Top 5 Accessories for the Mobility Scooters

One can travel from point A to point B by using mobility scooters, but what about the comfort. Imagine if the person wants to take multiple things at the same time from kitchen to their bedroom and they don’t have much space. Imagine how dangerous the journey would become when they are strolling around the uneven surfaces. 

With that being said, there are many mobility scooter accessories available in the market that can help in enhancing comfort and reducing risks. Let’s have a look at them.

5 Accessories for the Mobility Scooters

Bags for Scooters

Imagine traveling outdoor on the mobility scooters, and you want some stuff with you along. But you can’t take it as there is no room available to keep them. Here the scooter bags come into the picture. 

Have you seen wheelchair bags before? If yes, then you can easily identify the scooter bags. These bags used in mobility scooters are beneficial to carry a couple of items at once just like the wheelchair bags.

Be it any mobility device you use; you should not leave these fantastic bags behind. These bags are excellent accessories for mobility scooters and offer extra comfort to carry personal belongings. 

Mobility Scooter Organizer

If you search for the top mobility scooter accessories, you will find that the mobility scooter organizers are very popular.

This accessory has around 8-10 pockets. With this, you can carry your essentials like drinks, mobile, books, and other stuff. Furthermore, it is highly adjustable and can be attached with much easiness.  Its innovativeness makes it popular among other mobility scooter accessories.

Its robust design lets you keep the stuff with maximum protection. For instance, sometimes it has front pockets to store personal items and side pockets to keep the drinks as it has a card lock to hold them upright.

Cup Holder for Drinks 

One of the best accessories on the mobility scooter you can have is a cup holder. A cup holder is the best to carry your refreshing drink anywhere with you traveling on the scooter or wheelchair. You may think all the cup holders are the same, but they are not. They could be in various sizes, features, usage, materials, and much more.

But how do you know which cup holder is best for you? You can use the best cupholder on the rollator, walker, wheelchair, and scooter while holding the bottle of different sizes. The cup holder should be easy to install, and it should also allows for 360 - degree rotation. Also, it should have lock clamps to hold your drink in place.

Sun Shades for Scooters

The summer period could be a delightful time to stroll out to enjoy the weather. But the sunshine can be too hot or harmful, which can cause burns. We are pretty sure that you are not ready for the sunburns.

After all riding your scooter needs to be enjoyed during this period. That is why it is appropriate to consider this product along with the other accessories. Such shade gives an excellent experience, and it is known to withstand harsh environmental conditions. 

Foldable Ramps

Going around the compound or any other place of choice at any time seems to be a great idea. Although sometimes rolling over the steep slopes within the compound can be hectic, making the traveling experience uncomfortable. 

But fortunately, foldable ramps act as a solution to this problem. One can keep the ramp before the slope so that the scooter users can roll over easily. The best part is such ramps are foldable due to their robust design. Foldable ramps offer a comfortable experience while strolling outdoors on uneven surfaces.

Conclusion

After researching, the only task remaining is making deliberations and choosing wisely which accessories to buy. No one wants to buy something that will wreak in a few days. Everyone wants to seek the maximum benefit and the value of money invested in the scooter accessories chosen. So, right from traveling with the multiple items outdoors or driving on the uneven surfaces above accessories will give you the maximum comfort.

Source:https://essentialaids.tumblr.com/post/665372269783236608/top-5-accessories-for-the-mobility-scooters 

7 Travel Essentials for Elderly

Many 'seniors' took their retirement from a long, busy, successful career and now have the time, energy, and the resources to take vacations – on their own, with a partner or, with a family. And, many seniors are in excellent physical condition to take on whatever adventure may come their way throughout their travels!

As they age, their 'must-haves’ while traveling change considerably as compared to when they were much younger. Gone are the days when they could 'sleep anywhere no matter the conditions or noise.’ And gone are the days when they had mobility or body issues.

So, while they still may be in great physical shape, now there are things they need to be concerned about. Like a travel guide that becomes necessary to ensure their vacation is as comfortable, stress-free, and fun as it can be!

For promoting easy-breezy travel for your loved-one seniors, consider the following tips as useful travel gear options:

1. Rolling Luggage Bag

You should invest in lightweight luggage that is on rollers for more accessible transport. Because carrying large and heavy pieces of luggage at every place they go would be more than difficult for them. They also need to learn to pack light and smart. This will save them from handling and carrying many bags while traveling.

