Essential Kitchen Aids For an Independent Living

 Conditions like arthritis, dementia, low vision, lack of strength, etc. can make routine tasks difficult for elders and people with limited mobility. Especially cooking or eating-related functions as they require hand and finger dexterity. Several kitchen aids help people with physical impairment perform everyday tasks like eating.

Let's discuss two essential tools for the kitchen - Wooden kitchen trolleys and lap trays for eating.

Continue reading!

Wooden Kitchen Trolley

A kitchen trolley, also known as a home trolley, is a lightweight wheeled trolley that helps you transport food and drinks around the house. A kitchen trolley is a savior for someone who finds it difficult to carry food due to limited mobility or old age. It will help them remain independent by making it easier to carry food. It will also significantly reduce the number of kitchen runs a person makes to get something. This, in turn, will lessen falls and decrease fatigue.

Note that these trolleys do not have brakes, so it is advisable not to use them as a walking aid. The trolley can be suitable for the following conditions: (a) the thresholds between one room and the other are of the same level (b) the user is not using a walking frame or a rollator (c) the user is unable to carry heavy objects and move around.

Kitchen trays are available in various materials like plastic, stainless steel, iron, polypropylene, and wood. Among these, a wooden kitchen trolley is an addition to your house. The chair consists of smooth hard-wood, which is durable, easy to carry, and easy to clean. The four legs with rolling casters enable smooth maneuvering. The push bar set provides additional support and balance while moving.

Lap Trays for Eating

For people with a temporary shoulder or neck pain or limited mobility, lap trays are a comfortable way of eating. Just like a kitchen trolley, a lap tray helps in transporting food. There are different types of lap trays available. For instance,

Freehand Tray- It comes with a non-slip mat, which prevents the items from slipping. It has integral handles at each end that make it a general-purpose carrying tray.

One Hand Tray- It is handy for those who make use of one hand. The surface of the tray is non-slippery, and it consists of a foldable and durable handle.

Stay Tray- it's a comfortable solution for people using an armchair. It has a molded bag underside that provides a stable base. The curved edges simplify carrying and positioning.

Adjustable Tray- Great option for using to eat in bed. This tray is lightweight, easy to lift, and you can tilt the tabletop to a 45-degree angle and lock in place.

Here are some tips for choosing the right tray:

Compact and Portable: A functional tray is the one that is sturdy to hold several items, and you can easily carry it. A good tray offers you the convenience to fold it into its compact shape and slide it under any place when not in use. If you have limited space, a portable and compact tray will best suit your needs.

Durable: Before purchasing a tray, ensure that it provides durability. A durable tray will be strong enough to support the weight of any glass or plate so that you can enjoy it without the fear of the plate tipping over.

Adaptable: You surely want a tray that is adaptable to any room and any situation you need- whether you wish to have dinner in bed or use that tray to place a laptop.

Conclusion

Kitchen trolleys and lap trays for eating are must-have aids in your house if you find it difficult to transport food and drinks from the kitchen to the dining table. With the help of these products, seniors and people with physical restrictions can stay independent and safe.

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Safely Managing Bed Rails for Elderly People

 Bathrooms are not the only place in your house which is unsafe for elderly people and people with limited mobility. Falling while getting in and out of the bed is a common occurrence. Bedroom safety is imperative for people who have problems with memory, sleeping, pain, uncontrolled body movement, or those who can not walk safely without assistance. Sometimes, fall-related injuries could lead to either hospitalization or in the worst case premature. So, make sure the bedroom is secure.

Among different aids that people use to reduce falls, bed safety rails or bed sides, are popular. These rails act as a board at the side of a bed connecting headboard with the foot board. They act as a supportive aid by providing stability while sitting or getting up from bed. You can even use it to assist with moving, rolling, or repositioning in bed. They even prevent the chances of the user rolling out of bed at night. Rails will majorly help you with the following things:

• Assist the user with repositioning while lying in bed.
• Prevents the risk of falling from bed.
• Provide strong and dependable support in transitioning to and from the bed.

Generally, bed rails are available in these types:

• Rails with two vertical legs that stand on the floor. It even consists of a board that slips between your mattresses.
• Legless rails have an L-shaped design in which the longer side slips in between the mattresses and the shorter side acts as a supportive hand.
• Swing-down rails are handy. They come with a handy pocket where you can put a cellphone or other items.
• Portable rail is helpful in preventing the user from rolling out of bed.
• Foldable rail is compatible with both sofa beds and slatted beds.

