An Extensive Guide to Types of Grab Rails

Getting older gives you wisdom, maturity and makes you more practical. However, old age has its downsides too. As we grow older, our strength, flexibility, and balance start diminishing/reducing. As a result, even simpler daily tasks start becoming tricky.

A number of practical mobility aids come in handy for retention of long-term independence in your old age. Grab rails is one of the important mobility aids for use in washrooms and bathrooms.

There are several variants of grab bars or rails available in the market.

So, let's understand the various grab rail variants and their areas of application.

• Straight Grab Bars

This variant attaches directly to the wall and runs in a straight line. You can position it either horizontally or vertically or somewhere in between as per your preference and convenience. In general, metal or sturdy plastic constitute these grab bars.

However, as you need to screw them directly to your wall, make sure you hire a qualified professional to get them installed.

A vertically fitted grab rail may serve as a general balance aid during the use of the sink or dressing or undressing. A horizontally-fitted grab rail helps raise yourself from or lower down to a sitting position from a commode or shower seat.

Think about your requirements and its placement before installing them.

• Angled Rails

This variant is available with a bend in either the middle or towards its one end. This bend can be lesser or equal to 90°. In general, people choose to keep the lower end horizontal with the upper end pointing upward.

The upper part serves as a hand hold and helps maintain a neutral wrist position, while the lower section allows you to rest your forearm while providing more support and comfort.

• Floor-to-Ceiling Rails

These rails are like long vertical poles that stretch from floor to the ceiling encompassing the full height of your room. Generally, people use them in bedrooms, but sometimes are suitable for bathrooms as well.

Some models are stand-alone, while some others have additional horizontal rails fixed to poles, commonly around waist-height. In several cases, this additional rail swivels in the direction you prefer.

One thing to understand while fitting these rails is that you should find such a spot where they don't block the way and yet offer necessary support when required.

• Bath Rails & Tap Rails

Bath rails provide sturdy support to hold on to while going into or coming out of the bath. They fit on the bath with screw clamps to hold them and to convert them into a support bar that reaches above the side of the bath.

Tap rails fit within the bathtub itself and have taps at one end. They fold down across part of the bath to provide support. They fold up against the wall and occupy lesser space when not in use.

• Well-Mounted Fold Down Rails

Usually, these have an elongated U-shaped design of large diameter metal and are ready-to-install directly on the toilet. They provide a sturdy horizontal support rail when deployed.

You generally find them in care clinics, hospitals or toilets for disabled, but you can also find them in domestic settings. It has one advantage over other variants - you can fit it on either side of the toilet and not compulsorily close to the adjacent wall. It is available in various sizes and you can pick one based on how far you need the rail to protrude from the wall.

Some of them have also a plinth, making it possible to fix them on the floor in the desired position. Most of the models are available with a 'flip' mechanism. You can flip them against the wall with the help of a locking mechanism to prevent them from falling.

Summing It Up

'Grab rails' is one of the vital mobility aids that can help you use your bathroom and toilet independently. They can give you the much-needed support for standing and movements like rising or lowering in your bath, toilet or even bedroom.

However, they would serve you the best only when you choose the right variant. Considering the above-discussed points and consulting a medical professional can help you arrive at the right decision easily.

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Turn Your Home Into Your Workplace With an Over Chair Table

Probably, nobody would want to get a pay cut as long as they are in a position to go to the office and work. However, several circumstances arise at times that render them unable to do so. They may range from anything like a severe accident to a prolonged illness causing weakness to ageing related issues. Disability aids come to their rescue in such times and help them upkeep their self-reliance.

One of the important disability aids is an over chair table. It fits on to the chair easily and enables people with mobility restrictions to perform activities like reading, dining, eating or working on a laptop.

So, let's see how you can stay at home while recuperating and still save yourself from a pay cut by up keeping your work efficiency in case you have a desk job.

Factors to Optimize Your Work from Home

1. Lighting

The quality of lighting can influence your productivity, mood and well-being.

Poor lighting - whether too dim or too bright can strain your eyes. The best kind of light is the type that is neither too dim nor too bright and soothes your eyes - the natural daylight. If it isn't feasible, try to go for a desk lamp that simulates daylight.

