Indoor Activities During Lockdown

This month we’ll be taking a look at a range of different activities you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home.  With the current situation continuing to rumble on, many of us are finding ourselves at home once again, helping to keep ourselves and the ones we love safe.

However, staying indoors doesn’t have to be a waste of time.  There are a whole host of hobbies you can enjoy during and after lockdown.  We’ve put together a collection of these here – some you may have thought of, some you may not!  From indoor gardening to learning to play an instrument, there are lots of ways to keep yourself entertained and keep your mind active.

Birdwatching

If you enjoy the peace and quiet but want to watch something other than TV, pull a chair up to your window and get birdwatching!  We’re usually so busy with one thing or another we might not have time to take notice of the world around us.  Now is a perfect time to settle down with a cuppa and see what you can see in the garden.  You may have a birdwatching book yourself but if not, you can make a list yourself with a notebook and a pencil.

The RSPB are doing their annual Big Garden Birdwatch, so you’ll be in good company!  A great plus to this is that you don’t need to have a garden – we’re sure you’ll be able to see all kinds of feathered friends no matter where you are.  Also, another lockdown means less cars on the roads, so birds are lower to the ground than they would ordinarily be.  Get watching and let us know on our Facebook page how you get on!

Stamp Collecting

An age-old hobby, stamp collecting (or philately) can be a portal into other countries and back into history.  Once again, it’s something you can do from the comfort of your own home, too.  At a time in which travelling to other countries is currently limited at best, foreign stamps can provide an interesting look at the culture of other places and a view of the people who live in them.  For example, did you know that in 2016 the Barbadian government issued a limited edition set of 27 stamps commemorating some of its citizens’ 100^th birthday?  As for travelling back in time, the world’s first stamp was issued on 6^th May 1840 – so there’s 181 years’ worth of stamps to collect!  You could split your collection into years, countries or your own personal areas of interest.

If you have friends or family abroad, ask them to send you stamps from their local area (in a covid-secure way, of course!). Alternatively, you can order stamp collections online to get you started.  If you want to get more for your money, kiloware – usually unsorted stamps ranging from a few grams in weight to a few kilos – can be purchased online relatively cheaply.  These bags will keep you busy hunting through them for hidden gems for hours!

Learning a new instrument

It might sound daunting, but with so much time on our hands at the moment we could put it to use learning a new instrument.  You might have an old guitar lying around the house gathering dust – or that saxophone still in its box under the bed.  Now’s the perfect time to get it out again and start learning. It’s one of our favourite indoor activities during lockdown!

It’s well known that music improves our mood too – so it’s win-win:  learn a new skill and fill your home and your mind with music.  There are a range of lessons from beginner to maestro available online, just search YouTube and get yourself started!  For the musicians amongst you, you might consider learning a new style on your chosen instrument (the author is currently trying to learn jazz on his guitar –  not as easy as it sounds!) or even learning to read music/play by ear.  Instruments provide a fantastic way to escape the everyday for a few hours whilst boosting your mood and enhancing your musical knowledge.

Become an armchair traveller

Are you suffering from wanderlust but don’t have anywhere to go?

Take a seat and let the likes of Paul Theroux, Bruce Chatwin and Bill Bryson be your guides.  There’s never been a better time to catch up on reading, better still when those books take you with them to far-flung places.  Take an adventure along with the most intrepid of explorers, from trips around the UK to the wilds of Asia and the snows of southern Patagonia and back again without ever having left your armchair – except for more tea and biscuits.

Travel writing is also a great way to learn more about countries you’ve always wanted to visit and get an insight into their culture and people.  Most important of all, of course, they can help you plan your next holiday!

Be an indoor gardener

It might sound a bit odd, but gardening can be done indoors as much as out!  From a few window boxes to a full on inside greenhouse, you can give your garden as much or as little space as you want.  It’s known that being in and around nature helps to boost our mental health, so this is a great way to both keep your spirits up and bring a dash of colour to your home.  Other benefits include absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen, meaning you’ll have cleaner air in your home.  But how do you go about setting up an indoors garden?

If space is limited, try a few window boxes on your windowsills.  Sprinkle a few seeds, make sure to water them and hey-presto!  You’ll have flowers and plants in no time.  If you’ve got a bit more space, you could experiment with lager potted house pants such as spider plants, ferns and Christmas cacti that will bring the outdoors inside.  If you’re not green-fingered, low-maintenance plants such as these are a fantastic way to start house-gardening.

