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The cold and frosty weather is here and with MET Eireann issuing various colours of weather warnings, and temperatures plummeting into the minus fields, it can be easy to trip or fall on the wet and icy surfaces.

Going for a walk can seem like a challenge if you have mobility issues and the fear of falling on slippy surfaces can cause further trepidation of leaving the house. If you are unfortunate to suffer a fall at some stage, the injury can be significant, and it can also be hard to get yourself motivated again. 

Here are some tips to help prevent you from a fall:

Many falls and slips happen as a result of decreased mobility and weaker muscles. Regular exercise inside the home can strengthen your muscles making them stronger to help avoid a slip. A simple program of exercise for just a few minutes each day can also make a significant improvement to your overall balance. These home exercises can be done on a foot pedal which is simple to use and very compact which allows you to easily store it when you're not using it.

Taking simple precautions such as walking in a well-lit area will make the dampened path more visible, whilst also making you more aware of any potential hazards or icy spots. You should try not to rush when the ground is visibly wet or frosty and take your time - If you take smaller, slower steps, it will increase your stability when walking. it away easily when you're not using it. 

Your footwear will also play a huge part in your ability to avoid a fall when out walking. Suitable shoes that are slip-resistant can assist you on the wet or icy ground by giving you extra grip which will decrease your chances of falling. Although the slip-resistant shoes will help with your grip on the wet ground, you should try to avoid walking on uneven surfaces or surfaces that have debris or obstacles that can block your way.

If you use a walking aid like a walking stick, cane, walking frame or rollator you should always check to see if it has rubber tips (also known as ferrules) on the end of them. The rubber tips will increase your grip on the ground which will assist with the stability when leaning on the walking stick or frame. If you are out walking because you are picking up some groceries, try not to overload your hands with shopping bags. Rather than carrying several shopping bags, you should invest in a portable shopping trolley, some are available with a built-in seat such as the Sit 'n' Shop trolley, and this allows you to take a rest should you get tired, which will further reduce the risk of a fall.

Alternatively, if you are using a Rollator, invest in one that has a built-in basket. Some rollators such as our Lightweight Aluminium Rollator come with a seat, which also feature a neat storage compartment under the seat and are ideal for shopping trips. 

During cold and icy spells, you should be especially mindful of your centre of balance. You will move your balance from different sides of your body if you are getting in and out of a vehicle or using stairs/ steps. If there are handrails available to you, you should always use them to increase your stability. Putting your pressure on the handrails, rather than your feet, can make it safer for you.

Getting your eyes checked regularly can also have a big impact on your walking. Having full vision allows you to see the path entirely and any obstacles, ice or puddles you may encounter on your journey.

If you take these tips into consideration when you are planning your walk during the frosty or rainy weather, you will hopefully be able to prevent a fall.

We tend to spend a lot of our time in our living rooms, being comfortable and relaxing. But to do this, we need to have a chair that we find easy to get in and out of and one that also suits our posture and needs. The importance of a comfortable and accessible seat increases as we get older and sometimes, our parents might need one that can aid them in the everyday task of sitting down or getting up or simply just need one with a comfier seat or higher back

Often, we can find ourselves in an armchair that isn’t suitable for long periods of sitting because they are based on appearances rather than functionality. In many cases, the height and depth of the sofa or armchair is not accurate for those using them for many reasons, such as them being too narrow or too wide or because the furniture is old and used. This can then affect our posture and muscle function and cause a decline in the speed our bodies move at. Sometimes we tend to sit in positions that are technically ‘wrong’ for us and this can then quickly become uncomfortable and cause our joints to stiffen or cramp, making it harder for us to potentially get out of our chairs or too even just sit in them for long periods of time.

There are important features to be looking for when shopping for a new armchair. The height is important as a higher seat can make it simpler to get in and out of. But you don’t want it too high that your feet are unable to reach the ground which can cause pressure on the back of your thighs, making it uncomfortable. Our Riser Recliners are the perfect answer for these situations. They are ideal for individuals who have restricted mobility from the likes of arthritis, rheumatism or MS. The Riser Recliners will gently guide you into a sitting or standing position by using either a single motor motion or a dual motor motion.

A single-motor riser recliner, has just one motor which controls all the electric functions on the chair. The backrest, footrest, and riser functions are all operated through a single set of buttons. The backrest can be put into a fully reclined position while the footrest will be raised giving you a complete relaxed situation all from the push of a single button. By pressing the rise button, the chair will move into a raised sit-to-stand position. The backrest will rise while the footrest drops and then the whole chair will rise to aid you into a standing position. The single-motor rise and recline chairs are low-priced and are easier to operate with the simplicity of their controls.