You can adjust the rails both in length and height and are suitable for different types of bed. A bed grab rail serves as a clamp to support the bed frame.

Once you decide to purchase a safety rail as per your requirements, the next step is to figure out how you can install it. Here's what you need to take care of:

There are three ways in which you can install a rail. The first is to attach the sides between the mattress and box spring. Second is to attach the mount to the side of the bed. Third is a free-standing transfer pole between the ceiling and the floor.

How to Safely Install the Rail

• Before using, always make sure that the rails are secure and at the correct place.
• Place the head-end and foot-end cross braces between the fourth and the third springs on the bed for stability.
• See that the arrows on the cross brace are pointing to the center of the bed.
• Make sure the distance between the rails does not exceed the width of the mattress. If this happens, the person can get trapped between the rail and the mattress.

At times, if the neck, or limbs become trapped in gaps between the bed rails because of poorly fitting rails. This can cause several hazards. Other risks involve rolling over the top of the rail, violent contact with the rail parts, climbing over the footboard, and so on. To avoid these risks, take care of the following things:

• The rail is suitable for the bed and mattress.
  
  
• Regularly inspect and maintain the rail to remove potential threats.
  
  
• Eliminate the gaps that could cause entrapment.
  
  
• Approach professionals to carry out risk assessments before using.
  
  
• Select a rail according to the age, size, and weight of the person.

Conclusion

Bed rails or bed sides act as a barrier between individuals and the ground, while also providing a firm place to grip when regaining balance and repositioning the body in bed. To get the best of the equipment, make sure to eliminate all potential risks that could threaten the life of your loved ones.

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Bath Lift - Maintenance and Care

 Bathing can be very therapeutic. It can relax your body and calms your mind. But for those who are suffering from limited mobility, a simple activity like taking a bath can be difficult. However, much to their relief, there are disability aids like bath lifts available in the market.

The power operated lift with the help of a scissor mechanism, raises and lowers you in and out of the bathtub. You can operate the lift with a hand-held remote. It comes with a suction cup foot which secures the lift into the bottom of the bathtub. The two flaps rest on the edge of the tub which ensures a safe transfer on the seat section of the life. When you descend into the tub, these flaps descend and fold upwards to allow you to submerge in the tub. The flaps will raise and get back to their position once you raise the life.

With this mechanism, the lift offers a mobility-conscious bathing solution. If you have a person with mobility impairment at home then adding a bath lift can be extremely beneficial. This aid does not just ensure comfort and safety but it gives the person the liberty to take a bath at his/her convenient time. They do not need the help of others to get them in and out of the bath and this will create a good impact on their daily routine because now they are getting self-reliant. Secondly, it is a cost-effective way that eliminates the need to install a walk-in bath. The lift, as compared to a walk-in bath, is much cheaper and easier to install.

If you are deciding to buy a bathing lift or already have it, then continue reading the post to discover some best tips to keep your bath lift in perfect shape.

Regular Cleaning: If you want to prevent your lift from serious damage, regular cleaning is important. Every time you finish using the lift, make sure to wipe it and let it dry thoroughly. This will reduce the chances of mildew building up. When there are less chances of the lift remaining moist, it will last long for a considerable time. Toiletries like soaps and other products also increase the chances of blockage in the joints of the chair. So, cleaning regularly will help extend the life and efficiency of the lift.

Maintaining Battery Charger: You do not need to maintain the charging unit. However, make sure to clean the housing once in a while. You can make use of mild detergents and a cloth for cleaning. Make sure water does not enter the charging unit and every time you use it, check if it is completely dry.

Maintaining the Seat Cover: The material of the seat cover consists of antibacterial properties. To keep this quality intact, cleaning the cover is necessary. Make sure you clean the cover at regular intervals using mild detergents without enzyme additives and clean water. Sometimes bath oils and soaps lead to decoloring of the seat. Therefore, maintaining the seat cover will even prevent discoloration.

Transporting: If you want to transport the lift in a car then see to it that you fold it correctly and completely to prevent the structure from getting damaged. Try to reduce excessive movement while shifting the lift. You can do this by using other objects that minimize the sliding.

