Invented by Eddy Anderson, a former inventor of the year and founder of Rebound Therapy, this unique device is designed to facilitate relaxation and movement in water for people with profound and multiple impairments. 

It is based on the principles of Rebound Therapy and allows the user to relax and enjoy the sensation of floating on water, while reciprocal support encourages self initiated movements.  Used under the safe guidance of a trained carer or therapist, the Original Floatsation has applications for children and adults across the whole spectrum of special needs.

Original Floatsation offers a unique exercise experience.  It allows the user to have fun while developing confidence, a sense of independence, aquatic skills and spatial awareness.  High motivation increases therapeutic value, as the user is keen to play on it again and again. Additional benefits include the facts that the Original Floatsation is easy to store and transport as well as being safe and hygienic, lightweight and durable.

Original Floatsation was featured by Youth Sport Trust in their ‘Elements’ video.  To watch the product in action click here.

The team at Mobility Compare feel this is an excellent low-cost mobility aid.  Perfect for venues such as Teddington’s hydrotherapy pool, the device has a multitude of applications for people with serious disability.  We’ve also been informed that Floatsation training workshops are available.

This product has only just been launched so we wish Floatsation every success in gaining a foothold in the mobility market. For further information or to place an order please visit www.floatsation.org                   

Finally, don’t forget to visit Mobility Compare for all your mobility requirements and for a comprehensive roundup of mobility news and products.

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Sufferers, and we use that term loosely because many hard of hearing people don’t consider themselves ‘sufferers’ as such, are also well represented by the RNID who do a sterling job of campaigning, raising money and providing valuable resources.

So where’s the problem? At Mobility Compare we frequently read stories about unscrupulous hearing aid salesmen preying on vulnerable individuals and selling exorbitantly priced hearing aids. 

Of course, mis selling is not restricted to hearing aids – it happens right across the mobility industry.  An example: read this ‘You and Yours’ Radio 4 transcript by clicking here.

However, hearing aids are a particularly tricky area because there is a lot of conflicting information and a huge differential in prices.  Just this year Prince Harry’s pal Jamie Wells started Hearing Direct and began offering hearing aids for £99 as well as online hearing tests.  That’s compared to a top end Siemens hearing aid that will cost £3,000.

Whilst we don’t want to have a pop at a Royal friend, we’re not wholly sure whether an online hearing test can be fully competent. It’s rather like an online skin diagnosis.  God forbid if you have skin cancer and the online questionnaire reply simply says, ‘rash’. As for a £99 hearing aid, the less said the better.

So what to do?  The best option is to have a fully qualified Hearing Aid Audiologist test your ears and give you a proper diagnosis.  By ‘fully qualified’ we mean that the Hearing Aid Audiologist is registered with the Hearing Aid Council. An in-depth hearing test should take between 1 to 1.5 hours depending on the severity of the hearing loss.

A company we recommend is Natural Hearing who offers completely free hearing aid tests in the comfort of your own home.  With absolutely no obligation, the company will arrange a time at your convenience and provide an in-depth hearing check-up.

Better still, Natural Hearing will recommend the most suitable hearing aid based on your hearing loss, budget and lifestyle.  The company also supplies many of the world’s leading hearing aids including state-of-the-art solutions from brands such as Phonak, Oticon, Widex, Siemens, Starkey, Resound, Unitron and Bernafon.

The compelling part of Natural Hearing is that the company guarantees the lowest hearing aid prices in the UK as well as offering a no-strings 30-day full money back programme.  It’s this guarantee and money-back programme which puts Natural Hearing one step ahead of its rivals.

You can book a hearing test by calling 0800 228 9865 or simply visit the company’s website at www.naturalhearing.co.uk. Please be aware that Natural Hearing only covers certain areas of the country so do visit its website to see whether it includes your area.

Finally, Mobility Compare offers a free Hearing Aid Buyers Guide which can be downloaded by clicking here.  It’s worth reading……

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It’s a vital consideration because, as with any vulnerable section of the population, unscrupulous companies can try and take advantage of the situation.  Only today a contact at the BBC told us that next week’s Panorama will focus on shady will-writers who prey on the unsuspecting elderly.

One company that stands out as a ‘good guy’ is Sunbury-based Kudos First, an all-round mobility company that specialises in mobility scooters, riser recliner chairs and adjustable sleep-systems. What we like about Kudos First is that whilst the company prides itself on the quality of its products, it’s how it treats its customers that makes the difference.

We’d almost go far to say that the company’s code of ethics, customer service and highly trained team is probably as important as its range of products. Given our position at the coal face of the mobility industry we can categorically tell you that this is not the case with many, many industry suppliers.  We won’t mention any names (we’re not partial to libel) but if you are reading this you know who you are!  And it’s not just our opinion either – we get dozens of emails each week from mobility customers and it’s very easy to distinguish certain, ahem, ‘patterns’.

