How OT's help
A great variety of equipment is available to help with reduced mobility - from powered chairs, hoists and scooters to adapted vehicles - but finding the right solution can be a confusing task, and mistakes costly. We advise many clients, families and case managers seeking the product that best meets both current and longer-term needs.
Some of the most common reasons for requests for assistance with outdoor mobility include:
- Advice on choosing the adapted vehicle or powered chair most suitable for a client's individual cirmumstances
- Purchasing a lightweight wheelchair to take a parent out at weekends
- Sourcing, funding and installing mobility equipment or vehicles
- Ensuring clients have the necessary skills to use the right equipment effectively
- Coping with unexpected shortness of breath, fatigue or disorientation when outdoors
Our assessment process allows a specialised occupational therapist to identify exactly the mobility problems facing a client. We can then recommend the right equipment and (if desired) arrange for its provision, as well as equipping the client with the skills needed to use it effectively.
Our approach
Our aim is to provide flexible, practical and cost-effective solutions to ensure you are able to access your community. Our assessment may involve looking at:
- Your current and future levels of mobility, vision and hand function
- The home environment, including where you will store and charge mobility equipment
- The suitability of your existing vehicle for transporting a scooter or wheelchair
- The terrain you need to negotiate, such as gravel, grass or tarmac
- Your goals and daily routine
- The physical health of any family or carers that may be supporting you
Common recommendations
Some practical solutions that we may recommend to help you access your community include:
- Sourcing a suitable mobility aid
- Arranging a trial of an appropriate wheelchair, vehicle or scooter
- Advising on adaptations to an existing vehicle
- Arranging training from a specialist instructor in the use of new or adapted vehicles
We can help with
If required we can also provide assistance with:
- Sourcing alternative suppliers and quotations - we work with companies nationally to ensure we always offer competitively-priced solutions
- Arranging and managing any product representatives or who may need to visit your home
- Advising on any home adaptations to accommodate the equipment, such as car ports, charging points or ramps
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