Besides, the positioning of lights also matters. The lighting should be uniform enough so that you don't have to squint but also ensure that it doesn't cause glare on your laptop screen.

For that, you need to position your desk lamp in a way that the bottom of your lampshade is about the height of your chin when turned on.

2. Sound

While at home, there are so many noises around you that can divert your attention. There may be horns honking outside, neighbours' chattering, dogs barking, etc. If you think that these noises may reduce your efficiency, use a good-quality pair of noise-cancelling headphones and play some soothing music to enhance your focus.

3. Colour

Ever wondered that colour also has a direct impact on your mood. The right choice of colour sets your mood for the work. Generally, blue is the colour of intellectualism. Violet helps contemplation.

So, you can use these colours in the surroundings of your workspace to enhance your focus and productivity. You can also pair blue and violet with green to keep yourself relaxed while working.

For instance, you can keep things like flower vases, decorative pieces, pen holders or other such things in blue and velvet colours.

4. Height of the Table

Your over chair table height should be such that your arms and hands remain roughly parallel to the floor, your feet lie flat on the floor, and your legs fit comfortably beneath when sitting. The height of a riser table can adjust according to your convenience to make your seating position comfortable and non-straining.

5. Chair

After your table, your chair forms the other crucial piece of furniture that helps you work comfortably. While buying an ergonomic chair, you should look for the following features.

• Lumbar Support -Your chair should support your lower spine and the curve in its back should follow the natural curve of your lower back.
  
• Height - A height-adjustable chair may be an ideal option as you can set its height as per your comfort level and desk. While adjusting height, make sure your feet lie flat on the floor instead of dangling.
  
• Arm Rests -Your arm rests should be at a height that prevents your shoulders from hunching and keeps your arms parallel to the floor.
  
• Reclining Ability -If you have spine issues, a recliner chair variant may be a better choice than a non-reclining variant. A tilt angle of 135° is generally ideal for your spine rather than 90°.
  
• Material - Though the choice of material is generally subjective, you should consider a material that keeps you cool in summer and warm in winters for prolonged sitting periods.

For instance, a velvet back chair may be suitable for winters and a mesh or cotton back chair may be suitable for summers. Further, the material of your chair should be durable and long-lasting.

In a Nutshell

Just like all disability aids, an over chair table helps make your life easier by letting you transform your home into a makeshift workplace and continue working seamlessly even when away from your office.

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A Short Guide to Types of Walking Aids Available for Elderly People

People in the UK are living longer than ever before. While it’s nice to look forward to being around well into old age, it does provide its own challenges. A reduction in one’s mobility is an issue encountered by more people than ever, so it’s important to consider ways in which its effects can be mitigated.

Common conditions like arthritis and others which affect the body’s joints or dexterity can have a dramatic impact on our lifestyle. Most people take their mobility for granted and it can come as a shock when it’s compromised.

With the vast majority of people determined to stay in their own homes and leading independent lives in later life, it’s important to be open-minded about equipment which will help facilitate it.

Indeed, the UK government has repeatedly made clear that a priority is to ensure people are able to stay in their own homes for as long as possible in old age. This is important as budgets are increasingly channelled in this direction, providing help and assistance to those who may not be able to afford to buy equipment privately.

According to official figures, by 2040 the number of people in the UK aged over 85 is set to top 2.7 million. At around 1.5 million in 2020, this represents a huge increase. In 2040 the number of disabled older people is projected to be 5.9 million.

The section of population over 85 is the one most likely to require healthcare services. In the 65-69 age bracket, about 15% of people experience difficulty undertaking routine activity, while in the bracket of those older than 85, this rises to over 30%.

With all this in mind, access to equipment which is likely to help maintain someone’s ability to get around unaided is important. While large items like mobility scooters are becoming popular, it is the smaller more affordable products which most people turn to first.

Modern walking aids come in numerous guises, from simple equipment like walking sticks and canes, to rollators and other wheeled support equipment.

Here we’ll go through some of Essential Aids’ most popular categories of walking aid.

Walking sticks

Perhaps the longest-serving mobility aid around, the stick provides a lightweight aid to help support you as you walk. Traditional walking sticks have been joined by modern designs which tend to be made of lightweight metal, usually aluminium.