Moving swiftly on, as we said above we’re very impressed by Kudos’ commitment to customer service and we were pleasantly surprised to receive news from them this week about the launch of several brand new mobility scooter models – the EQ transportable scooter (a new addition to its renowned MegaLite range) and the groundbreaking K Series range.

As regular readers will know we’re great fans of transportable scooters simply because they allow even greater freedom of movement and let people travel on holiday and visit friends and relatives abroad.  The EQ has upped its technological quotient by using patented MST technology and an industry-first USJ steering system. Best of all it is fully transportable and can fit into the smallest boot or storage space in seconds.

Kudos First’s latest MegaLite scooter – the EQ transportable scooter

To any readers of this blog, Kudos First is offering a minimum £1000 guaranteed part exchange for any old mobility product (age or condition irrelevant) with the purchase of a K Series or MegaLite Scooter but you’ll need to be quick – the offer is only open in August 2010.

Simply call Kudos First on FREEPHONE 0800 152 2410 or email mobilitycompare@kudosfirst.co.uk and quote, “Mobility Compare offer”.

Finally, if you’re looking for more information on mobility scooters, don’t forget to visit Mobility Compare’s mobility scooter buyer’s guide.

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At Mobility Compare, we’ve been a big fan of the Strongarm range of walking aids.  Based in the US these walking aids are cleverly designed and provide the user with great support.  You can read our post about them here.  We’re hoping they get a UK distribution deal soon because, as far as we know, you can only buy them from the States.

Another great range of walking aids can be bought, interestingly enough, from Halfords.  Little known to most people, Halfords is a key player in the mobility industry and tucked away behind the sat navs, car stereos, mountain bikes etc is a really good range of walking aids.

Our favourite?  The four wheel walker with seat. For £99, the excellent craftsmanship of the walker really impressed us. As you’d expect from a motor industry specialist, the walker comes with – wait for it – anti-skid tyres and quick action loop brakes.  But what we like most about the walker is that it comes with a padded seat – now that’s CLEVER.  It simply means that if someone gets tired, they can just lock the brakes and take a breather.  Hugely simple but massively clever – why?  For many people who are only slightly mobility impaired, taking rests is an essential part of their walking routine.  Downside?  The maximum weight limit is 18 stone so it’s borderline for obese people.

Another Halford’s mobility aid we’re rather taken with is the Adjustable Folding Seat Cane.  Once again, what we like about this little gem is that it comes with a seat. Whilst the cane does exactly what its name suggests, it folds out into a sturdy stool on which you can rest for a while before continuing your walk. The leather bound seat is comfortable and the anti-slip rubber feet ensure total safety. Again, it’s a clever little mobility aid.  Maximum weight?  18 stone which is more than enough.

It’s good to see a big high street retailer like Halfords participate in the mobility market. Not only does it make mobility aids more accessible (it has well over 400 stores nationwide), its products come with a very competitive price tag.  A fully paid-up member of the British Healthcare Trades Association, Halfords is also a British based company (Worcester now you ask).  Let’s hope it expands its range further over the coming years.

For more information on mobility aids, don’t forget to visit Mobility Compare by clicking here.

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At a stroke this clever scooter counters what has been a formidable barrier for mobility impaired individuals – taking a scooter on holiday.  You can’t underestimate this problem.  Even if you’ve got the good fortune to own one of the better scooter brands such as Quingo, Aquasoothe or TGA, what happens if you want to travel further afield and, for example, visit relatives in Orkney?  The bottom line is you can’t.  Not unless you own a truck, ramp and an ocean going boat capable of lugging quarter of a tonne of scooter without capsizing. 

For this reason, portable scooters are increasingly in vogue.  They allow people to put a scooter in their car boot, airline hold, train cargo carriage etc and then take it out when they’ve arrived at their destination.  For the mobility impaired who need to travel abroad they are a lifeline. 

Anyway, the team at Mobility Compared are particularly taken with Aquasoothe’s TravelLite.  Why?  It’s lighter than a silk gossamer wafting breezily over Keira Knightley’s shoulders.  OK, that’s perhaps an exaggeration as it weighs 25 kilogrammes. Yet when it’s taken apart it’s still easily liftable. 

With over 25,000 sales already under its belt, the TravelLite is one of the UK’s most popular portable scooters.   Here’s a photo of the nifty little thing:

Aquasoothe’s TravelLite – perfect for taking on holiday

We have been asked whether cruise ships take mobility scooters and the answer is ‘yes’.  But look, not if they’re tiny 43 berth Alaskan cruisers visiting the Artic on a cosy lecture trip.  However, if it’s the ‘Navigator of the Seas’ (as big at the Empire State Building stern to bow), then you can safely assume it will take a mobility scooter.  Just remember to ease yourself down the ship ramp with care or you might arrive in Alexandria’s dock at an eye watering 45mph.