A dual-motor riser recliner is a chair controlled by two motors; one motor operates the backrest whilst the other motor operates the footrest and riser function. The dual motor’s handset control has four buttons on it, with each set controlling one of the motors. With these extra buttons, the recliners offer more seating positions with the flexibility of the backrest on one set of controlled buttons, while the footrest can also be adjusted to suit the individual using a different button.

Our Orthopaedic High Back Chairs can ensure your Mam or Dad holds a correct sitting posture in a fireside style chair. These seats are designed to provide lumbar support and the firm cushions offer lower back care. The arm rests come in cushioned support or polyurethane to optimise the comfort. The Orthopaedic chairs can differ from the common fireside chairs as they obtain a stable, upright position for the user which reduces the pressure that is put on their bones and muscles. Some of the chairs will offer adjustable heights to minimise the efforts of rising from your parents which is ideal if the user is recovering from hip or knee surgery.

Many people who are in a sitting position for a prolonged period of time can suffer from pressure sores or can be recovering from pressure sores and may require a pressure cushion to assist with the healing of the sores or to prevent sores from occurring in the future. These pressure sores, also known as pressure ulcers or bedsores are a type of injury that affects areas of the skin and underlying tissue. They can develop when a large amount of pressure is applied to an area of skin over a short period of time or when less pressure is applied but over a longer period. The pressure disrupts the flow of blood through the skin and without a blood supply, the affected area of skin becomes starved of oxygen and nutrients. As a result, it begins to break down and this leads to the formation of an ulcer. A pressure cushion is ideal for people suffering with these sores and there are several types of pressure cushions available. They range from basic foam to alternating air cushions. A healthcare professional can help to determine which type of cushion is best for the level of bed sores an individual is suffering or recovering from. Whilst riser recliners and orthopaedic chairs are designed to minimise pressure, they may not offer enough pressure relief for a pressure sore and a pressure cushion may also be required.

If your Mum or Dad are having problems sitting in an upright position, a specialised foot stool or foot rest can help decrease the chances of circulation problems for them. A static foot rest offers raised support to the calves while in a seated position and allows for the even distribution of pressure along the leg. This reduces the chances of stiffness, cramps and the development of pressure sores. These foot rests are both height and angle adjustable to ensure that both the thighs and calves are supported correctly on the seat and offer flexibility to cater for people with fixed postural problems of the ankle.

In the situation where your Mam and Dad may be dependent on assistance due to severe limited mobility, a Portering Chair may be beneficial to their daily living. These chairs offer similar benefits to a rise recliner in the instance they can be manually tilted forward/backwards to help with their rising. The added bonus of these chairs is that they are mobile and be easily transported to move your Mam or Dad to different rooms in the house. They also come with a head rest and elevating foot rest to add extra support and stability for them.

We at Beechfield Healthcare, always advise that you seek the input of a medical clinician such as an occupational therapist to help inform you of the short and long term needs of your Mam or Dad when purchasing our products, so you can receive the maximum value and support from them.

We have become the only Irish Distributors of the P’Pod.

The P Pod product has been designed to offer disabled children and adults a comfortable seating experience with full support. It can be used at home or in day care centres and with its bean bag base, it’s easy to move around the house and doesn’t take up a lot of space unlike other supported chairs. The bean bag base allows the restricted user to feel at ease and relaxed while also receiving full postural support which in the long run is very influential for their development.

The P Pod has a unique patented design that offers either a symmetrical support, or a custom moulded support fitted to suit the user’s needs while allowing them to simply just sit on a traditional bean bag base giving them a new seating experience.

The new P Pod seat comes in a range of vibrant colours and the cover is easily removed for washing which makes it accessible for everyday use. This new design can be accompanied by lap and frame mounted trays, a head rest, foot booster or even an activity frame.

The P Pod was awarded the Naidex style award in 2012 for providing postural support in the home environment. The P Pod is the perfect addition to any living room or care centre, and is now available in Ireland.

Key Features

• Standard or custom made
• Provides simple accommodation of complex seating problems
• Lightweight and easily handled within the home
• Moulded Seat Pod improves effectiveness of the bean bag approach
• Quilted stretch velour covers In a range of colours
• Stylish & comfortable for Everyday Use
• Covers easily removed for cleaning
• Bean bag allows change of position yet maintains support
• Range of accessories available

To purchase a P Pod you can contact our Customer Sales team on 0578604367.

A slip or a fall can cause very minor or very serious injuries, depending on the circumstance. They are very common in the bathroom due to baths/showers and spills of water. The older we are or the less mobile we are, can increase the impact they have on our bodies so if there is any chance of us decreasing the chances of them, then we should take the opportunity to do so as they can have a huge influence on our everyday lifestyle, independency, confidence and mental health.