Bath lift providers generally offer a yearly inspection of the product which includes inspection of all parts, and necessary function tests. Make sure you approach them to conduct periodic maintenance to increase the efficiency of the aid.

Wrapping Up

For people with restricted mobility, disability aids like bath lift is a very helpful device. Its strong and durable materials ensure the best results. However, just like any other product, they require regular maintenance to prevent harmful bacteria and fungus that may lead to a skin infection.

Source :

https://essentialaids.tumblr.com/post/635650283438014464/bath-lift-maintenance-and-care

Things to Consider with Walking Sticks

 Walking sticks are perhaps the most basic mobility aids. They assist with balance and provide simple, easy to control support for those who need it as the walk.

Traditional walking sticks were wooden, and while this is still a popular choice, adjustable aluminium sticks are now popular, mainly because of their lightweight and adjustability.

Here we’ll run down some of the variables with walking sticks and explain a bit about the different kinds available.

Walking stick handles

There are now alternative handles to those on traditional walking sticks, with their curved, relatively narrow wooden handles.

Other old-fashioned handles were made from metal, bone or even ivory.

Depending on the diameter, it is possible that this type of handle can cause pain in the hands, especially for people with arthritis or other conditions which lead to inflammation.

Softer plastics and foam may be found on some walking sticks in order to improve comfort.

Another alternative is the contoured ‘fischer’ design of handle. These have been carefully designed to reflect and be sympathetic to the curvature of the hands and fingers.

The width of the fischer handle is also wider than a conventional stick, meaning the user’s weight is spreadly more evenly.

Stick height

It is important to use a stick which is the correct height. If it is too low, it could hurt your back; too high and it may not provide the necessary support.

As an approximate rule of thumb, the stick’s height from the ground to the handle should come up to your wrist crease when your hands are hanging loose by your sides.

Wooden sticks need sawing to the correct length, while extendable aluminium ones can be easily adjusted.

Aluminium walking sticks

Sticks made from aluminium tubing have a number of advantages which has seen them grow in popularity.

One is that they are very light weight. If you are elderly or have a condition which reduces your strength, a light stick makes for an ideal walking aid.

In its tubular form, aluminium is also extremely rigid and strong, making it a practical material for this purpose.

Most sticks made from aluminum have two shafts: one which slots inside the other.

The length of the overall stick can therefore be adjusted by means of a pin-clip mechanism, which allows the lower shaft to protrude and lock in place at the desired length.

This is an improvement over wooden walking sticks, which have to be cut to the desired length and then can not be readjusted later.

Most aluminium sticks are fitted with handles designed to apply pressure evenly, spreading the user’s weight and making them less likely to cut into the hand.

If you do go for a contoured handle, make sure you choose one which is suitable for the hand you want to hold the stick with. The contours make these sticks appropriate for either one or the other.

Walking stick ferrules

The cap which fits to the end of the walking stick is called a ‘ferrule’.

For use on rough ground, the ferrule maybe metal, while in other cases a rubber or plastic version will be attached.

Metal ferrules are traditional and great for soft ground, but tend to slip on hard surfaces. Rubber or plastic versions are now much more commonly used.

This type will absorb some of the weight of the user, retain its shape, prevent the stick from slipping and protect the end from splintering or degrading over time.

Essential Aids supplies a high-quality range of walking sticks and ferrules, available in various diameters. Most have internal metal discs, which prevent the ferrules cutting through and allowing the base of the stick to be exposed to the ground.

Without this disc, tubular metal sticks are especially prone to cutting through the soft material.

‘Flexible’ ferrules take the concept a step further by containing a spring-loaded mechanism which keeps the bottom of the stick in contact with the ground for an extended period.

They have a flexible neck component which some people feel makes the stick more stable and less likely to slip.

Folding walking sticks

Folding canes are excellent walking aids which you can transport in a handbag or rucksack.

Most designs have three short sections of aluminium metal tubing which lock together when in use, making the complete walking stick.

The three sections are internally connected via a length of elastic, which keeps them together when they are in their separated state.

Walking stick straps

A loop of material or leather attached to the handle is a useful accessory for walking sticks as they reduce the chance of them falling to the ground.

While this may seem like a minor benefit, reaching items on the floor may actually be a serious difficulty for people with certain physical conditions.

Walking aids with multiple legs

If more support is required than a conventional walking stick can offer, you might consider one with three or even four legs. Essential Aids supplies a range of exactly this type of product.