For more information on mobility scooters don’t forget to visit Mobility Compare’s scooter Buyer’s Guide and for Aquasoothe’s TravelLite just call 0800 281 271 or visit its website here.

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However, many beautiful homes were not designed with the mobility impaired in mind. Those lovely, decorative steps which lead down to the back garden or up to the front door can be a form of torture for someone who is longingly looking out of the window but cannot face the agony of struggling up and down the stairs.

Luckily the lovely people at Stannah Stairlifts have already thought of this – enter the Outdoor Stairlift. This excellent product solves the problem of getting out of the house without assistance and avoids unnecessary risk.

The Outdoor Stairlift does exactly what it says on the tin and can be fitted to solid concrete, solid wood or solid metal staircases. The rail is fitted to the actual stairs so there is no actual damage to the supporting wall. The Outdoor Stairlift has a handy fold away design, so will not block your staircase when you are not using it. It also comes with a great protective cover to ensure that it is safe from the elements.

Stannah’s Outdoor Stairlift is relatively customisable as you can choose which arm you would like the controls to be on and whether you would prefer a joystick or buttons to control the stairlift. If there are two or more people sharing the stairlift you can get a ‘call station’ installed so that if the chair is not where you need it to be you will not have to tackle the stairs to get to it, which would defeat the point of having the damn thing! I feel your pain, can you tell?  Go with the call station to avoid the stress.

Stannah’s Outdoor Stairlift

The Outdoor Stairlift is designed to be practical and secure. The seat and arms are comfortable and the swivel seat makes getting in and out of the chair as easy as possible. The foldaway elements and protective cover make the stairlift practical, plus the built-in recharging battery means that you will always be able to use the stairlift, even if there is a power cut.  That’s important.

There is also a built in seat belt for the user’s safety and a blockage detector to ensure that if there is an obstruction on the stairs the stairlift will stop automatically. That means pine cones, conkers and pesky leaves ‘on the line’ won’t be a problem. The stairlifts also come with a key operated immobiliser so you do not have to worry about children playing around on the stairlift and having accidents. An added bonus is that you can always get on and off with grace, looking like the true gentleman or lady that you are!

For more information about stairlifts, don’t forget to visit Mobility Compare and download the stairlift buyers guide! 

Our thanks to Alex Gaiger who is our guest contributor.

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What exactly?  Well, who better than Mobility Compare or BBC News to tell us more:

An elderly man has been reprimanded by police in Essex after causing traffic chaos while driving his mobility scooter.

The pensioner, who has not been named, created a tailback of four miles while travelling along the 70mph road at 8mph.

Essex Police received numerous calls from worried drivers and had to create a rolling roadblock to divert him to safety seven miles away.

Whoops!

The elderly man has now been given a “road Asbo” called a Section 59, usually used for people who are driving a vehicle in an anti-social manner.

Sgt Jason Dearsley said: “Instead of tying up the court’s precious time we decided that the best way to deal with this matter was to use powers given to us normally for dealing with boy racers.

“We see it as an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (Asbo) for road users.”

Class 3 vehicles, which need to be registered with DVLA, are allowed on roads, but not motorways, while Class 2 mobility scooters are not allowed on the road.

Mobility Compare’s reply?  Forget Section 59.  He should be sectioned across the board!

On a serious note, this sort of problem is happening all too often and until the House of Commons Transport Committee makes some firm recommendations following its public consultation period there will be more than a few accidents.  That’s why its recommendations this autumn are so eagerly awaited by everyone in the mobility industry.

On the subject of mobility scooters, one product that keeps catching our eye is Quingo’s 5-wheeled mobility scooter. Created with Advanced Vehicle Concept’s Quintell Technology, what makes these mobility scooters stand out is the fact that the extra wheel makes the scooters unbelievably mobile yet also stable.  

Quingo are a superb manufacturer and, based in Luton, hold the flag up high for UK mobility scooters. We’re a serious fan at Mobility Compare simply because 3 wheeled scooters are normally mobile but slightly unstable, whilst four wheeled scooters are normally stable but not hugely mobile – the 5 wheeled scooter offers the best of both worlds.

Quingo’s 5-wheeled scooter

It’s a clever concept and perhaps best of all, Quingo offers a free trial to anyone in the UK.  The cost?  The 5-wheelers start at £2,795 which, for a state-of-the-art 5-wheeled mobility scooter, is exceptional.

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This is particularly true when it’s a hot & sultry summer’s day – after all, who wants a warm bath then?  Or even a cold bath?

