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Mobility aids provide an excellent service to their users and make it accessible for them to travel across the road or even across the globe.

When people have a love for travel, it shouldn’t have to suffer just because they are struggling with mobility or increasing age. Mobility aids help to give them back their confidence and allow them to continue to travel with friends or families. We are very lucky to live in such a beautiful country with many historic and scenic attractions that are suitable for all ages and all levels of movement.

When you’re travelling around Ireland with a mobility aid, there are a few simple factors that should be considered.

Destination: Most of Ireland is reachable if you are travelling by car or public transport, and the majority of all towns will have some form of accommodation, especially if it is serviced by public transport. The problem you may face however, will be the accessibility of the room you will be in or the floor it is on.

If you need a walking aid or wheelchair, you may need a spacious room to comfortably move around in your wheelchair or rollator. And if the accommodation does not have a lift to the higher floors, you will need a ground floor room. When you’re booking your accommodation you will need to make it known to the travel agency/receptionist or booking company so they can accommodate your needs.

Type of transport: You will need to have a plan in place, so you know how you are getting around. If you are driving your car, ensure you leave enough room inside your boot/back seat to store your rollator, wheelchair or walking frame. The majority of these aids can be folded down into a flat-like position for ease of storage. The folding mechanism is also very helpful if you are using public transport.

Most buses will either have a storage compartment in the aisle or an underneath storage bay where people store suitcases, bikes and other large belongings. When travelling on a train, there are areas in each carriage where personal belonging such as scooters, rollators can be stored. If you are travelling on a train with a wheelchair or powered scooter, it must be booked in advance with a minimum of 24 hours if you need a ramp to assist you with boarding the train. Remember, there are a limited number of wheelchair accessible spaces on trains, so when you can, pre-book your tickets.

Attractions: If you need to use a mobility aid when going to attractions, it is important that you contact the organisers where possible to make them aware that you are using one. If you are visiting the likes of a cave or somewhere with unsteady terrain, you should ask them if it is possible to go to the attraction when using a rollator, scooter or wheelchair or if you use a walking stick/cane, maybe a hurrycane would be best with the three-point base. You should also make them aware if you have a partner, friend or carer attending with you so they know you are not alone if you need assistance. When researching different tourist spots, if possible you should read reviews to see if other people with mobility aids have visited and how they got on. Always make sure where you are going is suitable for people with limited or no mobility.

Rest: Although you may be on an active holiday, exploring areas you have never been before, tasting different cuisine or educating yourselves with historic landmarks, it is important that you also take time to rest. Travelling can be exhausting and the last thing you want is to be too tired to go sightseeing. The days of arrival and departing can be very tiring if it is a long trip and you never stopped for some fresh air or to stretch your legs. It is vital that if you are fatigued after your trip that you take time to rest and recover so you can fulfil your to-do list with lots of energy. If you are going to be on day trips where you will be pushing your rollator or wheelchair for a long time, that you give your arms time to recover too as the extra exercise will cause them to be tired, especially the day after. If someone else is pushing you in your wheelchair, be conscious that they also need time to rest their arms and prepare for the next day/trip.

Packing: When planning your holidays, it will more than likely be an overnight stay which means you need to pack a bag. If you are arranging an active trip to go see historical or scenic landmarks, you should be comfortable in what you are wearing. You should pack loose clothing, as tight clothing may affect your mobility depending on the activities you are doing. Wear comfortable footwear as you don’t want to be suffering from sore feet, which may prevent you from completing your holiday to-do list. Because we are in Ireland, you can never go wrong with packing a coat as the Irish expression goes, ‘if you don’t like the weather, wait ten minutes.’

If you travel regularly, it is worth investing in a good quality, durable wheeled luggage case which is well-balanced and with quality wheels – if you ask any seasoned traveller, they will tell you this is money very well spent. Don’t pack too much as closing the case can be troublesome, plus you may need extra room for some spontaneous holiday purchases.

Medical Equipment: If you are on any medication or require medical equipment e.g. a CPAP machine, you should always bring it with you. When packing your car, always make sure the bag that has the medication in it is easy to reach in case of an emergency. You should carry a medical letter from your doctor stating a list of the medicine you are currently on, and if needed, bring a new prescription in case anything happens to your bags and you need to get more medicine.

Aids for Daily Living: If you require specific aids for daily living, you should store these safely so they don’t get damaged as you may need them daily. If you are travelling by car to your destination, and you are planning stops along the way for food or tourist sites, you should have them readily available so you can quickly get them out for use. Likewise, if you are travelling by public transport, it may be worthwhile to have a small bag or satchel with the daily living aids you may require, so they are easily accessible.

Some of Ireland’s top accessible friendly attractions are the Irish National Stud & the Japanese Gardens, Dublin Zoo, Powerscourt Estate, House & Gardens, Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Newgrange Stone Age Passage Tomb at Boyne Valley, Fota Wildlife Park and the National Museum of Ireland.

