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Home Elderly Health & Wellbeing Mobility Aids for the elderly and disabled

Mobility Aids for the elderly and disabled

The risk of falls, slips and accidents increases with age. It may also become harder and slower to move around the house or take a trip to the shops. Mobility aids can help people retain their freedom and independence by allowing them to continue doing the activities they normally do, safely.ย 

NHS statistics show that 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 will have at least one fall every year, which rises to 1 in 2 people over 80. The risks of falling are well known, with broken wrists and hip fractures particularly common. An additional consequence for many is a reduced assurance in one’s own steps, and a decrease in confidence.

In this Age Space guide we have looked at the different types of mobility aids available to help older people or those with disabilities to regain their confidence and freedom. Where possible we’ve listed some examples of products under each mobility category and their prices. All prices are exclusive of VAT as the vast majority of users will be eligible for VAT relief.

Wheelfreedom

Age Space preferred mobility retailer

With mobility aids, for example with mobility scooters, it is important to try out a few to find the one that’s best suited to your needs. This can be done in showrooms, much like the excellent one from Wheelfreedom.

Or call them at 0800 008 6951

wheelfreedom wheelchairs for hire

Mobility Scooters

Mobility scooters are great mobility aid options for those who are still mostly independent but would struggle with walking longer distances e.g. to the shops. Users will still have to get themselves on and off the vehicle, operate it themselves and be comfortable doing so. There are different types of mobility scooters for aimed at people with different needs and requirements, which we’ve broken down for you here.ย 

Boot Scooters

Boot scooters are so named because they are meant to fit in your car boot! This type of small mobility scooter dismantles quickly and simply into around 5 pieces that are light enough to pick up and put in the boot. Even if you don’t need to put it in a car lots of people like boot scooters for their compactness and price versus other mobility scooters.

Popular Boot Scooter Options

Pride Apex Lite

A good, simple, entry level boot scooter ideal for shorter journeys

Price – ยฃ990
exc VAT

Motion Healthcare Alumina

Top scooter in weight, comfort, range and convenience

Price – ยฃ2,240
exc VAT

TGA Zest

Great, mid-range scooter with suspension and choice of colours

Price – ยฃ1,325
exc VAT

Or call them at 0800 008 6951

    Folding Scooters

    If space is a little more in demand, folding scooters might be a great option for you. However, for the convenience of being able to origami-them-up into a smaller form, the whole unit is heavier than the individual parts that a boot scooter breaks down into. That being said, they are still very transportable and light enough for most people to pick up and carry. We think folding scooters are great for people who have less space at home to store a scooter.ย 

    Popular Folding Scooter Options

    Moving Life Atto Sport

    Can be split into two lightweight parts for easy transportation

    Price – ยฃ2,945
    exc VAT

    TGA Minimo

    Top scooter in weight, comfort, range and convenience

    Price – ยฃ1,995
    exc VAT

    Motion healthcare mLite

    One of the lightest folding scooters out there

    Price – ยฃ2,380
    exc VAT

    Or call them at 0800 008 6951

    Pavement & Road Scooters

    If you have the space to store a bigger scooter and you don’t need to be able to transport it anywhere – pavement and road scooters can be great options. In return for some sacrifice when it comes to size and transportability, pavement and road scooters are often more robust, more stable, comfortable and have a further range than boot and folding scooters.ย 

    Pavement scooters are limited to 4mph and are often cheaper than road scooters. Road scooters are the ultimate in scooters, with much further ranges, higher top speeds and great suspension – they are not too far away from a small car!ย 

    Popular Pavement & Road Scooter Options

    Invacare Leo

    A super-competent pavement scooter with an best-in-class range

    Price – ยฃ1,950
    exc VAT

    Pride Colt Deluxe 2.0

    One of the smallest road scooters available with great extra features

    Price – ยฃ2,020
    exc VAT

    TGA Breeze S4

    Famed for its Top Gear appearance this is the “ultimate mobility scooter”

    Price – ยฃ4,095
    exc VAT

    Or call them at 0800 008 6951

    Wheelchairs & Rollators

    Light, simple, convenient, easy to transport and much cheaper than mobility scooters, rollators & wheelchairs will be the only mobility aid lots of people need. For older people, wheelchairs are more likely to be pushed by someone else over wheeling themselves – so it’s important to bear that in mind when searching for a wheelchair. You can also even get power-assisted wheelchairs that get help give a little boost to help push (however, no where near the extent that mobility scooters are able to).

