Stay Open Minded to Stay Independent!

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Stay Open Minded to Stay Independent!
Getting used to wheeled mobility aids is a
reality for many ageing people in the UK.
Walking sticks, wheeled walkers and wheelchairs
are important tools if you have reduced mobility.
Conditions like Arthritis and others associated
with old age lead to stiffness and pain in the
joints. This makes walking unaided more
difficult. If you need a walking aid of some
kind, the next stage is learning how and where
to use it. Previously accessible routes may
become less so if there are high kerbs or steps
to overcome, for example. Relatively lightweight
items like a walking stick or rollator walker
require less planning than the use of
wheelchairs. Even larger aids like scooters
require more consideration. One thing in
particular to think about are mobility scooter
ramps. Even scooters with the largest wheels do
not cope with climbing high kerbs. Ramps may be
necessary if you have a kerb to negotiate on a
regular basis. If you are transporting a
lightweight scooter, you might want to consider
ramps to transfer the back of a large vehicle.
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There is a wide range of ramping equipment
available. For kerbs and single steps, one-piece
models are usually sufficient. If loading onto a
vehicle, channel ramps are a good choice. These
come as two separate ramps, with a channel
design. Each is just over the width of the
wheel, with raised edges either side.
These edges keep the wheels on track and prevent
the scooter falling off to the side. Many
channel ramps are telescopic. This allows them
to collapse down in size when not in use. It
means they can be more easily stored or
transported in the boot of a car.
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Case Study Grace, 81, from Rickmansworth Sally
required mobility scooter ramps for a step
leading to the side return of her house. She
wanted to store her scooter behind gates for
security reasons. Although the obstacle was only
a single step, it was too high for the scooter to
climb without a ramp. Initially Sally considered
a permanent concrete wedge which need building
by a tradesman. She decided against this idea
because she felt its appearance would not fit the
rest of the driveway. Instead she went for a one
piece aluminium ramp. While Sally leaves it in
place most of the time, with the help of her son,
it is easy to pick up and store as required. Its
length is five feet, which gives a gentle
incline. The ramp has a grip pattern milled into
the rolling surface, ensuring tyres do not slip
when it is raining.
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With the width providing around four inches
either side of the scooters wheels, the one
piece ramp is ideal for the space
available. Inside the house, Sally uses either
her walking stick or a narrow walking frame to
move around. Strategically placed grab rails
next to the toilet and bathroom sink are there to
assist her balance. She also has a hand-rail next
to her back door, which has two steps down to
the garden patio. She has a relatively small
house and lives alone. Because she has trouble
climbing stairs and worried about the potential
to fall, she had a stair-lift installed. While
she is able to get around indoors without a
wheeled walking aid, for short journeys outside
she uses a rollator walker. It features brakes,
a shopping and large wheels. It also has a seat,
which allows Sally the luxury of the odd sit down
to rest when she needs to. She also has a
walking stick which collapses down in to sections
which she can carry in her handbag. When she
arrives at a shop, she parks her rollator walker
on the pavement and uses her stick inside.
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For longer journeys the scooter is ideal, but
Sally does need to consider her route before
travelling. She knows where there are mobility
scooter ramps for access to the shopping centre,
for example. She is also very aware of the
distances she will need to walk with her stick
when she arrives. She makes sure these are short
enough for her to manage.
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