 

 

In times such as these, when we’ve often got too much time on our hands, keeping busy is a big part of keeping happy.  The suggestions above should give you a few ideas to get started with, but please let us know on our Facebook page what you’ve been doing to keep entertained! Share your indoor activities during lockdown with us!

Our Unsung Heroes – Carers

 

The phrase “unsung heroes” is often used, particularly in these challenging times as we all band together against an invisible villain.  These two words conjure images of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.  All too often, however, there are a group of people in our society who are overlooked as unsung heroes:  our Care Community.

Care homes provide an outstanding service for the sick, the differently-abled and our beloved older people. Carers themselves, both paid and unpaid, often go unnoticed. However, they are always there, keeping our friends and relatives safe.

What We Can Do To Help Care Homes?

 

At Mobility Hire, we understand that autumn and winter can be a challenging time for care homes particularly during these unprecedented times. That’s why we always keep a wide range of stock available for all eventualities. For example, our stock includes manual handling equipment, homecare hospital beds, rise & recliner chairs, high seat chairs and multifunction wheelchairs. Those with mobility difficulties, and particularly the elderly, will find them safe and secure.

We understand that each of your residents have their own care and mobility needs. Our wide variety of stock and easy ordering process ensures you have what you need to look after the people in your care home. This also helps you cater to their individual care plans. Take a look at our list of products and see what we have in stock that will help you and your clients. Furthermore, our entire range is available for short or long-term hire. That takes the hassle out of buying and maintaining equipment yourself. It also allows you the flexibility to return and change your products whenever you and your residents need.

If you’d like to know more about our hire process, give one of our team a call on 0800 111 6234 or email us at [email protected]. With the advent of Coronavirus and the prospect of a particularly harsh winter, we want to let our Care Community know that we stand with you. Furthermore, we will support you however we can. Every product across our range is available for same day, next day and weekend deliveries. This ensures your residents will never have to go without.

What We Can Do To Help Unpaid Carers?

 

Unpaid carers have one of the hardest jobs in society: caring for loved ones, all too often without the support they so desperately need and deserve. A report published by Care UK last month shows there were over 9 million unpaid carers before the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, there are another 4.5 million new to caring since the beginning of the pandemic.

Unpaid caring costs families and those they care for: both in mental and physical health as well as financially. The report suggests over 50% of carers said they were finding it hard to manage. Age UK have an array of information available for those who require assistance arranging care or need a break from caring for loved ones.

How Our Hire Equipment Can Help

As providers of healthcare equipment, we want to help you help your loved ones. Our rental equipment is available on short or long-term hire. Short-term hire can be particularly useful if you require equipment for a short time. For example, if you’re administering end-of-life care or are caring for someone who has a mobility condition which may only last for a finite period – such as recovering after an operation or illness – short-term hire could be the right option for you.

Whether you require rental equipment for a few weeks, or for a longer period of time, our payment process is straightforward and simple. Taking the hassle out of hiring and allowing you to spend quality time with your loved ones.  From electrically adjustable profiling beds to moving and handling equipment and care chairs, we have what you need to help you continue to carry out the vital work you do for others.

We understand the hardships carers face every day, and in the event of further restrictions put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19 these hardships may become more challenging.  We’re continuing to deliver nationwide regardless of your local area’s level of risk as outlined in the recent Government announcement.  So, if you need it, we’ll get it to you as soon as possible. Same day, next day and weekend deliveries are all available so all you have to do is choose your products and let us know when you would like them to arrive.  In a time when nothing is certain, getting the mobility equipment you need couldn’t be simpler.  You can call us on 0800 111 6234 or email [email protected].

 

Mobility Scooter Winter Care Guide

Mobility Scooter Winter Care Guide:  as winter approaches and the nights get increasingly shorter, it may be time for you to think about how best to maintain your mobility scooter in the cold weather.  That way you can still enjoy getting out and about, even when the Great British weather tries to keep you indoors!  Below are a few ideas to help you keep your scooter in fine fettle over the winter…

 

1) Check Your Tyres

Regularly check your tyres for general wear and tear.  This is especially important in icy conditions as snow, ice and extra moisture could potentially damage your scooter.  If you have pneumatic tyres you may want to check the pressure of the tyres before making a journey.

 

 

2)  Charge Your Batteries

Make sure your scooter‘s batteries are fully charged in between uses.  Cold weather can damage the batteries and reduce its lifespan, so it’s good practice to get into the habit of making sure the scooter is fully charged before taking it out.  You should also be aware that you will get a reduced range from your batteries as the temperature gets lower.  As such, you won’t get the same mileage from your mobility scooter as you would do in summer.  You may want to consider this when planning your journeys out.