2. Small Travel Bag

Make a check-list of all their medication with dosage details. Once done, pack all their necessary medications in a tiny travel kit. Make sure you opt for a small handbag to keep all their medications. This way it would be easy to have the medicines on time without any hustle. Also, pack enough medications to last the entire trip and a little extra in case the trip may get delayed by a day or two.

3. Compression Socks

Proper fitting compression socks will help their body to keep the circulation flowing properly through legs and feet. Because thrombosis can be dangerous on different levels in the elderly.

4. Neck Travel Pillow

You don't want your loved ones to wake up with a stiff and sore neck after a sleep in the flight while travelling, right? Well, a neck travel pillow makes it far more easy and comfortable to get some rest and even sleep while they are flying. They can rest their heads on the neck pillow. This pillow supports their neck to stay relaxed without making it stiff and sore.

5. 'Essentials'

Items like personal toiletries, medications, glasses, etc., need to be kept without fail. These items vary from person to person. Pack their medications in their original prescription bottles or in a weekly pill organizer. Remember to pack their glasses and contact lens with its solution.

6. Luggage Locks

We all know that pickpockets are deft and quick. They can steal their passport and money before they know what happened. Thus, to save your elderly from this, buy luggage locks and save their daypack and purse. They just have to lock their luggage by forming a code on this lock. So that only they can open the luggage by decoding it.

7. Voltage Converter and Plug Adapters

In case the elderly are traveling overseas and using electronic equipment or plug-in appliances, they will surely need plug adapters. Some hair dryers, laptops, travel irons, and cell phones are dual voltage, but others may need a voltage converter.

Thus, always guide them to check the label on each item they plan to bring. If the device's label says "Input 100V-240V 50 / 60 Hz," then the item is dual voltage and needs only a plug adapter. If they don't see this information on an electronic device or appliance, then they should never plug it directly into any foreign wall outlet. Instead, they should use a voltage converter to "step down" the 220-volt current. Because without the voltage converter, the chances are that it will damage the device.

Packing It Up

I hope this was helpful to assist your elderly with traveling aids. Also, make sure that their stay has every facility they need. Like elderly bath with ramps and non-slippery floor, over bed table, lamplight, 24 hours’ assistance, etc. Items like an over bed table can easily be available in stay locations. But ensure to check the availability once. Here are just some last but crucial items not to forget: 

• Carry identity credentials and health insurance cards
• Make copies of important documents and notes, including your medication list, doctor's name and number, allergy list, identification, photo id, and passport
• Extra pair of glasses
• Umbrella and rain jacket
• Elderly pads (if required)
• Sweater or light jacket
• Additional hearing aid batteries
• Mobile phone
• Hat and sunscreen
• Mini first aid kit 
• Comfortable shoes
• Eye-mask

I hope they enjoy their trip comfortably and safely with these traveling aids.

Source: https://essentialaids.tumblr.com/post/664920928649707520/7-travel-essentials-for-elderly

Pillow Power and Well-Being

Quality of sleep has a big impact on your performance during the day. To achieve good quality of sleep, you need enough hours, a comfortable sleeping position and the right pillow support.

The irregularity of the human body form means that, when lying down, support is not given to the whole body the whole of the time.

Moving During the Night

People choose to sleep in different positions and, starting off in their sleep-inducing position, will move into different positions during the night.

- Sleeping on your Back

Sleeping on your back, a regular pillow supports the head in a slightly raised position, to bring your head and neck in line with your shoulders. Having no pillow could lead to head and neck pain the following morning.

Sleeping on your back is a good position, as it holds the organs of your body in their rightful places and keeps the spine straight. 

Sleeping on your back helps to protect your spine and may also relieve pressure on your hip and knee.

- Lying on Your Side

Lying on one’s side may need a second or third pillow, to raise your head and neck from the lowered position it may find itself in.

Lying on your side puts pressure on that side of your face and can cause a swifter move towards facial wrinkles.

When sleeping on your side, the thickness of your pillow is of paramount importance. If it is too thin or too thick, it will not align your head and neck with the natural position of the spine.

Sleeping on your side places added pressure on that side of your body. With your hip and leg pressing against the mattress, this may disrupt circulation, resulting in tingling and pain, as well as erectile dysfunction.

Side sleeping can also put pressure on your heart and lungs, as well as your stomach.

There is evidence that sleeping on your side helps drain your lymphatic system more efficiently and this could give protection against Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.

- The Left Side

Lying on one’s left side may also put pressure on the heart and lungs, as the body struggles to find total support for the curvature between the shoulder and hip bone. Repositioning your heart could cause your heart to turn and could affect natural electrical activity.

