Just because aging often brings with it a reduction in mobility, this does not mean older individuals have to become reliant on other people to do everything. Sometimes a few simple mobility aids are all that your grandfather or great grand aunt needs to maintain independence for a few more years, or maybe decades. He or she should be able to take a shower or go to the bathroom without help for as long as possible.
For instance, having a grab rail near the bed or at the side of the toilet makes it much easier to get up and down. Often, it is the hips and knees which become sore or do not function as well as they should. With the help of a grab rail, the individual can use other muscles to get upright after legs have become stiff during sleep.
Crutches also aid mobility. While waiting for a hip replacement, a consumer can reduce pressure on the affected hip using a single crutch, or adopt the use of two crutches to take weight off of knees which also need replacing. These items even come in bright colours, not just clinical grey, if you don’t believe me check out the really cool range available at www.uksmobility.co.uk.
One of the most expensive mobility aids is a scooter. This is for people who can walk but not very far, yet who wish to get around and perhaps are unable to drive. The scooter is usually electric, quiet, and comes with a rechargeable battery. Buying one with a removable canopy makes it possible to go out in any weather. Some look very fancy with their coat of red paint.
A compromise between the scooter and a crutch is a walker with its own seat built in. This frame can assist someone who wishes to get some fresh air and exercise but does not trust her balance. When she wants to take a rest, the owner simply turns the frame 90 degrees and sits on the soft canvas fabric which folds when the frame is reduced to its flat storage size before going into the cupboard or car.
As bones, joints and muscles become almost completely non-compliant with their owner’s wishes, a wheelchair may be necessary for getting around. In this case, it is essential that a car and all areas of the home become wheelchair accessible. A ramp will need to be added to the front door of a home and also to the family vehicle, where the wheelchair might easily be pushed in. If the footrest of a van is too low, then the driver will have to install a lift. In the home, if there are two levels, and the mobility-compromised home owner wants to keep going upstairs a chair lift is an essential addition to existing mobility aids.
