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Holidays Without Hassle

Holidays without hassle - image of a shingle beach in the UK

Holidays Without Hassle! 

Holidays without hassle! At long last we’re able to meet up with friends, go for a coffee and have a wander around the shops.  One of the other luxuries we can now start thinking about is going on holiday.  Whilst we might not be able to go abroad just yet, there are plenty of places here in the UK to choose from.  From seaside resorts to countryside cottages, having a break is just what we all need.

Holidays without hassle - image of a shingle beach in the UK

That said, however, travelling for those who are differently-abled can present a number of issues.  Getting around a town or city, for example, can be difficult for those who experience mobility issues. Long walks in unfamiliar places could easily become tiring.  Chairs may be too low to sit comfortably following a hip replacement.  Beds in hotels and holiday homes are almost always that little bit less comfortable than our own ones at home.

Our Homecare Range – Giving You A Home From Home

How do you solve problems like these to have a holiday without hassle?  Our homecare range can transform your holiday home and provide you with peace of mind, whether you’re away for a week, a few weeks or even longer.  Our hire options are flexible to suit you and your holiday dates.   Best of all, our team can have your equipment set up and ready for you when you arrive. Our courier option means you can have a mobility scooter ready to take with you the next day or delivered to your holiday destination ready for when you arrive. That means your holiday can be stress-free, with the knowledge that all the hard work has already been done, and you can relax.

High Seat & Recliner Chairs

Seating problems are easily solved  – high seat chairs provide a higher seat than most other chairs, making them ideal for those who struggle to sit on a standard sized seat.  Equally, riser recliners are an excellent choice to ensure your comfort and security throughout your stay as they help you stand through gently lifting and tilting you out of your chair.

Image of assistive riser with patient hoist

 

Homecare Beds

When it comes to sleeping, getting the right bed is very important.  Our range of hospital homecare beds combine the safety and functionality of a hospital bed with the comfort of your bed at home.  Electric adjustments make sure you’re always in the most comfortable position.  Alternatively, we can provide ultra-low floor beds, ensuring safety and reducing the risk of injury from falling our rolling out of bed.

White homecare hospital bed, with headboard and foot board, but only one side rail attached. The navy blue mattress is on the bed and both the back rest and knee break are raised.

Mobility Scooters

Long or tiring walks are no longer a problem thanks to mobility scooters.  Two very effective types of mobility scooters for holidays and breaks away are folding scooters and boot scooters.  Folding scooters, as the name suggests, simply fold away and are easily stored ready for the next use.  They are slim and ideal for pavements and promenades.  These little scooters are easily stored in the boot of most cars, and can even be stored in the holds of planes or on boats!  Boot scooters are slightly bigger than folding scooters and dismantle into several pieces, making them easily transportable in the boots of most cars.  Perfect if you’re heading for a city break or just need something to get you around the shops whilst you’re on holiday.

Green, black and silver Excel Yoga fully unfolded, showing the four wheels, the arm rests and the adjustable tiller.

Stress-Free Homecare Equipment For Holidays Without Hassle

We also have showerchair commodes and bath lifts available for hire to make bathing a breeze, taking out any unnecessary hassle in the bathroom whilst ensuring dignity is maintained.  Along with these, we have a range of hoists which can be assembled ready for your holiday, making it easy to transfer patients from one room to another. Likewise, if you’re going away with the kids, our paediatric range suits a wide variety of children.

Wherever you go this summer, remember you can hire from us on a short or long-term basis.  Whether it’s a folding mobility scooter to get you zipping out for a cream tea or a homecare bed to make sure you get a good night’s sleep in your cosy cottage, we’ll have what you need.  Best of all, we can set it up ready for you when you get to your destination.

Now all you need to do is book that holiday!

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Folding Holiday Scooters

Image of man and woman on holiday at the grand canyon. The man is pointing to something in the distance

Folding Holiday Scooters

Image of man and woman on holiday at the grand canyon. The man is pointing to something in the distanceThis month’s blog is about folding holiday scooters.

Staycations – a vacation staying in the UK – are likely to be all the rage this year.  So, we’ll be swapping a sunbed by the pool for a beach hut in the wind (and rain probably!), but at least we can get away for a break.  However, for people with mobility issues, getting around busy towns and city centres can present a number of problems.

