There are so many decisions to make when choosing the right mobility aid either for yourself or a relative or friend. Hopefully, this article will give you an idea of what to consider before you make your purchase.
First of all, how mobile is the user? Mobility aids come in many different forms including walking sticks to full-blown mobility scooters capable of 8 miles per hour on the road which is faster than it seems. Is the mobility aid for indoors, outdoors or both? Are there stairs involved that need modifying within the abode? Is getting out of a chair an issue or likely to become one? Here are just some of the products available on the market today to aid mobility.
Powered Wheelchair indoor and outside
Manual Wheelchair
Walking sticks and Zimmer frames
Assistance chairs
Cars or Vans
It’s also important to consider if renting products to start with the see if they are indeed needed is useful. One thing you have to make sure is that you don’t start purchasing multiple products that do the same job. It’s often advisable to visit a mobility specialist with all your requirements and let them provide you with the correct specification to suit your need. You can also visit the GOV UK site to learn about Motability cars availability especially with wheelchair access.
Mobility Scooters
These are the most popular way that people with mobility difficulties get around. It’s worth working out the likelihood of in what situations and how often the user would need to get around on a scooter first of all. Would they need it for shopping? If so, there are many different varieties to choose from. Would they need to use a road, or would it just be pavement use? This could keep the cost down dramatically.
Once you have chosen your equipment then it’s time to consider how to finance it. Rent or Buy? Pay over instalments or outright? Are there stronger resale values on certain manufacturers meaning even though one may be more expensive today it would not only be better to use but also you could look to get a better, higher return on the product when it’s no longer needed? We would also advise you to look at how you can store the scooter safely within your home. You may need to get access points and ramps added to your home which of course can involve extra costs. Are the mobility aids properties suitable for now and in the future and should you get the scooter insured?
Reviews are really important to know how people are living with their mobility scooter. They can give you some real insight into whether that particular scooter is right for you so do your research.
NHS Referrals
You can, in many cases, get NHS referral services for equipment straight from your GP. However, it’s worth noting that waiting times can be high.
70% of wheelchair users wait over 3 months
30% wait over 6 months
15% wait over 1 year.
The NHS target for suppling a wheelchair is 18 weeks.
Specialist Seating for the home.
People with mobility issues also have to have help when they are not mobile. For instance, getting in and out of chairs can often prove difficult, painful and sometimes impossible. Choosing the right lounge seat for the home could be one of the most important decisions you make regarding mobility aids.
Poor seating can result in back and neck pain whilst without assistance some people cannot even get out of the chair. A chair with fine armrests and a high seat can be easy to get out for most so should be considered. A reclining chair with lumbar and leg support can also be needed for extra comfort. For many who suffer from a disability the chair can be the most used item in their day so much like an automated bed it’s essential for their living standards and much care should be put into the choice of a chair so that it fits with the user’s needs and requirements.
We hope that this article on mobility aids has been of use to you, thanks for reading.