This is an excellent material for walking stick tubing because as well as its weight, it is also non-corrosive and relatively rigid.

Aluminium walking sticks usually have two shafts, one of which slides inside the other. This allows you to adjust the overall length by means of a pin-clip mechanism.

This type of walking stick comes with a plastic handle. In some cases these are available with a contoured ‘ergonomic’ shape. Fitting the curvature of the palm and fingers, spreading weight evenly and making the stick more comfortable.

One problem with conventional walking sticks is the narrowness of the handle, which have a tendency to dig into the palm. This can be particularly painful for people suffering with arthritis in the hands, a common condition in old age. Contoured handles can dramatically improve comfort, so are increasingly popular.

Wooden sticks are favoured by some because of their aesthetically pleasing appearance. They need to be cut down to the required length.

Both wooden and aluminium sticks need a rubber or plastic foot, known as a ferrule. These provide a soft, high friction tip which prevents slippage on hard surfaces.

Another useful accessory is a bag or clip which allows you to fix a walking stick to a wheelchair, rollator and man mobility scooters.

Folding walking sticks are great for packing into handbags or rucksacks when need be. Sticks like this tend to be made up of three sections of metal tubing with a flexible cord running through the centre.

The three sections lock together when in use, but are easily pulled apart when the stick is folded down, with the cord keeping the sections from falling fully apart.

This type of folding stick is not as rigid or strong as non-folding versions, but is a good choice if you only need to use it occasionally.

Walking sticks with three or four legs

Tetrapod and tripod walking sticks offer a bit more in the way of support than a standing stick.

Again, aluminium is the metal of choice and typically these devices come with a length-adjustment, pin-clip mechanism found on standing metal walking sticks.

Available with four legs (tetrapod) or three (tripod) they have an important benefit of standing upright on their own.

This is significant for those who might have difficulty bending down to pick things up from the floor and for whom a fallen walking stick could present problems.

In terms of stability, the four-legged models tend to be the best, with the three-legged ones lighter in weight and slightly easier to manoeuvre.

Generally speaking both versions are used mostly indoors, but can in some cases may be taken outside.

Like regular walking sticks, they have non-slip ferrules on each leg. Some designs also feature a curved shaft, which improves the way weight is distributed and maximises stability.

Walking frames

If a multi-legged walking stick isn’t providing enough support, you might consider a walking frame. Commonly known as ‘zimmer frames’ in the UK after the original manufacturer, these offer a tubular box-like support frame with four feet.

Standard models are made from aluminium and can be set to the desired height by adjusting the length of the four legs. Like walking sticks, the ‘feet’ of walking frames have plastic or rubber ferrules to stop them slipping.

‘Bariatric’ walking frames for heavier individuals are made from steel and are stronger than standard models.

Most people will be familiar with the design of a walking frame, with the two handles positioned on either side of the top tubing. These provide a balanced and stable support point to help the user walk.

In order to move, the user slides or lifts the frame forward, then takes a step to catch up with it. It can be slow progress, but offers stable support on both sides of the body, unlike a walking stick.

The plastic hand-grips are usually wide and contoured, making them easier on the hands. This is important if you have arthritis in this area of the body.

Some walking frames have two small wheels at the front. This makes it smoother to edge the walker forward.

Wheeled walkers and rollators

Rollators are robust walking aids for elderly people who have difficulty with their mobility. They are available with two or three wheels and most types are suitable for outdoor or indoor use.

Like a walking frame, a rollator walker delivers mobile support but is more robust and has larger wheels. The tri-wheeled versions tend to be easier to manoeuvre, while four wheelers are the most stable.

Most four wheeled models come with an integral seat. This provides a convenient place to rest if required. There is often a basket built-in beneath the seat, which is great for holding shopping.

Many three-wheelers also have bags to carry shopping, normally in the shape of a smaller holdall which attaches between the handlebars.

Brakes on rollators usually work in a similar way to those on a bicycle. Some also engage when the user sits on the seat, ensuring it can’t roll away without warning.

