Jan 4

Life has become slightly challenging in the world we are living today that is why rest has become exceedingly important. It is necessary to have ample time of relaxing and rest especially after a day’s work.

When the body is denied an opportunity to relax and rest, it becomes impaired to perform any other task effectively because new cells can only be developed during the resting period. The mind requires rest before it can continue to give better and efficient results. When these principles of rest are avoided, the body will weaken because it will not be able to perform some of its basic functions.

When you have limited mobility, you tend to get tired more often. And when you are out walking in the park, using your rollator, it is not surprising that you will eventually get exhausted and have a desire to sit down. Fortunately, some rollators, such as the Volaris Rollator, can also serve as a chair.

Back rests for rollators provide extra comfort and support when sitting on your rollator. It also reduces your risk of falling over backwards.

So you see, Volaris Rollators not only help you in walking. You can also use them for sitting when you get tired of strolling.

For more information on Back Rests for Volaris Rollators, visit DoAbility UK today.

Dec 16

Winter is the time for blizzards, sub-zero temperatures, and visiting the ER for the reason that you fell on ice. For the elderly, all that ice and snow signifies an increased chance of falls and slips.

Here are a few things one can do to make winter a bit less perilous:

- Use a walking stick with ice spikes.

- If you have to walk through an icy parking lot or sidewalk, try to find a firm arm to lean on. Nearly everyone is happy to help an older person move along a slippery walkway. All you have to do is ask.

- Bring a cell phone when you get out of the house. If you fall, it could sometimes be hard to get up. Keeping a cell phone with you whenever you go out can give you composure.

- If you have railings going up to your front door, make sure that they are sturdy. They should be able to support you in case you slipped.

- Check your footwear. Examine your boots and shoes. Better traction can help keep you extra stable on icy surfaces.

- Keep the shovel and salt inside your house. The reason you need a shovel and salt is so that you do not have to walk across a slippery sidewalk. If you need to traverse through the ice and snow to get to your garage where the salt and shovel are, that defeats the purpose.

- Slow down. It is when you rush that you end up losing your balance. Keep in mind that being a bit late is better than rushing and then falling.

- Strengthen your legs. Strong leg muscles could help you steady yourself if you lose your balance. Moreover, if you do fall, it would be a lot easier to get back on your feet. You should exercise your legs frequently to keep them strong.

These little tips, when used together, could make the winter elements a bit less intimidating.

Dec 6

Staying safe during the icy season can be a little difficult, most especially if you have limited mobility.

Safety on the ice requires preparation and diligence. Before you venture out, here are a few ice safety tips:

- Use walking sticks with ice picks at all times.

- Never walk or drive on cloudy ice.

- Never go on the ice alone. Naturally occuring ice is unpredictable. Make sure you have proper safety equipment and a buddy.

- Only go on clear, thick ice.

- Stopping on ice is extremely difficult. When snowmobiling or driving in low-visibility conditions, go slow enough to be able to stop if you see something. Many vehicle accidents happen because the driver couldn’t stop by the time he or she saw the hole in the ice.

- Wear a thin sock liner and a heavy pair of socks leaving a little room so your feet don’t get cramped and they won’t get cold. Never wear smooth soled walking shoes in wet or snowy weather as their traction is negligible on wet leaves or icy patches. You need lug soled shoes or you risk injury from falling.

- Select routes that are cleared of snow or ice or do not have standing puddles or mud slicks.

Oct 4

People suffering from diabetes are prone to having problems with their foot, often because of two complications: nerve damage and poor circulation. Nerve damage, also called neuropathy, causes loss of sensation in your feet, taking away your capability to feel pain and discomfort; hence, you may not detect a bruise, irritation, or wound. Poor circulation in your lower limbs reduces your ability to heal, bringing about a difficulty for even a tiny cut to withstand infection.

Having diabetes increases the chances of developing a wide range of foot and leg problems. Furthermore, with diabetes, small foot issues can turn into serious complications.

A few of the foot and leg problems affected by diabetes are infections and sores that take too long to heal, Charcot foot, corns and calluses, dry and cracked skin, hammertoes and bunions, nail disorders, and weak blood flow.

In diabetes, arteries and veins below the knee often become tight, restricting blood flow. This prevents wounds from recovering and may cause tissue death.

Your surgeon can help your wounds heal, preventing amputation. There are a lot of new surgical techniques available to save feet and legs, including joint reconstruction and wound dressing technologies. Getting regular foot checkups and looking for immediate help when you notice something could keep small problems from worsening. Your surgeon works together with other doctors to prevent and treat complications.

You, as well, play a vital role in preventing complications. Inspect your feet every day. If your eyesight is poor, ask someone else to do it for you. Check for nail or skin problems and indications of fracture. If your foot is distended, hot, red, or has changed in direction, shape, or size, see your surgeon immediately.