While these mobility aids are certainly heavier, they offer some key advantages, with stability being top of the list.

Three-legged and four-legged sticks also have the benefit of standing up alone, without having to be rested against something.

As mentioned above, this is a significant benefit to someone who may find it challenging to bend down to floor level.

Sticks with three legs tend to be slightly more maneuverable than those with four, but the latter offers the maximum stability.

This type of mobility aid is not for moving fast. They’re typically used around the home by people who require extra support.

Their legs are usually made from steel, with an upper shafter of aluminium.

Wooden walking sticks - how they are made

Traditional wooden walking sticks are not only supportive walking aids, but can also look aesthetically pleasing.

Chestnut is a traditional wood from which to make walking sticks. It is used because it is lightweight and durable. It is usually harvested as a three or four-year-old sapling.

The sticks are cut to a rough length, the bark peeled and then thoroughly dried out. The wood is then washed, often using a rotating tank, to remove any surface mould or wood decay.

Once stripped and cleaned to the required degree, the sticks are then bent so that they have the familiar curved handle of a walking stick.

This process requires the chestnut stick to be softened. A traditional method towards this end is to use steam. The straight sticks are inserted into a purpose-built machine in which the steaming takes place.

It takes around twenty minutes for the moisture to sufficiently penetrate the wood, making it soft and malleable enough to bend without splitting or cracking.

Long levers and brute force were used in traditional walking stick manufacture, in order to exert enough force to bend the stick.

Other methods are now more common, like mechanical spring-loaded arms which wrap the wood around a ‘form’, which provides the distinctive shape of the ‘crook’ or handle of the stick.

At this stage of the process, the wood is still relatively pliable, so it is then tied into its new shape so it can harden. Now held firm, the bending arm can be retracted.

The ‘straightness’ of the stick’s shaft may then be adjusted by using a traditional tool called a ‘straightening horse’.

This comprises a thick wooden column with various off-shoot blocks which can be used together in order to leverage kinks and small bends out of the stick.

This process requires some skill by the worker and no little strength.

Once the stick has been straightened, it goes into a drying room to expel any moisture from its interior, and firm up its new shape.

With a temperature of around 80 degrees, the sticks remain in this environment for two or three days.

The next stage of the process involves a sanding and cutting wheel. Using this, the stick is cut to the desired length and the tip is made narrow in order to fit the ‘foot’ or ferrule to the bottom.

Also at this stage the wood is ‘de-knotted’ to make it smoother to the touch. This is done by means of a spinning sanding wheel, against which the wood-worker presses any knots to grind them off the surface.

Another sanding machine, which works like a pencil sharpener, is used to round off the handle end of the stick, giving it a softer finish. This is called ‘nosing’.

The stick is then finished with varnish so that it is protected from absorbing moisture and to provide an attractive top-coat.

The final step in the process is to add the stick’s ferrule.

Walking ‘stick-seats’

These inventive devices combine a walking stick with a portable stool. They’re great for short journeys on which you might still need to sit down.

Essential Aids supplies a number of variations, but the basic design involves a round seat which folds against the shaft of the stick as you walk.

When the seat is required, it folds out and locks in place as the individual’s weight is placed on it.

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All you Need to Know About Threshold Wheelchair Ramps

 Wheelchair ramps are a cost-effective solution to enhance mobility. They enable older adults and people with mobility impairment to move freely and safely. By installing a ramp, wheelchair users can access doorways, raised landings, steps easily.

The threshold in doorways is a raised piece of the door frame. The transition from one side of the door to the other can be challenging for people with limited mobility. For this, wheelchair threshold ramps are available in the market that helps you to smoothly transit from one door to another. You can use a threshold ramp will all kinds of wheelchairs be it traditional or light-weight. It is ideal for doorways, sliding glass doors, and single steps. Most ramps can support up to 600 pounds and they come in elevations between 1 to 6 inches in height. They are available in a variety of materials, styles, and sizes.

Basic Types of Threshold Ramp

Bridging Ramp: it is a lightweight, slip-resistant wheelchair ramp ideal for bridging the gap over most doors.

Doorline-multi Ramp: it provides mobility scooter and wheelchair access over doorway thresholds.

Threshold Standard Ramp: it is a standard wheelchair ramp with an anti-slip surface and protective rubber grips on the underside.

Rubber Ramp: lightweight ramp of rubber that can help you overcome the threshold.