It’s difficult to explore a new place if you’re unable to walk very far or for long periods of time. In order to regain that independence, you could hire a mobility scooter for the duration of your holiday. Our mobility scooters are available to hire on a long or short-term basis. Therefore, no matter how long your holiday is, you can be sure that you can hire a mobility scooter to get you around at an affordable price. This provides you with peace of mind. Along with that, we can have it delivered to you before you go away or couriered to your holiday destination. That way it’s ready for you when you get there! That way you can make sure you’ve got a folding holiday scooter as soon as you arrive!

One of the most accessible and useful types of mobility scooters for using on holiday are folding scooters. These small scooters are often seen zipping up and down promenades by the sea or around town centres. One of the benefits of a folding mobility scooter is its portability. As they simply fold away, they’re ideal for packing up and taking on holiday. So, if you’re fond of a spur of the moment getaway for a few days, hiring one of these is a great option. They can easily be folded down and stored in the boot of most cars. They can also be taken on trains or even taken on a plane as hold luggage! We’re going to take a look at a few now…

 

Amigo Travelmate

The Amigo Travelmate is a rental travel scooter. Perfect for trips out, it can be easily folded and taken on coaches, trains, planes and even boats. A top speed of 4mph makes it suitable for pavement use – perfect for promenades by the sea! The Travelmate folds easily at the push of a foot pedal. This turns it into a compact mobility aid which doesn’t take up a lot of space. That means it’s perfect for taking away with you on holiday. A tight turning circle makes this front-wheel drive mobility scooter easily manoeuvrable – perfect if you’re travelling in a place you’re not familiar with.Amigo Travelmate is a folding portable mobility scooterAmigo travel mate folding holiday scooter

Pride Quest

The Pride Quest folding holiday scooter is a lightweight, easily manoeuvrable rental mobility scooter which is a great choice for holidays. It’s also perfect for those who enjoy an active lifestyle, thanks to a top speed of 4mph and a maximum potential range of 20km (12.5 miles). At the pull of a lever, the Pride Quest folds down, making it suitable for transportation without hassle. Special features include twin front wheels – meaning you have the stability of a four wheeled scooter with the turning circle of a three-wheeler. This is perfect for narrow pathways and supermarket aisles.
Pride Quest Folding Mobility Scooter

Pride Quest Folding Holiday Scooter

Luggie Elite

The Luggie Elite is a compact folding hire scooter – also known as a travel scooter – which is ideal for the user who likes to get out and see the world! A top speed of 4mph allows you to get from A to B quickly!   Perfect for pavement use, these folding mobility scooters are suitable for a variety of users. That’s because they’ve got adjustable steering height and angle along with a maximum weight capacity of 21 stone, making them suitable for larger or heavier users too.  Another benefit of the Luggie Elite is that it folds and unfolds without any hassle – making it ideal for transporting in car boots, on trains, coaches, boats and even planes.

Hiring a folding mobility scooter could be just the ticket to making your holiday more accessible.  Top speeds of four miles per hour will make sure you can get around your destination quickly. Along with that, folding them down makes them more portable than ever before. Wherever your holiday takes you, a folding holiday scooter will help get you there.Luggie Elite Folding Holidayluggie elite folded down

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Carers Week 2021: Make Caring Seen

Carers Week 2021 Logo

Carers Week 2021: Make Caring Visible and Valued

We’ve posted before about carers, but there’s never too little we can say about them.  Our unsung heroes, they work tirelessly, unpaid, providing support to people who need it most.  Whether it’s older people who need a little help getting around, or providing emotional support for people with mental health issues to support for those with disabilities, carers make a huge difference which all too often goes unnoticed.

Carers Week 2021 Logo

The theme of Carers Week 2021 is Make Caring Visible and Valued – a theme which many carers will no doubt feel isn’t happening often enough.  It’s time to not only celebrate the vital work that carers do but also provide the long-overdue support they need

Caring impacts not just those that are cared for, be they children, older people or differently abled people, but also those who care for them and the services which would otherwise do so, such as the NHS.

Carers Week 2021: 4.5 Million More Carers Since The Pandemic

It is estimated that a staggering 4.5 million people in the UK have started caring in an unpaid capacity since the beginning of the pandemic.  Often managing a job on top of caring for loved ones, the pressure which is placed upon carers highlights the need for greater understanding and support., both emotionally and financially.

There are also people who don’t consider themselves to be carers even though they look after and take on responsibilities on behalf of other people.  The aim of this years’ Carers Week is to “make caring visible and valued”.  A range of individuals and organisations have come together to provide support for carers and highlight the importance of caring and the impact it has on all of us.  It’s hugely important that as a society we recognise the impact carers make as well as providing for them to ensure they have the support they need.