There is no evidence that lying on your left side increases your chances of developing a heart condition.

- The Right Side

Sleeping on your right side can cause acid to pass through your oesophagus, causing acid reflux.

- Lying on Your Front

Lying on one’s front brings on the need for the head to be twisted to the left or right, causing stress on the neck itself.

When sleeping on your stomach, it works against the natural curvature of your spine (forcing it to flatten) and gives added pressure to the spine’s muscles and joints.

Getting it Right

The position you choose to sleep in may affect your joints and could also affect how your body rids itself of toxins.

Though we place little thought on the pillow we use, getting the right size, thickness, firmness and even shape can positively affect quality of sleep and health.

Don’t sleep with your shoulders also on the pillow, as this worsens the tilt of your head by lifting your whole upper body and leaving your head curved backwards. This position will cause more head and neck pain.

Sleeping in an uncomfortable position can add more stress to joints and connective tissues.

Beds Aren’t Only for Sleeping In

Whilst a bed is primarily thought of as simply where you sleep, sitting up in bed might be a chosen position for eating and drinking, reading, knitting, watching television and talking to others via the computer and mobile systems e.g. Skype, Zoom and Face Time.

If not sitting in the very uncomfortable position of having one’s legs crossed, sliding down the bed from that sitting position can be extremely annoying. Bending your legs at the knees can help you anchor yourself but gives no real scope for taking advantage of that position to carry out other tasks or needs.

For elderly people with weaker frames, and for people recovering from illness, sitting up in bed will be a longed for position, keeping you more in touch with the active world around you.

Pillow Support

When sitting up in bed, your upper body is upright and supporting your neck and head, or your head is resting against the wall or on the bed headboard. For more mature people, or those recovering from illness, maintaining this sitting position over a period of time, and without some form of support, will cause irritability and pain.

Pillows come in different sizes and shapes, are made of different materials and have different levels of softness and firmness. Pillows are so designed to do what they claim to do. Two specifically designed pillows are the v pillow and the knee pillow / knee cushion.

- Why is a V Pillow Different?

As named, a v’ pillow’ is ‘v’ shaped and its form can stop you rolling over into a different position when you are sleeping. This can therefore promote quality sleeping for your partner as well, who will sleep better without constant interruptions.

A v pillow is firm enough to fully support your head and soft enough to alleviate pressure.

When the v pillow is laid flat on the bed with the v in the uppermost position, it lifts your head and neck into alignment with your shoulders and so prevents head and neck pain.

Having your head supported in a somewhat fixed position, lying on your back will keep facial wrinkles at bay, as the side of your face is not being rested upon for hour upon hour.

When sitting in a chair, wrapping a v pillow around your waist area can relieve pain in your lower back and give you a more sturdy sitting position.

Placing this pillow between your legs when sleeping will help keep pressure off your knees and lumbar spine, by keeping your body aligned.

A v pillow can also be used on top of a regular pillow, raising your head a little higher if you’re already experiencing a stiff neck.

For those with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), coughing during the night can be alleviated by raising one’s head via a v pillow. This position leads to opening the airways, clearing blockages and easing breathing.

Raising your head also helps relieve congestion with such illnesses as cold, flu, asthma and bronchitis.

You can relieve back pain by placing the v pillow under your knees.

V pillows can be made from various materials, including feather, memory foam, polyester and latex.

The v shaped pillow prevents tossing and turning and so helps protect your spine, whilst reducing back pain.

When trying to read in a semi-relaxed position, the v pillow can support your head and neck and provide sufficient supported tilt, both in bed and on the sofa. Watching TV can also be achieved from that well-supported, semi-recumbent position.

- The Knee Pillow / Knee Cushion

A knee pillow can get the hips into alignment and support the upper leg, taking a lot of strain off your knees.

Some knee pillows are wedge-shaped and both support your legs and keep your knees in place.

Knee pillows made of memory foam give the best support, as your body heat encourages the memory foam to mould to your shape and needs.

Knee pillows should be firm and stop your knees from constantly touching each other.

- Knee Pillow Support and Sciatica

The sciatic nerves run to the base of your lower back, hips and legs and so, when your body is not suitably aligned, you can develop sciatica.

If your hips fall out of alignment (e.g. one leg further forward during sleep than the other), this can place added tension on the sciatic nerves and have you experiencing tingling and numbness in the lower part of the body.

Keeping the body aligned is of major importance for both a good night’s sleep and for your health. A knee pillow is designed specifically with the task of keeping the knees, legs, hips and spine aligned with each other.