Aluminium Ramp: a folding aluminium ramp for wheelchairs and mobility scooters

Fiberglass Ramp: fiberglass threshold ramp is lightweight, non-slip and you can leave it outside without corroding.

Benefits of Using a Wheelchair Threshold Ramp

Easy access to a kitchen: one must frequently go to the kitchen multiple times in a day. Therefore, it is necessary to make the kitchen friendly for wheelchair users. Most users even renovate their kitchens to make it wheelchair-friendly. A threshold ramp will make it easier for you to access the kitchen. You need not worry about slipping or falling.

Safe entry and exit: stepping in and out of the house is difficult for some wheelchair users, especially for the new ones. Purchasing a threshold ramp will enable a safe and easy entry or exit. If you have a foldable aluminium ramp, you can conveniently open it when you need and fold it back after you finish the work.

Safely stepping in the bathroom: a bathroom is a dangerous place for wheelchair users. Having a ramp that allows the user to get into the bathroom or the shower area not just provide safety but also give the person some privacy to enjoy a refreshing bath.

Makes the user independent: just like all of us, wheelchair users wish for a self-reliant life. But somebody must constantly assist them if they wish to get out of the house or climb the steps. Installing a ramp inside and outside the house will provide an independent lifestyle to the user and he/she can move freely without worrying about safety. Secondly, having a portable threshold ramp will allow the person to do other tasks like grocery shopping as well.

Navigate doorways easily: High door thresholds can be risky for wheelchair users because as the height increases, one must put in more efforts to overcome it. A threshold ramp will allow the person to glide over the ramp easily.

Of all the threshold ramps available, aluminium ramps are popular because of their strength, rigidity and relatively lightweight. They will not rust or corrode and can support up to 700 pounds. Most aluminium wheelchair ramps either fold in half or are telescopic, making them easy to store or transport in the boot of a car. Many suitcase-style ramps are made from aluminium. These popular designs fold in half and you can carry it with the help of an integral handle.

Conclusion

Wheelchair threshold ramp is a handy tool that enables you to smoothly move without the risk of tripping while walking. They provide safety for both indoor and outdoor purposes. When buying one, remember that the ramp is durable, strong, and fulfills all your requirements.

Source : 

https://essentialaids.tumblr.com/post/635020066248916992/all-you-need-to-know-about-threshold-wheelchair

Shower Boards - Bathroom Safety Solution for Elders

 A shower is an essential part of the day to refresh and relax. But sometimes relaxation could be a tragedy for senior adults as they are prone to frequent falls. The reason for a fall could be either loss of balance, slippery surface or an obstacle on the floor. To prevent this, it is essential that elderly people feel safe when in the bathroom.

Bathroom mobility aids like shower seat and shower chair, adjustable shower head, and more are available to improve mobility in the shower. Investing in a shower board is necessary not just to provide safety but also enhance the confidence in aged people.

Two Reasons Why Mobility Aids are Important

Improves Safety: If the chances of falling in the bathroom are constantly in the mind of an elderly person, then bathroom aids can put them at ease. Making use of support aids will enhance safety by lessening the chances of falling.

Makes you Independent: Shower aids by assisting to get in and out of the shower, makes the person more independent as he/she can enjoy the shower without anybody's assistance. This self-reliance even keeps the person motivated to carry out their own tasks.

What is a Shower Board

It provides a sealed platform over the bath so that stepping in and out of the shower becomes easy. The major aim of the board is to provide a support surface that enables safe showering in a seated platform.

Choosing the Best One

• The size of the board and quality of material will determine how comfortable the board is. For instance, most metal equipment is sturdy while ones made of plastic are not strong enough. It entirely depends on your needs. The below information will help you choose the best board for your loved one.
  
  
• A board of moulded plastic is generally lightweight, and easy-to-clean. It is also a very handy tool that is resistant to damage and works for a long period of time.
  
  
• If you are looking for a smooth surface that enables the person to slide across onto the board, then a wooden painted board is a good option. However, with daily usage, the coating may wash away. So, you have to maintain it regularly.
  
  
• If you want a board for somebody who is heavy then you can go for coated metal. These boards are stronger and heavier and therefore can withstand the weight for a prolonged time. Moreover, the metal coating also provides a smoother surface for an easy glide.
  
