Choosing Mobility Equipment

Wheelchairs, powerchairs, hospital beds, walking aids – the list goes on! In an ever-changing world, mobility equipment must keep up with the needs and wants of an ever-changing customer base.  The sort of wheelchair that person A wants is not necessarily what person B will find useful.  Short-term conditions, such as a broken leg, are very different to long-term conditions like MS.  Mobility equipment has to be both all-inclusive whilst specialist at the same time.

 

At Mobility Hire, it’s our privilege to be a leading supplier of mobility equipment in the UK, serving a huge variety of care homes, hospitals and, of course, individuals.  Our commitment to our customers is simple: to provide the best equipment possible along with second-to-none customer service and advice.

However, the world of mobility equipment can be a daunting place.  Deciding which piece of equipment, how long you need it for and whether it’s right for you are all questions which need answering.

 

 

 

That’s why we’ve provided guides to our wheelchairs, mobility scooters and powerchairs.  These are three of our most-often enquired about products, so we’ve gone through and answered some of the most frequently asked questions.  You can find our Choosing Guides here

You can request a brochure from us too – from wheelchairs to bathroom aids, these are full of helpful information about our range of products.  These handy brochures are also easy to understand, making sure you’re equipped with all the knowledge you need before hiring a product from us.  They explain in plain English what our equipment does and how it can help you.

 

 

 

Along with this, the top of each category on our website provides not only an outline of the category itself but also a description of the types of products within each one and how each could be helpful to you.  So, for example, in our Beds category, we explain what a homecare hospital bed is and its functions along with the different types available and how they suit different mobility needs.

 

 

 

 

Many people may find themselves renting mobility equipment for the first time.  That’s why we’ve provided these guides along with introductions to each category, in order to make you, the user, feel more confident when choosing mobility equipment.

So, get choosing!  Have a browse through our categories and Choosing Guides to help you make an informed decision.  Remember, if you have any questions, you can always give us a call on 0800 111 6234 and one of our team will be happy to help you.

 

Mobility-Friendly Trails!

This blog focuses on mobility-friendly trails. We’re sure that like us, you’re beginning to think about the rest of the year ahead and possibly a short break away somewhere. However, the same question still remains: where to go!

Accessibility:  Where To Go?

Accessibility is a concern for lots of people. Not just those with differing mobility needs, but for people who care for them too. If you’re a wheelchair, powerchair or mobility scooter user then inclines, surfaces and doorways amongst many other things are likely to be on your list of things to look out for.  This list of mobility-friendly trails from the National Trust covers everywhere from Devon and Dorset to Cornwall.

The National Trust has a number of family-friendly and differently-abled friendly walks to take. These trails cover some of the most beautiful parts of the UK. Two such routes are in idyllic Devon. Killerton Park and Gardens follows reasonably easy terrain along gravel paths. Being fully wheelchair accessible, it’s an ideal day out if you’re staying in or around Devon. Another easy walk to take in the same county is at Baggy Point. Providing coastal views which stretch for miles, you’ll be spoilt for what to watch out for – from a variety of birds to keep twitchers happy and even seals if you’re lucky! This route follows a well surfaced and fairly flat path which is suitable for all-terrain mobility scooters and wheelchairs.

In beautiful Dorset you’ll find the lovely Salcombe Hill.  The National Trust’s accessible walk takes you towards the clifftop, where you can admire stunning views out across the sea.  Interesting points along the coast are identified at the Salcombe Hill Toposcope – an orientation table.  Sidmouth, High Peak and Ladrum Bay can be seen on a clear day! The route takes you from Salcombe Hill carpark down to the clifftops and back again.

Fancy Going Off The Beaten Track?

 

At Mobility Hire, we want to help you go further.  That’s why we stock a range of off-road powerchairs, mobility scooters and even powered hand bikes to get you out and about like never before. Increased suspension, more power and road and off-road tyres provide you with a whole new way of looking at the world – not just from the pavement!  Take a look at our off-road products for more information. These off-road rentals are great to hire for a week or two and will undoubtedly let you get away from crowded towns and cities this summer. Now you can explore like never before!

 

Mobility Friendly Trails in Dorset, Cornwall, Devon – You’re Spoilt For Choice!

Much further down in the UK, in Truro, Cornwall is a circular trail taking in views of Porth Creek and Froe. Weaving through woodland and bordering farmland and meadows, it should make for a wonderful, accessible day out in Cornwall.

This is just a taste of some of the routes available for those with accessibility needs. Why not turn your walks into weekends away and stay in a nearby town? Let us know how you get on during your break away – leave us a message on our Facebook page! Remember to take some photos for us too!

The National Trust’s full list of their top accessible walks here.

 

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.

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.

 

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.

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.

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!

Folding Holiday Scooters

This 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

 

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.

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.