    If your older relative is a little more mobile but still slower or less stable than they’d like, rollators are a fantastic mobility aid for elderly people. They can be great around the shops, home and for short trips.

    National Wheelchair Hire

    from Wheelfreedom

    Wheelfreedom provide national wheelchair hire from just ยฃ15 and next morning delivery if you order before 3pm. Find out more by clicking the button below.

    wheelchair for hire

    Popular Rollator & Wheelchair Options

    Mobilex Jaguar Indoor Rollator

    A simple, light and sturdy Rollator that will do the job perfectly

    Price – ยฃ140
    exc VAT

    Rollz Motion Performance

    Brilliant design means this Rollator can transform into a wheelchair

    Price – ยฃ849
    exc VAT

    Karma Ergo 115

    A light yet sturdy wheelchair that can be customised for your needs

    Price – ยฃ465
    exc VAT

      Other Walking Aids: Walking Frames & Sticks

      Don’t fancy (require) wheels? Many people prefer the simplest mobility aids – walking frames and sticks. These types of support for walking enable users to still get the benefits of walking independently, while offering some extra stability and safety while doing so, to help prevent against slips and falls.ย 

      Popular Walking Aid Options

      Height Adjustable Walking Frame

      More stable than other walking frames and fully height adjustable

      Price – ยฃ25.82
      exc VAT

      Folding Walking Stick

      Comfort, stability, support and convenience with this folding stick

      Price – ยฃ7.49
      exc VAT

      Derby Luxury Walking Stick

      A great looking walking stick with comfort and support in mind

      Price – ยฃ16.65
      exc VAT

        Mobility Aids in the Home

        It is not just getting around out and about that people can struggle with, there are also daily activities around the home that can become a real struggle. Fortunately, there is a wealth of mobility equipment out there to help.

        Bedroom Mobility Aids

        Sleeping well is incredibly important to everyone, but especially as we get older. To help there are beds that are easier to get in and out of, specialist bedding for comfort and other accessories such as over-bed tables.ย 

        Popular Bedroom Mobility Aid Options

        operal edel

        Opera Edel

        Outstanding value for what is a great rising bed in a traditional style

        Price – ยฃ1,695
        exc VAT

        Easy Overbed Table

        A fully adjustable over-bed table that can help with meal time

        Price – ยฃ166.65
        exc VAT

        Washable Bed Pad with Tucks

        Soft and subtle machine washable bed pad with tucks

        Price – ยฃ19.15
        exc VAT

          Rise and Recline Chairs

          Away from the bedroom there are a lot of great mobility aids out there that can help around the house. One of the most important items, especially for the less mobile elderly, is their living room chair as it is likely, apart from their bed, it is where they’ll spend much of their time.

          Rise and recline chairs are both good looking and incredibly functional, with different settings to make getting in and out of a comfortable chair easy. By enabling body weight to be shifted around through the different chair settings they can also help with a variety of common ailments such as heart problems, digestive issues, comfort following hip surgeries and arthritis.

          Popular Rise and Recline Chair Options

          wheelfreedom chessington

          Wheelfreedom Chessington

          Wheelfreedom’s most popular chair

          Price – ยฃ1,420
          exc VAT

          Wheelfreedom Epsom

          An award-winning chair with express delivery in standard sizes available

          Price – ยฃ1,420
          exc VAT

          Repose Westbury

          Stylish rise and recline with scroll arms and split-back cushion

          Price – ยฃ1,317.80
          exc VAT

          Stairlifts

          The final type of mobility aid for elderly relatives that we want to talk about are stairlifts. As their name would suggest,ย  stairlifts enable the less mobile to get up and down their stairs very easily. Prices of stairlifts will vary substantially depending on the type, size and curve to your stairs, as well as the type of seat you prefer.ย 

          Installing a stairlift is a big decision,but there is lots of choice and guidance available.ย  Wheelfreedom have two stairlift examples installed in their showroom in Chessington that you can try out.ย  There is also a second hand market for stairlifts you may want to consider.ย 

          UK Best Selling Stairlift

          Stannah Stairlifts

          When it comes to stairlifts it is hard to look past the trusty and popular brand, Stannah – synonymous with stairlifts.ย 

          Or call them at 0800 008 6951

            See all of these mobility aids in person at Wheelfreedom's showroom

            Age Space preferred mobility retailer

            With over 300 mobility products, Wheelfreedom’s showroom not only boasts the ability to try out most of the mobility products that might interest you, but also experts in their field to help you find the mobility aid that is best for you.

            Or call them at 0800 008 6951

            wheelfreedom wheelchairs for hire