  
• Padded boards are best for elders who are bony and for those who suffer excessive pain. The padded cushions will provide a great deal of comfort and decrease pain.
• Checking the weight capacity of the board is necessary because if it is not adequate then the chances of fall despite using an aid increase.
  
  
• Using the correct length is also very important. If it is too short then it will not provide enough support. If it is too long than expected, there are chances of the person tipping forward if he/she sits at the very edge of the board.

Once you purchase the board, the next step is to learn the proper way of using it so that the person feels safe. For this, the first step is to put the board securely in a place by tightening the screws. If the board has a handle, position them at the edges. After installing the board, the next procedure is to assist the elderly person especially if he/she is using the board for the first time. Help them sit down safely and encourage them to take a shower without any worry.

Conclusion

If you have an elderly person at home, purchasing mobility aids like a shower board will provide a great deal of comfort while using the bathroom. It will make bathing an easier and relaxing experience.

Source : 

https://essentialaids.tumblr.com/post/634652452748165120/shower-boards-bathroom-safety-solution-for 

Rolling Over the History of Wheelchairs

 Wheelchairs and ramps are vital pieces of equipment for those with severely reduced mobility. They provide a method to access the home and the wider environment for people whose physical condition means they are unable to walk.

The history of wheelchairs is a long one. While it’s impossible with any degree of certainty to pinpoint when the first wheelchairs were used, there are some known historical landmarks which give us indications of their earliest appearances.

Wheelbarrows in China

The wooden wheelbarrow is documented to have been invented in China around the first Century AD. While it’s plethora of goods-transporting properties would have been its likely day-today role, it’s obviously practicality for transporting a person would not have gone unnoticed.

While not necessarily a ‘chair’ in the strictest sense, the wooden wheelbarrow could easily have supported a person for a ride, albeit a bumpty one!

There is in fact evidence that the Chinese used wheelbarrows to transport disabled or injured people in the shape of an engraved image dated AD 525.

Philip II Spain’s wheelchair

Documentary or pictorial evidence of wheelchair use is then absent for over 1500 years that followed, until a sketch of Philip II of Spain in 1595. It depicts the king seated in a chair which appears to have small wheels.

The image also shows a resting platform for the king’s legs and what looks like an adjustable backrest. At the time, documents describe it as an ‘invalid’s chair’.

Steven Farfler’s self-propelled ‘wheelchair’

While Philip II’s chair was self-evidently propelled by a servant, documented proof of the first wheelchair which could be described as ‘self-propelled’ - powered by its occupant - would come around some 80 years later

At just 22 years of age, English watchmaker Steven Farlfer came up with an innovative box-like design which used arm power for its propulsion.

Farfler, who was himself without the use of his legs, produced what drawn images suggest was a stable chassis with three wheels.

The front wheel had protruding handles at its axel, allowing the user to lean forwards and rotate them - in doing so turning the front wheel and propelling the contraption forwards.

The ‘Bath Chair’

The spa waters of English city of Bath enticed many disabled travellers in the 17th and 18th Centuries who believed its waters had therapeutic effects.

And it was here that in 1783, John Dawson invented a mobility chair which he eventually named after his hometown. Indeed, the appearance of this chair is perhaps the first which has visual ancestry with modern wheelchairs.

The ‘Bath Chair’ had two small wheels at the front and two much larger rear wheels, in some ways similar to today’s self-propelled wheelchairs.

The chair could also be mounted on four wheels and pulled by a horse, a donkey or even a dog. Other versions could be pushed by an attendant in the conventional way.

Some Bath Chairs had wooden levers acting as steering mechanisms which could be controlled by the rider.

While there were other designs of wheelchairs during Dawson’s lifetime, it was his which dominated the market in the first 40 years of the 19th Century.

Versions were produced with hoods and even some with glass windscreen-like front panels.

With solid wooden wheels, one of the characteristics of Dawson’s chairs was that almost all the models were uncomfortable to ride. As things developed, models were produced with footrests and adjustable backrests, but the ride itself remained bumpy.

In the second half of the century, manufacturers aimed to improve the comfort of their products.

Evolution towards the modern wheelchair

A patent was taken out in 1869 for a wheelchair which was in many ways foreshadowed modern versions seen across the world today.

The patented wheelchair again had the large rear and small front wheels, the difference being that now the rear wheels were intended to allow the user to propel them without assistance.