Do not ignore leg soreness. Pain in the leg that happens at night or with little activity could signify a blocked artery. Seek medical care right away.

Never trim calluses or corns on your own, and do not use over-the-counter medications.

Make sure there are no needles, syringes, or other sharp items on the floor. Always wear shoes or slippers, indoors and outdoors. Shake out your shoes before wearing them.

Have your circulation and sensation tested. Your foot and ankle doctor will perform tests to check if you have lost sensation or circulation on your feet or legs.

Nevertheless, even with preventive care and prompt management of infection and complications, there are still cases when amputation is necessary to remove an affected tissue, save a limb, or even help you in your recovery.

Sep 11

A person who is bound on a wheelchair usually has difficulties taking a bath. What is ought to be an enjoyable cleansing activity becomes a burden to people who have physical limitations. There are even those who come to a point when they no longer desire to take a bath nor shower because of the uneasiness and hazards related to bathing.

When taking a bath gets difficult for a person with disabilities, using a shower bench, chair, or stool may assist in making bath time accesible and a little more agreeable for them.

Shower benches are adjustable benches designed to allow people to sit after getting out of the bath or shower. Shower chairs with armrests make it easy for a person to rise from the shower and move to a wheelchair.

People with restricted physical capabilities still want to live independently, especially when it means doing private stuff, such as bathing. Nevertheless, because of its design, the bathroom is one of the most dangerous places in the house for children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Wet areas, as well as perilous floors and electrical appliances in the bathroom are regarded as hazards for people with limited physical abilities. Considering that they have difficulty moving, falling, losing balance, or breaking a bone is likely.

Shower stools answer what the disabled requires to survive independently while accomplishing body-cleansing customs. A caregiver’s help would no longer be necessary since this specific type of seats are durable and secure.

For individuals who have handicaps, who avoid trips to the bathroom due to difficulty or fear, shower chairs are the perfect tool to make them enjoy bath time. It provides the person with a feeling of being normal and self-reliant.

For more information on shower/bath aids for the disabled, visit DoAbility UK today.

Jul 10

Rollators are a kind of wheeled walker with brakes, which is designed to hold upper-body weight and assist people with walking limitations to enjoy greater mobility and shun fatigue.

Different from traditional medical walkers, which need to be raised with each step, a rollator glides easily across flat indoor and outdoor surfaces, and may be customized with a multitude of options, which allow for ease and convenience.

If you are thinking of buying one, speak with your therapist first and ask for some advice on models and components that best accommodate your lifestyle, needs, and size.

The following are some factors you need to consider when purchasing a rollator:

Brake System
Your brakes need to be easy to reach and aptly responsive for safety.

Cable brakes are like the ones used on bicycles. The user squeezes the breaks with both hands and the wheels instantly stop. There are also one-handed cable brake systems for people who only have strengh in one hand.

Slow down brakes can be useful when the user finds that the walker is rolling too fast for them to control it.

Park brakes are essential when the rollator has a seat and you need to sit down.  It will stop the rollator or walker from moving and reduce the incidence of falls.

Frame Type
There are frames built with either steel or aluminium. Steel frames are stronger and heavier than aluminium, and is designed to sustain greater body weight. However, aluminium frames are lighter and easier to push for those weighing less than 100 kgs or 15 stones.

Handle Adjustment
Opt for a model that allows you to adjust the handles to a suitable height for your size. A number of designs permit a greater range of adjustment than others allow, so be sure to test it before buying to make sure that you feel the comfort and the proper fit.

Number and Size of Wheels
A rollator can be either three-wheeled or four-wheeled. Three-wheeled models are easier to maneuver around corners and in tight spaces. Nevertheless, four wheels are more stable.

Wheel size is one more concern. If you are inclined to spend a lot of time outdoors and on uneven surfaces, decide on a model with larger wheels. Small wheels are designed for indoor use and flat surfaces.

In addition to a variety of fashionable designs and colors, you can setup your wheeled walker with other accessories including baskets, a soft seat, cane holder, cup holder, basket bags, oxygen tank holder, back rests, and other features.

DoAbility UK offers the widest range of the latest and most affordable rollators that will suit your every need.

Jun 6

DoAbility UK offers walking frames for children that are made of steel tubes, lacquered with a blue and red strong powder coating. It is furnished with four wheels and a removable sling seat. The sling seat is furnished with Velcro closings on both sides, which makes it easier to adjust the size. The sling seat is pinned on the waist ring by strong push buttons.

Suitable for both mobility and physical therapy purposes, the walker is extremely flexible and adapts to the individual needs of most children, with its multiple adjustments and posture support.

With its standard features alone, it will easily support a child with mild to moderate physical disabilities.

It is designed to make walking less energy consuming, while improving rhythm and timing.

