Different aids and equipment that wil be covered

Lots more information about different devices and aids will be appearing here over the next few weeks. So here are some brief summaries of some of the things that will be making an appearance.

To start with, different types of bathroom chair. These range from general utility chairs like the ones found in a shower room to more permanent chairs with a specific purpose. This purpose may be acting as a lowering and elevating bath use chair, a fixed and foldable chair, or a chair that offers a high-seat facility over a toilet.

Rails, steps and grab handles, all of which can offer security and confidence, and reduce the occurrence of falls. They also do this at a comparatively low cost.

Special loofers, brushes and washing devices that make both cleaning and holding these implements easier for those who find it hard to stretch or grip.

Dependency beds and beds that have electric adjustment to facilitate easy movement and position changing. These beds can have numerous adaptations including security “cot” sides, or be on movable casters. Accessories including over-bed tables and toppers enable these beds to be customised to any user.

Chairs which include riser recliner or lift and tilt style easy use chairs, plus high seat chairs and lifter seats that can be powered or work based on pressure systems and a lock.

Matting and anti-slip flooring that can be permanent or moved in and out of certain areas when needed.

Seat accessories like rolls and bolsters to support the back and memory foam cushions and padded back and seat rest to remove pressure points. There are even mini elevator legs to lift the height of a seat.

Shoes designed to make walking easier, more comfortable and healthier by encompassing orthopedic design, proper support areas and materials that are breathable, long lasting and good to look at.

Supports for weaknesses and recovering injuries that include strapping, braces and numerous medical supports. These can be used on limbs, around joints, or for other parts of the body like the neck. Numerous aids are also available to help exercise different muscle groups, or give motion to a joint.

Memory aids which can come in the form of pill boxes differentiated by time, or talking watches and clocks that can be used to signify that something needs doing.

Medical devices like home blood pressure testers, cholesterol monitors and digital thermometers.

General aids that help in everyday activities ranging from writing and using kitchen utensils to reading and making phone calls.

Robotic devices that can alert someone of a problem, accident or emergency, or vacuum the home at the press of a button.

Wheelchairs, walkers and strollers that can give mobility or help retain mobility for those who have trouble getting around without assistance. Strollers now come in a massive choice of styles and wheelchair can be purpose built for participation in a range of sports.

Mobility scooters that may be pavement or pavement and street legal with extended coverage, quality suspension, lights, carry containers and levels of stability that make them a safe and comfortable way to get around.

Equipment for moving (or even handling by a therapist) which covers everything from the home stairlift to “people cranes” that can lift someone from a bed to a chair or even hold them in an upright standing posture.

Bathroom disability equipment

Bathroom help in the form of lifts, chairs, rails etc can be more than valuable to anyone whose movement is in any way inhibited. These special aids make using the bathroom safer and easier which increases the confidence of the person wishing to take a bath, have a shower, use the toilet or wash with the hand basin.

The bathroom is a sometimes neglected room when it comes to people with mobility challenges. Stairlifts, scooters and some other expensive aids are always the first to be considered, but few have the same practical benefit that making the bathroom safe and usable has.

To find out more about the kinds of equipment available search the internet for terms like “bathroom disability”, “shower seats”, “bath lifts”, “safety rails” etc and consider the practicality of each type of device on merit and in the context of the person who will be using it.

More mobility aids

The last post covered rollators, so this one will supplement that by offering a small bit of extra detail covering some of the other mobility accessories and how they can be used.

Different walking frame options include the zimmer frame and the two front wheeled variation of this old style “lift and move” walker. The more advanced three and four wheeler rollators are much more versatile, but they require more confidence to use.

The other main walking and mobility options are wheelchairs, scooters and different variations of walking stick which may be single or come in pairs.

There is the opportunity to use not just one, but two or more of these mobility aids. For example, a mobility scooter can be used for a trip to a nearby store, following which walking sticks could be used to move around inside the store – having left the scooter parked outside.

Equally a walking stick (or sticks) could be used for moving around the home or garden, but a rollator used to walk along a street to a friends house (i.e. for a longer and more taxing journey).

Each of these mobility aids has different potential uses and each can serve its owner in more than one way and in different situations and circumstances. The needs of an individual will also alter any change as they get older and more dependent on external aids.

Rollator

A rollator is a wheeled walking frame. It can be used by an elderly person or anyone who struggles to walk and requires more support that can be offered by a walking stick.

A rollator is really a development from an old style walking frame where the person using the frame lifts the frame and moves it forward before taking a step forward. Using this kind of frame is secure, but it makes progress very slow and it can be hard for many people to lift the frame in order to move it in the walking direction.

The rollator overcomes the issues above by using wheels on its legs. A “proper” rollator will have either three or four legs with wheels on each of them, but an alternative hybrid version comes with four legs and wheels and only the front two. This type of frame is worked by using a “tipping” action when the frame is pushed forwards.

The three and four wheeler versions often have handle-bar style grips equipped with low pressure brakes and this means that all that is required to move the rollator forward is a gentle push. The application of the brakes brings any motion to a stop and the brakes have a lock function which means that the rollator can be held in its position at any time.

Many rollators have baskets and even small seats built into their frames, so they can be used for more than just walking around the house or garden. Most will fold-up or break down for easy transportation.