- Keeping Pillows Clean

Pillows must be washed at least twice a year, to keep them free from dust and mites and to prevent the worsening of allergies:-

Down, cotton and synthetic - machine-washable, these pillows take quite some time to dry

Latex foam and memory pillows – these need to be washed by hand and then dried quickly, to prevent mould from developing. These pillows can also be dry-cleaned.

If you are a frequent user of the v pillow, the cover itself needs to be washed at least once a week.

Summary

A good sleeping position promotes quality of sleep.

Sleeping on your back is a good position, as it holds the organs of your body in their rightful places and keeps the spine straight. 

When your hips aren’t aligned, they pull on your spine and strain the ligaments.

Aligning your body improves circulation.

The v pillow supports your head and neck and can prevent you rolling over during the night.

Sleeping on your back helps to protect your spine.

Sleeping in an uncomfortable position can add more stress to joints and connective tissues.

Reducing lower back pain will make it easier for you to move around in the morning.

Source: https://www.essentialaids.com/blog/pillow-power-well-being.html

The Perfectly Ergonomic Kitchen – Professional, Safe and Age-Friendly

A professional kitchen is one that is well organised and is ergonomically suitable for its user.

Ergonomic means that a space is efficient, comfortable, provides a balanced movement around the room and increases productivity.

An ergonomically organised space is gentler on the body, as it helps reduce time and movement.

The user of a kitchen may be a professional chef, a young wife or husband, an elderly person, or someone disabled, to name but a few types of individuals amongst the many who spend time preparing food in a kitchen.

For an elderly person in the kitchen, there may be age-related concerns to address. These could include diminished strength and grip, balance problems, visual changes, arthritis and walking difficulties.

Making an ergonomically friendly kitchen for someone may mean considering age-related changes which have resulted over the last few years. 

An Efficient Kitchen

A perfect kitchen size for an average house size of 1,500 square feet (e.g. two floors of 30 x 25 feet) is 150 to 225 square feet (e.g. 12 x 12 and 1/2 feet up to 15 x 15 feet).

A good starting point for a successful ergonomic kitchen is the triangle effect between sink, oven and fridge.

Having these three facilities in easy reach, with a good worktop in between, immediately reduces the time spent between walking from one area to another.

A U-shaped kitchen, with worktops on three walls, the sink, oven and fridge within these three walls and a central island, creates a perfect working kitchen.

It cuts down on the time spent carrying items from place to place, something which could be an issue for people with reduced strength and weakened grip, balance and mobility difficulties, arthritis and vision changes.

The width of aisles is very important, as age could bring with it the need to use a trolley, walking frame or wheelchair, all of which need sufficient turning space.

Having items within reaching distance, both height and depth wise, will eliminate stretching.

Appropriate lighting (e.g. spotlights on important areas) will make food preparation an enjoyable experience.

What to Keep in a Kitchen and Where

All chefs have items and tools which they use again and again. 

Think of the items you use most often:-

• Most often:-

Cups, saucers, plates, bowls, cutlery, regular drinking glasses, teapot, toaster, kettle and pans.

Keep these items within easy reach. Maybe keep one easily reachable cupboard for day-to-day use e.g. your regular cup and plate, as well as your regular glass and your regular bowl.

Items brought out only when visitors are present could be in a different cupboard, maybe not quite as accessible, or even a different room, leaving other accessible cupboards for food and drink items.

• Least often:-

Bread maker, pasta maker, blender, best tea set, and special drinking glasses.

Keep these items in low cupboards. Bending may be needed to access these items but, as they are not used every day, bending occasionally will prove less of an issue than bending on a regular basis.

Equipment

For food preparation, there are three kinds of equipment in a working kitchen:-

• Large equipment, usually fixed items e.g. oven, hob, refrigerator and freezer. Remember the triangle layout for ease of use.
• Mechanical equipment e.g. blender, bread maker, toaster and food mixer. These items may not be used every day and so don’t need to adorn the worktops.
• Utensils – small hand-held pieces of equipment, of which there are many. 

Utensils

A cook needs many types of utensils:-

• A good quality, chef’s knife - learn how to use knives correctly, not only for professional cutting but also for safety reasons
• Mixing bowls – these are needed for dry, moist, hot and cold ingredients, so have both plastic and glass bowls at your disposal
• Spoons and spatulas
• Cutting boards - remember to use the designated colour for the food item you are cutting and preparing
• Measuring cups, scales and spoons – Americans weigh ingredients in small cups, designed solely for the purpose of measuring, rather than weighing ingredients on kitchen scales.