You can find out more about Carers Week 2021 and how to get involved on the official website here.

 

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World Sleep Day: Our Beds

woman sleeping

World Sleep Day – Our Beds – For Better Sleep

When we heard about World Sleep Day, we thought it was a good excuse for a few extra hours under the duvet. But serious research has shown that sleep affects both our physical and mental wellbeing. Experts have also found that since the pandemic began, 63% of people said their sleep was worse than before March 2020.

Sleep is vital for good health. Seven to nine hours a night is recommended, and when you get enough, you usually wake feeling refreshed and ready for the day. Lack of sleep can affect concentration, weight, blood pressure, heart health and diabetes. It can also make it harder to manage emotions, think positively and cope with anxiety or depression.
woman sleeping

 

At Mobility Hire, we know that the right bed can be the key to a good nights’ sleep. With World Sleep Day 2021 just around the corner, we thought now was a good time to let you know about each of our beds and how they can help both you and your loved ones get the best night’s sleep.  Getting the right amount of sleep is extremely important for both our physical and mental health.Bariatric profiling bed in a home/care environment, the back and knees are raised as the man using the bed is reading.

Studies show that a lack of sleep can affect our concentration, emotional responses and positive thinking. Physically, poor sleep can lead to issues around diabetes, heart disease and blood  pressure.  Meanwhile, World Sleep Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of sleep “for achieving an optimal quality of life and improve global health.”  Sounds good to us!

We want to showcase our beds so you can see their functions and how they can help you get a better night’s sleep.

 

Homecare Beds

Homecare beds provide you with all the benefits of hospital beds whilst being able to stay in your own home. Features include separate back, leg and knee lift functions, so you can position yourself easily and stay comfortable.

These beds have been developed to meet care requirements of both users, nurses and carers in a range of environments. These beds are height adjustable, allowing an attendant to nurse without straining.  Easy-clean side rails and removable head and foot boards make these beds easily accessible for both user and carer.White homecare hospital bed, with headboard and foot board, but only one side rail attached. The navy blue mattress is on the bed and both the back rest and knee break are raised.

Floor Beds

Floor beds are an ideal solution for those who are at risk of falling out of bed and injuring themselves. Our floor beds have an ultra-low platform height of 7cm, substantially reducing the risk of injuries from falls. These soft, secure floor beds also raise to a nursing height of 80cm, making it much easier for cares and nursing staff to attend to a patient.

Image of green FloorBed

These beds can also be fitted with a 2-in-1 mesh bumper and side rails for even more support.  These are ideal beds for ensuring the safe, peaceful sleep of a loved one. They also come with electrically operated knee break, auto-regression and anti/Trendelenburg features.  This means the user can position themselves in the bed with ease, safety and comfort at all times.

Rota-Pro Rotating Stand Assist Chair Bed

Our rotating chair bed is an electrically operated profiling bed designed to help you when getting in and out of bed. The rotating sit-to-stand function helps the user to stand when getting out of bed. It’s perfect for those who can bear some weight but struggle to move from a lying to sitting to standing position. Furthermore, this amazing rotating function allows you to transfer from either side of the bed.

Rota-Pro-Chair-Bed-Seating

The rota-pro stand assist chair beds offer a comfortable and dignified alternative to hoists or care assistance and can be adjusted from 40cm to 83cm.

Most importantly, they take the hassle out of going to bed and getting up again!  The user also has the option to use an electrical knee break function and adjustable backrest to make sure they find optimum comfort before they sleep.

Bariatric Beds

Bariatric beds are electrically operated profiling beds which are suitable for larger or heavier users.  With weight capacities up to 50 stone and increased widths, these beds are perfect for use in private homes, in hospital or in residential homes.  As a result, these larger beds also offer the user adjustable backrests along with leg and knee lifts, so you’ll always be in the most comfortable position.

Developed to meet the requirements of carers as well, these beds are height adjustable so that carers and nurses are able to work at a safe height without straining, reducing the risk of injuries. These beds ensure a good night’s sleep for the user as well as their safety and comfort. These attractive yet robust beds also come with side rails which stop the user rolling out of bed and significantly reduce the risk of injuries. Image of 50 stone bariatric profiling bed

We also stock a Floor bed plus, a bariatric version of the floor bed.  With a width of 105cm and a weight capacity of 35 stone, it’s suitable for larger or heavier users whilst only having a 7.1cm height. This platform height reduces the risk of the user injuring themselves if they roll out of bed.  It also rises to a full nursing height of 65cm. Therefore, a nurse can attend at a safe working height without having to strain.   Just as with all of our other beds in stock, this floor bed is suitable for use in a wide range of settings, from hospitals to private homes and residential care homes.

