There can be added challenges when an individual with Alzheimer’s might be reluctant to use a stair lift and understandably it may lead to frustration for the person with the disease, there is also the added difficulty that once a person with Alzheimer begins to use it (if you can get them to) will they continue to do so as time passes.?

Clearly an individual with Alzheimer’s will not be expected to learn to use it on their own so there still needs to be assistance in that aspect and if the user can be convinced to use it regularly then it will increase safety and make things slightly easier for both the Alzheimer’s sufferer and those living with and/or caring for the person.

I think that there could be a risk of a stair lift being  installed prematurely though and it is probably a good idea to see how a person gets on with things first as each person is different, some people can deteriorate more quickly than others and if one person is still managing the stairs well enough for the time being then it would probably be best to carry on this way until difficulties begin to arise.

I dont think that there would be any benefit from having a stair lift installed earlier, unless there was an indirect benefit by getting one installed sooner like taking advantage of a deal or the installation falling in line with other changes to a persons home that might make sense to those involved.

While there is no way of knowing if an Alzheimer’s sufferer will use one once it is installed, you can at least avoid creating unnecessary obstacles for the person by hesitating a little before making the decision to have one installed.

The exercise that an Alzheimer’s sufferer can get is still important and as long as they and those assisting are not taking unnecessary risks by still walking up and down the stairs then this approach should be maintained until the situation becomes more challenging.

I have an Invacare Electra scooter when I try to charge it the green light flashes and when I try to use it,it doesn’t go very fast and doesn’t go for very long is it batteries or something else as I had a similar problem with a Sterling Star and bought new batteries but still it only went a few hundred yards

regards

Laurie

Heavy doors can even be a challange for mothers with pushchairs and baby buggies.

Some banks have heavy doors that can be difficult to push open on your own, especially if the entrance and exit is made up of two narrow doors which can be awkward if you’re trying to gain access in a wheelchair, mobility scooter, or are using crutches or a walking stick(s)

When actually inside and ready to exit it can often be a bit easier if observant staff spot that you might appreciate some assistance while leaving, but often this is still after you have struggled in the first place to gain accesss to a bank and other businesses that may have these heavy and difficult to push open doors.

Although many businesses have improved accessibility, there is still room for improvement, especially as mobility scooters are a much more common sight on the streets.

Well at least there wont be any weather related problems tomorrow and with the weather chat out of the way i would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy christmas, i hope that you have a great time during the holidays, whatever you are doing and whoever you are spending time with.

Take care of yourselves and each other.

Best Wishes

John

I have noticed that some of the categories have more content than others and over the coming months i would like to balance that out a bit by writing more content for each category that has less content than some of the others.

As you might have noticed. there is quite a lot in the Mobility Scooters category, but the Adjustable Beds, Child Mobility Aids, Lift Chairs, Motability, and Stair Lifts categories need a bit of time and attention so i hope that by publicly mentioning it here that i will make a commitment to filling those out, if you see me lagging behind then dont hesitate to let me know.

The Motability category was the most recent to be added so it’s not suprising that it’s looking a little lean, but the others have been in place for a while and definately need more content within them.

I hope that you continue to enjoy using the site and if you have any suggestions you can contact me.

One needed to very carefully reverse away from the counter after being served, the other needed to edge forwards and backwards repeatedly until being able to finally get around the corner.

To be fair in each situation there was little that could be done to assist, i think the shop workers in both of those situations were right to not interfere, as the person who eeded to do some very careful reversing seemed comfortable enough with it and managed fine once she realised that there really were no other options.

I think that some non users can be intimidated by the mobility scooter, although most users are careful and courteous, i think the sight of a less than courteous user sticks in the mind of non users so that even when faced with a mobility scooter situation in a shop you often see that people are not sure what else to do but get out of the way.

As of yet though i dont know of a specific course that provides this training, maybe it is out there, if it is though it probably wont be nationwide, i have searched to see if it exists but found nothing, maybe it might appear in the future somewhere in the country.

Of course you can learn about mobility scooters yourself by beginning with small and easier repairs, there is quite a bit of information online from fellow owners of mobility scooters of different makes and models and this can help you get a basic understanding.

Although there are a few users of mobility scooters who dont operate their own as safely as they should, the majority do and are courteous, regardless of how long they have been using one.

Some of the complaining about users can then extend to people not feeling that some people really need to be using a mobility scooter, obviously each individual’s need and reason for using one will differ but for users who are usually only seen passing in the street this is harder for a nonuser to gauge the persons need to use one.

Basically, what the public dont see, the struugles that some people experience just getting around their own home, entering and exiting the home threshold, bathing, cooking and even comfortable enough sleeping are all challenges that some people face daily.

Some disabilities dont look obvious to other people, especially to people without mobility issues, when they see you outside, if they dont know you and dont live near you then its easy for them to forget that you have other situations in your daily life that goes beyond your use of a mobility scooter.

You might be using a whole host of mobility aids that fall into the Home Healthcare category and your day might need to be carefully planned for you to get through it at a manageable pace.

It’s completely understandable that some people without mobility difficulties will not realise this, its not unusual to assess a situation as you see it, there and then, without knowing more about another person, nearly everyone does it at some point in their life, but it’s something for everyone to keep in mind.

But if at times you are out with the grandkids or your dog, you might not immediately consider that they might have trouble keeping up with you, the majority of the time you will be travelling faster than walking pace of most people and if those walking with you are expected to stay close to you, possibly right behind you, obviously you might not be aware of their difficulty in trying to keep up with you.

Yesterday for example i saw what i would guess was a grandmother with two grandkids right behind her, what i noticed though was that both kids were having to occasionally jog, then stop and walk quickly then kinda hurry a bit more, almost jogging again.

As the grandmother was travelling at a decent speed and was in front, she seemed oblivious to what the kids were needing to do just to keep up with her.

On other occasions i have seen mobility sccooter users with their dog on a lead running along the side, not so bad if the dog gets some exercise but still a situation where the mobility scooter user needs to be careful with regards to accelerating, not stopping too quickly and taking extra care when passing other people on pavements and when crossing roads.

Once you get used to a mobility scooter its all too easy to forget that others cant always necessarily keep up and its something to keep in mind next time you are out with family or the pet dog.

1. Question: Can i take a mobility scooter inside supermarkets? Answer: Generally yes, some supermarkets have their own too that can be used by shoppers.
2. Question: Can i take my mobility scooter into shops and stores? Answer: This will often depend on the size of the shop or store that you wish to enter and whether they have ramp access, wider aisles will make for a pleasant and easier experience for you.
3. Question: Can i take my mobility scooter inside hospitals? Answer: Yes, this shouldn’t be a problem, with regards to being allowed to and also having enough space to maneuver, you should generally be ok taking them inside hospitals.
4. Question: Can i take my mobility scooter on a bus? Answer: More often than not they are not allowed to be taken on a bus in the sense of you riding it onto the bus, this is understandably quite a disappointment for many users too, some buses will allow them on though, depending on size etc

There are always exceptions to the situations mentioned above, if you know of public transport and specific stores that are especially accommodating or that dont accommodate very well please share the information with others by commenting.