Both steel and aluminium rollators are available at Essential Aids. The steel models are stronger, while aluminium offers lighter weight and does not corrode as readily.

Tyres on rollator walkers are solid rather than pneumatic in order to minimise the possibility of the equipment becoming immobile from a puncture.

Crutches

While crutches tend to be seen in recovery after injury, some people use them as a general mobility aid. Essential Aids does a range of high quality, excellent-value crutches, both in the underarm and forearm styles.

The forearm versions are the most common, easily adjusting to the person’s height and limb length.

For those using them as a long-term mobility aid, the permanent user crutches are a good option. While standard models are size-adjustable via two shafts and a pin-clip, these have a single shaft.

This shaft needs to be hacksawed down to the correct length. Once this is done, it creates a more rigid and solid feeling than adjustable crutches. This means the Essential Aids permanent user crutches do not come with the squeaks and rattles associated with the multi-adjustment models.

Of course, walking aids around the home can be used in combination with things like grab rails, stairlifts, shower stools and other aids. Used together, the domestic environment can remain accessible and safe.

Outside, the growing popularity of mobility scooters shows more and more people are prepared to do what it takes to transport themselves independently.

Having the awareness and a desire to use all the tools and equipment at our disposal will make the task of maintaining independence in old age an easier one. Retaining the ability to walk unaided is a key part of this and Essential Aids continues to be a major provider of mobility equipment to the UK public.

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All You Need To Know About Wheeled Walkers and Rollators

Walking aids with wheels can be transformative pieces of equipment for people with compromised mobility. They provide a moving support platform which helps with balance and in turn help to maintain someone’s independence. While there are numerous types of walking aid like sticks and crutches for sale online, it is sometimes wheeled walkers which can have the most radical impact.

 

Commonly known as rollators, wheeled walking aids have become a common sight on pavements around the country, as more and more people discover their benefits and adapt to using them. They comprise a robust frame made of metal tubing, with a wheel at the base of each leg.

They provide excellent support, taking part of the user’s weight as they walk.

Essential Aids supplies an extensive range of rollators, many with innovative features. Here we’ll run through some things to consider if you’re thinking of buying one.

Who needs a rollator?

People suffering with balance issues or those with reduced mobility might consider a wheeled aid like a rollator walker. It provides a mobile support frame which can be used inside the home or for trips to the shops. If you have difficulty walking distances without support and feel a walking stick is not adequate, you might consider trying one.

Most rollators have swivelling castor wheels which make it easy to change direction. Because they tend to be used by the elderly or people with limited strength, most are made from as light a metal as possible.

If you are considering a rollator, think about exactly where you are likely to use it. Remember that you require the strength and balance not just to roll it on smooth, even ground, but also over curbs and potentially other small obstacles. If you intend to take it on public transport, is it light enough to pick and carry on board?

Three or four wheels?

Rollator walkers are available with either three or four wheels. Generally speaking, four wheeled models offer more stability, while three-wheelers are easier to manoeuvre.

In both cases, the wheels themselves usually feature solid rather than pneumatic tyres. This is essentially to rule out the chance of puncture. As the user may well have some form of disability, it is important to minimise the risk of the rollator itself becoming immobile.

The size of the wheels is variable, with larger diameters generally offering a smooth ride and more ability to overcome obstacles.

Four wheeled models are generally wider, so consider this if you might find yourself in narrow corridors. When collapsed down for transportation or storage, three wheelers are more compact. They are also lighter in weight, so are better if you are likely to be lifting them on and off buses.

For heavier individuals, four wheeled walkers are usually the best choice. Bariatric models are available which are made of steel. These are heavier but considerably stronger than aluminium framed versions.

Brakes

With safety in mind, rollators are fitted with brakes. Typically they are cable brakes which operate similarly to those on a bicycle.

Another commonly found system engages the brakes when enough downward pressure is applied on the rollator. This function is primarily for rollators which have an inbuilt seat, ensuring the walker doesn’t roll away when it’s being sat on.

Seats

A rolling walker with a seat has one great benefit - it provides somewhere to rest when you’re on the move! For people prone to tiring while getting from A to B, this can be not just a luxury, but a necessity.