Paediatric Beds

 

 

Paediatric profiling beds are beds suitable for children – ensuring they get a great night’s sleep. 200cm in length and 93cm in width makes these beds just right for a child.  Bright colouring makes them more appealing to children and less like a hospital bed.  Perfect for a great night’s sleep.

The paediatric profiling bed is a bright and attractive bed designed

Electronic functions include back rest and knee break – helping the child find the best position for their needs.  These paediatric profiling beds also comes with secure, adjustable side rails, ensuring the child’s safety.  These rails can be released as and when required.

 

All of our beds are available for long or short-term hire.  So, whether you require a safe, adjustable bed for a few weeks or a few months, we’re sure to have what you need.  We all need a good night’s sleep, and these beds will help you have just that.  Have a look at these beds for world sleep day and let us know what you think!

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Indoor Activities During Lockdown

bundle of old stamps

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. Picture-of-kingfisher-on-a-branch

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 BarbadianCollection-of-brightly-coloured-stamps-from-across-the-globe government issued a limited edition set of 27 stamps commemorating some of its citizens’ 100th birthday?  As for travelling back in time, the world’s first stamp was issued on 6th 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!Image-of-red-piano

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?

image-of-lone-traveller-at-foot-of-waterfall

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!

Image-of-a-sandy-beach

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? Image-of-a-row-of-plants

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!

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Reasons To Be Cheerful (This Wintertime)

Image-Showing-A-Bunch-Of-Balloons-in-a-variety-of-colours-against-a-clear-sky

This year has been hard for all of us.  For those of us who live alone, however, it has been particularly difficult.  We want to help our those of you who might be feeling a bit out-of-sorts this winter.  Here’s a few things to think about to keep your spirits up…

Gardening

Image-Showing-Plant-Shoots-Coming-Out-Of-Pots

It’s a well-known fact that getting out in the fresh air is not only good for your physical health, but also your mental health.  What better way to enjoy the fresh air than gardening?  It’s something you can do year-round and gives you the benefit of watching your hard work come to fruition – quite literally in some cases.  If you don’t have any outside space, you could consider applying for an allotment – giving you outdoor space where you can grow whatever you like along with a read-made community of fellow gardeners! Alternatively, window boxes are a great way of being able to stay in whilst still growing flowers, plants and vegetables.
If, like the author of this blog, you’re not quite sure where to start with gardening, the Gardener’s World website has a section for those new to gardening here:  https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/gardening-for-beginners/

 

Binge On Those Boxsets and Cuddle Up With The Kindle

Flat-screen-television-showing-a-variety-of-tv-channels

If you need a break from reality, now’s the time to escape into someone else’s world. We live in an age where the internet makes streaming whole boxsets possible – from Line of Duty to The West Wing, you can step away from Winter and into a whole new world.  There’s also a whole range of films old and new available on most streaming services – ideal for cosying up with a warm jumper and a hot chocolate and marshmallows!

For those of you who don’t fancy that, it’s also an excellent time for us to catch up on all that reading we’ve been thinking about doing this year and still haven’t got round to doing!  Just think how impressed people will be when you tell them you read all of War and Peace in a few days!  It’s a fantastic way to keep your mind whirring without having to leave the comfort of your sofa.

Picture-Showing-SunsetThe Nights Are Beginning To Get Longer

We’ve passed the shortest day (it was the 21st of December!), meaning that the nights are going to get longer.  It may look a little grey outside for now, but in less than 12 weeks we’re likely to be having a whole 11 hours and 53 minutes of daylight, with the sun not setting until just after 6pm!

Before we know it, the summer will be here and we’ll be enjoying the warm Summer nights again.  Daylight is good for our mental health as it increases the serotonin levels in our bodies.  Serotonin is also known as the “happiness hormone” and helps to keep us calm and alert whilst decreasing the risk of depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder.  So , sunlight and longer evenings will definitely help us to feel better after this long year!

 

The Coronavirus Vaccine Is On Its Way

Image showing glass jars with the words COVID-19 accross the front. The Jars have blue tops

We’ve seen some special things this year – the nation coming together to Clap for Carers and the NHS and the amazing Captain Sir Tom Moore to name two – but one of the most inspirational things that has happened this year is the development of the vaccine against Coronavirus.  In the space of less than a year a vaccine has been developed which will hopefully stop the virus in its tracks and allow us to begin to return to normal once more.  This development showcases the phenomenal advances in science and technology and can only serve to give us hope for the future.  If you haven’t received the jab yet, hopefully it won’t be too long until you do!