Utensils Regularly in Use and How to Store Them

There are certain kitchen utensils which are regularly in use e.g. spatula, large spoon, slotted spoon, a potato masher, scissors, bottle openers and can openers. Store these items within easy reach, maybe in a drawer near where they will be used, or in a container on the worktop.

Cooking utensils come in all shapes and sizes and so are difficult to store. They don’t fit in a regular-sized drawer, unless placed diagonally, so these utensils may often be kept on the kitchen worktop in a utensil holder.

Utensils holders for kitchens can be purpose made, or you can make use of an old container (e.g. a flour jar), which will meet the needs of utensil storage. 

Regularly used utensils can also be suspended from a rail on the wall or ceiling. Make sure that the rail isn’t too high to reach and that the hooks from which the items are suspended will not easily fall and cause injury.

Only store regularly used utensils on the worktop and in the drawers and keep less used items (a nutcracker, for example) tucked away until needed.

Drawer dividers can make the contents look more orderly and make items easier to locate. Plastic cutlery trays can divide your drawers, or you can use other kinds of dividers to keep order amongst your knives and forks.

Two shallow drawers are better than one deep one, as the deeper drawer will lead to getting as much in the drawer as you can, a very messy way to work.

A pot rack usually hangs over the worktop space and needn’t be only for pans. Regular utensils can hang there as well, making accessibility easy.

A wall-mounted bar for hanging utensils can also free up some drawer space and make items ready for the taking.

Other Storage

Jars which often take up space on the worktop (e.g. tea, coffee and sugar) could be relocated on wall shelves. The jars should be easy to reach and the worktop will have more working space.

If you have enough space in your kitchen, a portable kitchen island can prove a bonus. With its own worktop, as well as storage areas and places to hang utensils from, it is like a mini kitchen in its own right.

A baking tray and chopping board rack is ideal for keeping these items in place in a cupboard or a deep drawer, freeing up space to store other items. Trays and boards stand vertically and you don’t have to lift several out to get to the one you want.

Safety Comes First

If safety isn’t addressed, the kitchen is one of the most dangerous rooms in a house.

Make sure that a ‘kitchen suitable’ fire extinguisher is within easy reach for all who work in the kitchen. Seek professional advice on the right type of fire extinguisher, and the best location, for use in your kitchen.

Slip-resistant flooring is worth its weight in gold. Accidents could include slipping on a wet floor, slipping when holding a kettle or pan of boiling water and many other frightening spur of the moment issues.

Wear sensible clothing i.e. nothing with loose straps or belts (in which pan handles could get caught), or clothes so long that they might cause a tripping hazard.

Use different coloured chopping boards for cutting raw meat (red), raw fish (blue), cooked meat (yellow), salads and fruit (green), vegetables (brown) and dairy products (white).

You can’t wash your hands too often. In particular, always wash your hands after touching raw chicken and always rinse cutlery and utensils used for cutting or touching chicken before placing them in the bowl or dishwasher to wash them. Food poisoning can last a long time and make you very ill.

When preparing a meal, keep children, pets and anything else distracting out of the kitchen, not only for your sake but for theirs as well.

Install a water regulator system, to avoid scalds and burns. With age and with certain medications, the skin doesn’t always recognise when water is too hot and so having a regulator is a must.

Avoid any dark areas in a kitchen, by fitting appropriately located lighting e.g. spotlights over the oven and hob.

Summary

A well organised kitchen is gentler on the body, as it helps reduce time and movement.

Organise your cupboard and drawer content to take into consideration any age-related changes you have developed in recent years.

Utensils holders for kitchens can be purpose made or can be an old item which has been recycled (e.g. a flour jar).

Age could bring with it the need to use a trolley, walking frame or wheelchair, so ensure that aisles are wide enough to ensure turning space.

When choosing utensils, take your health conditions into consideration and choose adapted items where appropriate e.g. an electric can opener for a weak grip or arthritis.

Fit appropriately located lighting (e.g. spotlights), both for safety and for enjoying the experience of being fully, even semi-, independent.

Store regularly used items within easy reach and leave low cupboards mostly for rarely used items.

NB – Items on display anywhere in the kitchen will attract dust and insects, so leave only regularly used ones open to kitchen conditions, as these will be washed on a regular basis.

Source: https://www.essentialaids.com/blog/perfectly-ergonomic-kitchen-professional-safe-age-friendly.html