Nevertheless, it is very important to have the frame at the correct height. If it is too high, your child will find it difficult to straighten out their elbows sufficiently and will not take enough body weight through their arms. If the frame is too low, it will encourage your child to bend over, resulting to poor posture.

The most effective way of ensuring the frame is at the correct height is for your child to wear their regular, supportive footwear and be measured by their physiotherapist.

Regular maintenance of walking frames is essential to ensure safety. Checks should be made for signs of wear and tear, particularly at the site of screws and height adjustment mechanisms.

For the best information on the latest walking frames for children, visit DoAbility UK today.

May 23

We get our supply of vitamin D in two ways: from the food we eat and from a hormone our bodies make when we stay under the sun. There are only a few food options that are naturally rich in vitamin D, that is why the biggest dietary sources of it are fortified food and vitamin supplements.

Good sources of this vitamin include breakfast cereals and dairy products, both of which are fortified with vitamin D, as well as fatty fish like salmon and tuna.

For most people, the best way to get enough vitamin D is by taking a supplement, although the level in most multivitamins, which is usually 400 IU, is too low.

Fortunately, some manufacturers have begun adding 800 or 1,000 IU of vitamin D to their standard multivitamin preparations. If the multivitamin you take does not have 1,000 IU of vitamin D, you may want to consider adding a separate vitamin D supplement, especially if you do not spend much time in the sun.

The body also manufactures vitamin D from cholesterol, through a process triggered by the action of sunlight on the skin. This is actually the reason why vitamin D is also referred to as the ’sunshine vitamin’.

Yet, some people do not make enough vitamin D from the sun. These people are those who have a darker skin tone, who are overweight, who are older, and who cover up when they are under the sun.

Correctly applied sunscreen reduces our ability to absorb vitamin D by more than 90 percent. And not all sunlight is created equal: The sun’s ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, the so-called ‘tanning rays’, and the rays that trigger the skin to produce vitamin D are stronger near the equator and weaker at higher latitudes. Hence, in the fall and winter seasons, people who live at higher latitudes, such as in the northern part of the U.S. and Europe, cannot make enough vitamin D from the sun.

Many of the body’s organs and tissues have receptors for vitamin D, which helps ensure that the body absorbs and retains calcium and phosphorus that are critical for building bones. Vitamin D also reduces cancer cell growth and plays a critical role in controlling infections. Several promising areas of vitamin D research look far beyond its role in building bones.

Several studies link low vitamin D levels with an increased risk of fractures in older adults, and they suggest that vitamin D supplementation may prevent such fractures, as long as it is taken in higher doses.

The latest evidence comes from a combined analysis of several fracture prevention trials that included thousands of elderly people, most of which are women. It was found out that taking at least 800 IU of vitamin D supplements per day reduces hip and non-spine fractures by 20 percent.

Vitamin D may also help increase muscle strength, which in turn helps in preventing falls, a common problem that leads to substantial disability and death in older people. Taking 700 to 1,000 IU of vitamin D per day lowers the risk of falls by 19 percent, but taking only 200 to 600 IU per day did not offer any such protection.

Nonetheless, if you have been neglecting your vitamin D requirements and had a bit of a fall, you may visit DoAbility UK for all your mobility equipment needs.

May 10

Risk assessment provides a useful framework when tackling accidents caused by falls, slips, and trips. 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 would not be effective if you just stop at recording and do not 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, loose wires, and telephone cords, 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 flashlights and rechargeable emergency lights 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 mobility equipment needs, check out DoAbility UK today.

Mar 13

When we grow older, we lose some of our strength that is why in time, our own home can also be a dangerous place for us. To prevent this, we should then enhance the interior safety of our houses.

See to it that your flooring is free from any types of mess to prevent falls. The easier it is to move around, the less likely one is to fall. Always keep things within easy reach.

Well-lighted areas make it easy to see whether the floor is clear of hurdles. Make sure to have flashlights available, in case of brownouts.

Set up grab bars, as well as rails, throughout the house to ensure safety. Locations that must have rails would include the bathtub and near the toilet bowl. Install bed rails to stop your loved ones from falling off the bed.

Put non-slip strips under rugs, on stairs, doorsteps, as well as in bathtubs.

It is also important to secure the outdoor surroundings of your house, even though it is less simple to make changes there. Sprinkle fine sand or salt on icy pathways to avoid falls. A walking stick can help with navigation on uneven flooring. If you are walking with your senior loved one outside your home, holding his/her hand will help make sure that he/she will be safe.

However, in spite of all precautions, accidents sometimes still happen since it is not possible to prevent all falls. In the event that something does happen, maintain your composure.

Do not panic since staying calm will keep the one you love calm. When they cannot get up, keep them comfortable by placing a blanket over them until the ambulance arrives.

To ensure your senior loved ones’ safety inside and outside your home, visit DoAbility UK to check out their wide range of products that can help prevent falls.

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