 

It’s A Great Time To Enjoy The Outdoors

Image showing a Welsh hillside. A mountain in the distance is covered with snow

Alongside gardening, as mentioned above, getting out for a winter’s walk is an excellent way of improving both mental and physical health.  We’ve mentioned in previous blog posts how enjoyable an autumnal walk can be – and winter is no different.  Bright, crisp mornings, the crunch of frost (or snow!) underfoot is almost as rewarding as the cuppa when you return home.

There are plenty of accessible outdoor activities around the UK.  Motability have a list of such activities – including rambling, cycling and even canoeing – here.  Getting out and about and enjoying outdoor adventures has never been easier.  When the summer comes around, you might even start thinking about a short break away.  We stock a range of travel sized folding mobility scooters that can help you get around your chosen destination.

 

We hope this little list of things might give you some ideas to make your winter brighter.  There’s still a lot of reasons to be cheerful this wintertime – you just have to know where to look for it.

For those with older friends and relatives, Age UK has a range of advice for older people’s health and wellbeing here:  https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/

 

The Mobility Hire Team

 

 

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An Unconventional Christmas

Image of a large room with a decorated christmas tree in one corner and a television showing a christmas film

It’s Christmas, but not as we know it.

 

What should we do for Christmas this year?

Image of a table with candy canes, christmas presents and sprigs of christmas trees on it

In these erratic times, many of us have been looking forward to the festive period.  A chance to see friends, family and loved ones and relax after the year we’ve all been through.  At the moment though, our traditional Christmas may look a little different this year.  As lockdown restrictions tighten, we’re seeing less of our friends and relatives and more of our homes again.

The possibility of not seeing people, however, doesn’t have to be a bad thing.  Having a few less people over for Christmas means more quality time with the people you do have around you, no squabbling over what to watch on the TV and – most importantly – no in-laws interfering with advice about the “proper” way to make stuffing.

Make the most of the change!

 

Think of the possibilities.  There’ll be no need to get the best silverware out for a sit-down meal for fourteen if you’ve got a turkey curry for two.  Imagine how pleased you’ll be to come downstairs on Boxing Day morning and find Great Auntie Mavis didn’t drink all the best brandy on Christmas Night!

If you don’t like sprouts and swede with Christmas dinner, you won’t be forced to have them!  The Sound of Music can be replaced with Die Hard and The Great Escape with Monsters Inc?  All the parts you don’t like can be done away with at last.  Right down to the decorations – if you’re having a quiet one, who’s going to see?

Image of a large room with a decorated christmas tree in one corner and a television showing a christmas film

For those of you having smaller gatherings, you’ll actually be able to catch up with the people you want to rather than getting stuck with that relative that doesn’t pause for breath.  You might not have been able to see them all year, and smaller gatherings could be just the ticket.  If you’ve got older relatives or friends with mobility requirements, you might be considering making a few alterations to your home.  Age UK have a range of ideas for adapting your home to make it safer and more comfortable for older relatives and friends who may be staying.

Equally, if you’re reading this whilst making plans to see children and grandchildren, you might want to think about hiring a mobility scooter to make the most of your Christmas Day walk!

 

We know as well as anyone that’s likely to be a very different Christmas period this year, and that’s why we’re trying to find the lighter side wherever we can.  In the short term, it’s novel and different, but in the long term it could change some of our much-loved (and much-maligned!) traditions.  With that in mind, we’re wondering what your new traditions will be this Christmas.  Let us know on Facebook, and feel free to show us pictures of your unconventional Christmas!

 

Most of all, whatever you’re doing this year, remember to make the most of it and stay safe.

 

Merry Christmas!

 

The Mobility Hire Team

 

 

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Our Unsung Heroes – Carers

elderly woman sat in a sling attached to a hoist

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].

 

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Mobility Scooter Winter Care Guide

person wearing blue knitted mittens holding a snowflake

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.

 

Image of tyres piled up

 

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.

 

Image of front of sunrise sterling S425 in silver

 

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.

 

Corner of an umbrella covered in rain

 

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.

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Preventing Falls In Autumn Weather

Autumn Leaves

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.

Autumn Leaves

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.

Icy Road with people walking in the distance

 

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 otherElderly lady in a red coat on a day out in the woods on her blue and black mobility scooter. Both arm rests are raised ad there is a full basket attached on the front.s 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!