficult is that there are so many diverse products to choose from. Most professionally run companies will not just think about the profit they can make from a customer. By making sure their customers are satisfied with their purchase, these sorts of firms are bound to become very popular.

One such company is DoAbility, the leading supplier of mobility aids in the UK and Ireland. To check out their products, visit their official website: www.doability.co.uk. To check out helpful information on how to make life easier for those with limited mobility, read the rest of our posts.

Jan 1

Arising in the middle of the night because of the need to use the bathroom could be irritating, more so if you have limited mobility. Getting out of bed, walking to the bathroom, doing your thing, and going back to your bed can be quite a burden and very tiresome. For the disabled and the elderly, aside from having the need to disturb other members of the family to help, going to the bathroom poses some life-threatening dangers.

What if they accidentally slip while in the bathroom? If they live alone, would help immediately arrive?

Fortunately, you do not have to be anxious about your loved ones who have limited mobility to go through these terrifying experiences. Recent technologies have fashioned various independent living products that allow people with mobility problems to move securely and comfortably with little or almost no help needed.

The Swereco Toilet Seat Easy Stack is an adjustable toilet seat that you can bring inside the bedroom. For seniors, owning a Stacking Toilet Seat can be particularly helpful if they are already weak and wobbly. For the disabled, it provides convenience given that they do not have to move too far from the bed and experience discomfort.

People who have trouble with their balance and movement are frequently at risk of falling in the bathroom because of their condition. Damp bathroom floors also add to this risk. More often, people with mobility problems dread going to the bathroom on their own for fear of falling.

Family members need to understand why the disabled and the elderly become frightened of bathrooms. In nursing homes, half of the elders accidentally fall each year.

Stacking Toilet Seats reduce the possibility of falling because they make it easier for the disabled and the elderly to get on and off the toilet. It can function as a portable toilet with a detachable pail, to reduce the user’s trips to the bathroom.

Toilet seats for the handicapped create a feeling of security and self-reliance. They can easily be converted from a handy toilet to a chair set on top of a toilet bowl to create an elevated toilet seat. You do not have to be concerned about placing it by the bed since it has a seat cover for sanitary purposes. It even has a removable backrest for added versatility.

The Swereco Toilet Seat Easy Stack is adjustable to accommodate the user’s height. Sturdy and very stylish, it is also comfortable to sit on. Even children can use it as a potty trainer. Toddlers will take pleasure in using this because it does not feel as chilly as the regular toilet. It also has unwavering arms to support the user.