Once you take time to consider all of these factors and make the accommodation, travel and tourist attractions aware of your arrival in advance, there should be no reason that you cannot enjoy your Irish holiday. These factors are tips to make it as stress-free as possible and we hope they help you.

Rollators are a mobility device, much like a walking frame, but they have the addition of wheels so the device can be easily moved without lifting it. They are often used to provide the user with support when walking independently. In some cases, users will need the extra support or balance due to mobility or an increase in fatigue when being active. Rollators come in different styles with a variety of features including a 3 or 4 wheel option.

When choosing a rollator to suit your needs, there are different factors you should take into account when making the decision. These can differ from why you need a rollator, to where you will be using it, or if you need a compact rollator that can be folded and stored easily. Other considerations can be safety features such as brakes or the type of grips, or if you need a folding seat on it.

When choosing a rollator, the purpose of the rollator is a very important consideration. A four wheel rollator will offer more support over long distance walks or if you need to take breaks during your trip, as most have a seat. Larger wheels can handle tougher terrain so if you’re looking tolarger wheel may be more suitable.

If your rollator is only going to be used in the home to move from one room to another, a small 3 wheel rollator could be the right choice. Three wheel rollators are generally smaller, can fold to a compact size and have a much tighter turning radius, which is ideal for indoors.

The size of the rollator will be one of the main factors when choosing one but the majority of them come with height adjustable legs so you need to find the right height for you. The height of your rollator should be the same height as the distance from the floor to your wrist while in a standing position. You should be able to hold the top of the rollator while your elbows are at a 15 degrees bend, this will be your position while holding the mobility device and walking.

You are going to be gripping the rollator at the handlebar or handles. These can have different grips and you should choose the grip that you feel more comfortable with. A rubber grip may be suitable for someone who struggles to keep a grasp of things. If your hands get sweaty or you’re worried about moisture a plastic grip may be a better option. Foam grips are more comfortable to hold for longer but the foam can easily be stained and can also hold moisture. When you are deciding on what grip you want, you should make sure the grip is secure and isn’t sliding when you grasp it.

If you are going to be transporting the rollator often, then choose a folding and portable rollator. Many folding rollators can be folded into a size small enough to fit in the boot of a car or to fit in storage areas on public transport which makes them suitable for people who plan on travelling with them. The foldable rollators are also easily stored in a closet at home.

Rollators can come with different brake features like Ergonomic loop brakes with internally routed brake cables for added safety or arthritic-friendly brakes which means the brakes are extra sensitive and easy to use. Other features the rollators may have can be an added seat so the user can sit down if they need to take a break from their walk. This can be an excellent addition if the user suffers from fatigue when walking or if their legs get weak on long walks. A shopping basket is also an option to add to your rollator if you need to carry messages down the town or home without using your hands.

Finding a rollator that fulfils your requirements can be tricky sometimes but hopefully, these tips can help you when making the right decision. If you would like help or more information when choosing a rollator, you can contact us on 0818 989 353 or email info@beechfieldhealthcare.ie and we would be happy to help you.

Comfort is key priority for wheelchair users and we are on your side when it comes to providing it. Choosing the correct chair is a very important decision and you need to ensure that the one you are picking is going to be the perfect fit for you and your needs. You will want a wheelchair that is going to provide you with the finest comfort and also pressure relief. When picking your wheelchair, there will be a certain amount of factors that will determine what type of chair you go with.

Independence is something we all depend on to get us through each day. We like to be able to carry out tasks ourselves ever since we were young and we would like to continue doing this into our elder years.  This can include everyday tasks such walking to the shop, meeting our friends for a cuppa or going to visit our families. We need to be able to get around on our own accord and to do that, we need mobility. Some people’s mobility levels can differ from others and sometimes, age can be a factor in this. However, regardless of your age, you still want to keep your independence by doing these things on our own.
 
If you feel like you can’t walk to the shop because it’s too far, or you get tired too easily and the same for visiting friends or family, maybe a mobility scooter can be the answer for you. They can help you get to the shops or to a friend’s home and even carry the shopping home with their detachable baskets. They are stylish in design and come in a range of colours making them attractive to users and people who pass you by.  There are certain features you should be looking for when choosing a Mobility Scooter, like the speed, weight capacity, budget and the purpose for the use.
 
Finding the right scooter for you, is quick and easy once you know what you are looking for.
-          A Boot Scooter is easily foldable making it compact and transportable so you can bring it with you in the boot of a car. They have a slim design and are ideal for people who travel in cars or on public transport. They can be used on a flat terrain, indoor or outdoor. 
-          A Small Scooter are ideal as a general runabout scooter, perfect for inside shopping centres or on short journeys. They can be used on roads or paths once the ground is in good condition and some of them can travel up to 10mph. 
-          A Medium Scooter is mainly used for outdoor use and can travel from 4mph to 8mph. They are able to cater for kerbs and hills with their added suspensions. They are ideal for local journeys with their robust frame making them more durable. 
-          A Large Scooter are perfect for long journeys outdoor with their enhanced suspensions and larger tyres. They have a higher weight capacity and are better equipped to handle tougher terrain or inclines.