 

 

If you don’t plan on using your scooter over winter, you should charge your batteries fully and then disconnect them from the vehicle.  This will stop the batteries from discharging.  Reconnect the batteries once a month, charge them up again and then disconnect them.  Continue to do this until you are ready to use your scooter again.

 

3)  Clean Your Mobility Scooter After Use

As the weather gets colder and wetter, your scooter is likely to become exposed to rain, sleet and possibly even snow as winter draws on.  Make sure to wipe your scooter down after every use to help stop water and other dirt getting into places it shouldn’t be.  It will also help prevent components from rusting.  You might want to consider a scooter cape or weather canopy, which come with a hard screen to improve visibility.

 

 

4)  Keep Your Scooter Dry

In cold and wet conditions, it’s important to store your scooter somewhere dry if at all possible.  Somewhere such as a garage or in the home is ideal as this means your mobility scooter will not be exposed to the elements.  However, if this isn’t possible, consider getting a scooter cover to help protect it.

 

 

So there you have it, four simple steps to maintaining your scooter through winter:

Check it

Charge it

Clean it

Keep it dry

 

Your Safety

You should also remember your own personal safety through winter.  Shorter days means visibility for both you and other pavement/road users can be decreased.  Consider wearing high-visibility clothing when out on your scooter and always remember to put the headlight on when it starts to get dark if you’re out.  Similarly, remember to use your indicators (if your scooter has them) when turning as this will make you more visible to those around you.

And as the weather turns colder add on those layers of clothing and keep wrapped up warm when travelling out and about!

If, for your peace of mind, you’d like your mobility scooter checking over or having a professional service done before the winter period, we’d be more than happy to do this for you. You can give us a call on 0800 111 6234.

Preventing Falls in and out of The Home This Autumn

Where has this year gone?

As we head into Autumn, we also head into a “new normal”.  Masks in shopping arcades, social distancing on public transport and queueing to get into supermarkets.

Although none of us know what the future holds, however, one thing has always remained constant.  The changing of the seasons.

With leaves turning golden-brown, the air beginning to get crisper and the nights starting to draw in Autumn can be one of the most beautiful times of year.  However, it does have its dangers.  We’re all prone to slipping over once in a while, but during Autumn those wet leaves can jump up out of nowhere!  But what should you do if you do fall?

The NHS recommend it’s important to keep calm.  Equally, if you feel that you’re able to get up, you shouldn’t do so too quickly.  Roll on to your hands and knees and look for something stable to hold on to.  When you feel ready, slowly get up.

If you’re unable to get up, try to get someone’s attention to help you up.  Once you’re stable, put something warming over yourself, but particularly your legs and feet.  If you’ve been out and about, once you get home, stay as comfortable as possible and try to change your position at least once every half an hour or so.

 

Preventing falls in the home

It’s not just outside where we slip and trip on wet leaves, tree roots and uneven pavements.  Although most falls don’t cause a serious injury, according to the NHS around one in three adults over 65 who live at home will have a fall at least once a year.

But what can you do to help prevent having a fall?

A number of simple measures can be employed around the home to prevent falls.

• Using non-slip mats in the bathroom
• Preventing wet and slippery floors by mopping up spills
• Making sure your hallways, staircases and any passages are well lit so you can see where you’re going
• Keeping the home tidy and free of clutter which may cause you to trip
• Getting help moving or lifting items which could be awkward to move or heavy

You could go for an eye test even if you already wear glasses – just to make sure your eyesight is up to date. Age UK have a number of tips for making your home safer so you won’t have to worry about tripping up.  You can read about those here.

It’s particularly important to keep alert for any potential trip or slip hazards in wet or cold weather.  However, if you want to be able to get out and enjoy the beauty of the season whilst still feeling stable and secure, you might consider renting a mobility scooter until the weather gets a little better.

 

Mobility scooters are an ideal way of exploring the great outdoors.  Many are able to be dismantled and easily stored, whilst others can transport you at speeds of up to 8mph.

If you’d rather take things at a slower pace, you might consider hiring a walking aid.  These aids, such as a rollator or a walker wheelchair, allow you to lean on the handlebars whilst pushing them, giving you increased stability.

Some, such as the walker wheelchair, also have a seat built in so you can stop and have a breather if you get tired of walking.

Whatever you get up to this autumn, we hope you stay safe and secure whether you’re out admiring the changing of the leaves or wrapped up with a cuppa in front of the fire!