Only four-wheeled walkers have seats and many also have integral backrests. The seat itself is positioned in the centre of the frame, usually above a space for a shopping basket.

As mentioned, while it’s being sat on, some rollators have a brake locking mechanism which prevents the walker rolling unexpectedly.

In most cases, the seats are made of padded plastic, although on some walkers, like the ‘X Fold Rollator’ both the seat and backrest are made of flexible canvass. This helps keep the weight down and makes folding-up the rollator an easier process.

Shopping baskets and bags

Rollators are fantastic for taking the weight of your shopping without compromising mobility. On four-wheeled models, the basket is situated underneath the seat, which flips up to give access.

Three-wheelers usually don’t come with rigid under-seat baskets because of their more compact design, but many are available with soft bags which fix and hang down between the handlebars. In most cases the bag does not have to be detached in order to fold-down the rollator.

Some three-wheeled models have a small basket which is placed higher up at the front of the frame. Sometimes this is fitted with a tray on the top, which can be useful if the walker is used around the house.

Remember that these prevent the rollator from collapsing down. If you have shopping in the basket or bag and need to get on the bus, it might not be an easy process.

Essential Aids has a wide range of walking sticks and crutches for sale, and many of these can be used in combination with a rollator. Plastic clips let you attach them to the frame, so they can be carried without difficulty.

Most rollators come with some form of basket or bag, so they’re great for items you might otherwise have trouble carrying. Remember though, that if you need to collapse the walker down to for example get on a bus, you can’t do so with a full shopping basket.

Essential Aids Rollators

Essential Aids sells more than 50 types of rollator. As you see from the range, many have quite unusual tubing geometry. In each case this brings subtle differences to the way weight is distributed and the degree of control the user is able to exert on the steering and the balance of the device.

Your occupational therapist may be able to offer guidance on which type of rollator might best fit your requirements.

Combi wheelchair rollators

A recent innovation in rollator walkers has seen their design integrated with transit wheelchairs.

Essential Aids’ Duo Rollator and Transit Chair has a forward facing seat along with foot supports just like a conventional transit wheelchair. The rear-facing handles can be used for support in the same way as one would use a rollator, or they can be used to push someone sitting on the seat.

This inventive design makes this a particularly versatile piece of equipment. It folds down neatly so it is easy to transport in a car or tuck away for storage in a cupboard.

Extra seat padding

Essential Aids does wheeled walkers featuring extra-thick padded seats. The Comfort Rollator for example has a deep foam seat and also a deeply padded backrest. Its contoured, super-soft seat is great if you find harder seating uncomfortable.

It is worth noting that rollators without seats tend to fold down to smaller sizes than those with them. If you require a rollator which fits into a small storage gap or you need one which is especially lightweight, this is something to bear in mind.

Psychological factors

It is often the case that elderly people in particular are reluctant to start using mobility aids. This psychological barrier may reflect a desire to avoid giving the appearance of being either needy or disabled. Many view a mobility aid as giving a clear signal to the world that they are not well.

While this line of thought is understandable, it’s important to realise that if this psychological hurdle can be cleared, there are tangible, practical benefits to retaining one’s independent mobility for as long as possible. If there are tools available to help us achieve this, it is counter productive to ignore their existence.

Furthermore, the population of the UK is ageing and while mobility aids are common now, they will become even more so over the next 20 years. As they become routine for more and more people, the hope is that they will be normalised and any remaining perceived stigma will melt away.

Other walking aids

While a rollator walker or a walking frame with wheels might be the answer, Essential Aids has a wide range of crutches for sale along with traditional walking aids like sticks and canes. Like wheeled aids, these tend to be made of lightweight materials like aluminum, making them easy to lift and control.

Walking sticks with three or four legs can make a big difference to someone with impaired balance and essentialaids.com has a whole section devoted to these mobility aids.

In the scheme of walking aids, they fit somewhere between a basic walking stick and a walking frame, which provides even more support than a multi-foot stick.

For travelling longer distances, mobility scooters are also gaining in popularity across the UK. These are an electrically powered vehicle suitable for a single person.

There are different ‘classes’ of scooter available, with some suitable for pavement use and inside some shopping centres, while others are designed for the road itself.

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