In their first incarnations, this came with drawbacks. For one, there was no second rim to allow the user to grip and push. Instead the user would push the wheel itself, meaning it could be a muddy business, depending on the weather!

Engineers soon realised a way around this problem was to fit a second ‘pushing rim’ with a smaller circumference, to sit outside the existing wheel.

This meant the user could propel the wheel with the arms and hands without having to grip the same rotating surfaces that contacted the ground.

During the great and widespread period of technological innovation through the 19th and 20th Centuries, various design tweaks and innovations were introduced.

Wheelchairs became less bulky and there was a greater emphasis on comfort.

Folding wheelchairs

One of the chief issues with wheelchairs has always been their rather awkward size and shape. This makes them intuitively difficult to transport or efficiently store.

There was therefore a motivation to solve this problem. The idea of a folding wheelchair was the brainchild of American engineer Harry Jennings in 1932.

His design of metal tubed frame which could fold down to a much smaller width when not in use, is fundamentally unchanged to this day.

Jennings came up with the ideal for his friend Herber Everest, who was himself disabled and needed a wheelchair which he could transport by another new invention, the motor car.

The ability of a wheelchair to fold down so that it will fit easily into the boot of a car remains one of the most important factors in chair design today.

Jennings’ ‘x-brace’ mechanism is still commonly found both in wheelchairs and children’s pushchairs.

Motorised wheelchairs

While the start of the 20th Century saw improvements to the design of wheelchairs to make them more comfortable, it was in 1916 when UK engineers first saw the potential to make ‘automatic’ models.

Their initial ‘motorised’ chairs never found much commercial success and it wasn’t until after the second world war that the first electricity powered wheelchairs were invented.

The high number of parapletic war veterans generated demand and inspired the notable Canadian engineer George Klein to invent the electric wheelchair.

Klein had a diverse impact on emerging technologies - as well as his work on electric wheelchairs, he also invented the first microsurgical staple gun and had a hand in the development of nuclear reactors.

The aforementioned Jennings and Everest got in on the act and in 1956, becoming the first to mass produce an electric wheelchair.

Ramps for wheelchair users in the UK

Ramps have been used since time immemorial as ancient builders slid and later wheeled materials to where they were needed. They would, for example, have played a large role in the construction of the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge in the west of England.

Modern wheelchair ramps, whether for use in a public or domestic setting, have developed alongside wheelchairs themselves as they have gained wider usage through the centuries.

Following World War II the importance of accessibility was widely recognised, with a significant number of war casualties being confined to a wheelchair.

From 1950 there was growing advocacy for greater accessibility in public areas and since then it has lead to laws preventing impaired access leading to discrimination against disabled people.

After the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995, laws are now in place to ensure public buildings are accessible to wheelchair users.

In 1999 UK companies were told they needed to make changes to ensure wheeled access, and then in 2004 to adapt the physical characteristics of their property to accommodate wheelchairs.

Folding wheelchair ramps and other portable models have become fundamental accessories for many wheelchair users.

Available in various sizes, modern versions are lightweight and easy to transport in the boot of a car.

Most ramps for wheelchair users tend to be made of aluminium. This is because of its low weight, high rigidity and non-corrosive nature.

For portable ramps, it has largely replaced steel as a construction material. The steel ramps used in the mid to late part of the 20th Century were strong and reliable, but also heavy and prone to rust.

Fibreglass and strong plastics are still popular for small wedge-type ramps around the home. They’re excellent for bridging doorway thresholds, for example.

Folding wheelchair ramps, or ‘suitcase ramps’ usually fold down the centre and lock out flat when in use. Many models have a carry handle mounted in the middle, leading to the ‘suitcase-like’ appearance.

Also supplied by Essential Aids are ‘channel ramps’. These are another form of portable ramp and as the name suggests, come in pairs of aluminium ‘channels’.

These are particularly good for wheeling chairs and even mobility scooters onto large vehicles or in situations where it’s imperative that the wheels do not slip off to the side.

The channels typically have high lips to each side, guiding the wheels and ensuring there’s no possibility of them falling off as they roll.

One advantage of this style of ramps is that they tend to be telescopic and reduce down to at least half their extended length for storage or transportation. This makes them excellent alternatives to folding wheelchair ramps.

Source : https://essentialaids.tumblr.com/post/634393510719684608/rolling-over-the-history-of-wheelchairs