This is where mobility showers comes into play.

They allow you to either stand or sit inside a watertight chamber, and take a shower, without being concerned about the area getting waterlogged. Better still, these solutions need less space and less modification to your existing set ups than installing a full-fledged mobility bathing solution.

However, you must be careful when purchasing a mobility shower. There are serious safety issues at play. So, from the crew at Mobility Compare, here are a few simple guidelines:

First of all, make sure the shower floor is made of non-slip material, for obvious reasons. Wet floors can be more slippery than you think, and a nasty fall can easily cause permanent body damage.  In fact, the Dept of Health cites slips and falls as the ‘biggest single cause of mortality for people aged 75 or over’.

He should have taken our advice…..

The shower we recently tested, Bath-Knight to be exact, had an excellent non-slip floor, which was also easy to clean. This product has attracted the attention of our team, but we’ll talk about that in a minute.

Secondly, it is always good to have a sturdy handrail on the shower wall that you can hold comfortably while standing straight. This will provide additional safety benefits, especially if you have difficulty standing because of your mobility impairment.

It is even better if the shower has a seating option. That way, you will be completely safe while you enjoy your shower.

Care-Knight, the manufacturer of the Bath-Knight shower range we just mentioned, seems to have thought of all these factors, and then some. The Easy Access Showers from this renowned manufacturer come with an option for getting instant hot water, from the moment you walk in. The shower panels are watertight and have a safety catch, ensuring that not a drop of water falls outside while you take your shower. A grab rail and seating arrangement further ensure complete safety to you while using the shower.

This was one of the very best showers that we found, especially for people on a tight budget and not much space in the bathroom. Do not forget to consider this shower in your hunt for the perfect walk-in shower solution.

Finally, if you don’t want to purchase a new shower or bath yet your mobility is failing, take a look at fitting a grab rail.  Homecare from the Consortium sell a really good grab rail (and even a standing pole if you need further assistance from a static mobility aid).  They can be reached by clicking here whilst Bath-Knight can be reached by clicking here.

 No, it’s not for pole dancing…

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Choosing a stairlift can be complicated, however, especially when you consider the safety factor. After all, the stairlift has to carry your entire body weight on its way up. Is it sturdy enough to do that properly? If not you might find the stairlift will get you up in ten seconds and down in less than one.

As the team at Mobility Compare are oft heard to say until we’re blue in the face, pay attention to this single factor before you purchase a stairlift. Preferably test it out before you sign on the dotted line (although we’re the first to admit this isn’t always possible).

Another significant concern is how comfortable the seating arrangement is. Make sure the seat supports your lower back, waist and hips properly and prevents slippage during the ride.

This is where the Companion stairlift we tested scored major brownie points. The seat is cushioned for extra comfort, and the non-slip upholstery & strong safety belt ensures a safe ride, every time. As an added bonus, the upholstery comes in various colours, to make sure it matches your décor perfectly.

A sturdy Companion stairlift

Many manufacturers have problems when installing stairlifts on curved stairs. This is another place where Companion proves itself a class apart. The service engineers from Companion can get a specially designed stairlift fitted with your existing spiral staircase in no time at all. And if your staircase is really narrow, even then they can get you a stairlift that can be removed and kept aside, only to be slid in when you need to climb the stairs. The design is pretty innovative, and saves space.

Our tests also revealed that Companion stairlifts are sturdier than many alternatives.

The home trial offer is certainly good for first time customers and the service warranty and access to a helpline throughout the day rounds out the package nicely. We would certainly recommend checking out the stairlifts from Companion, if you are looking to add a stairlift to your home anytime soon.

The value for money and extended list of features are more than enough to justify the recommendation.

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Step forward Devon reclining chairs.

As the name suggests, this recliner is available only to people living in Devon. The chair is being marketed under the name of Relax-Well-Pedic, which is probably a spin on the terms relaxation, well-being and orthopaedic – that’s our guess and we’re sticking to it.

If you’re one of the lucky 1 million residents of Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, Torridge, West Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Plymouth, Ilfracombe, Torbay or just a small Devonshire hamlet like Wiggaton, you can even get a free home trial.

If however, like us at Mobility Compare, you live outside Devon then you can either buy a house in the region or simply plead with British Rise & Recliner Chair Company to sell you one of their stunning chairs – it has been known to happen so long as you ask politely and don’t fake a country bumpkin accent.

                                                                      Don’t take the michael….

On a more serious note, what makes us particularly fond of these chairs is that the core of the seat is made of memory foam, instead of the spring sets we come across more frequently. This helps you to stay on the chair far longer without any sort of discomfort.

What we also like about the Devon recliner chair is that it comes with a backup power supply in the form of a high performance battery, which will let you get off the chair in case of a power failure. So many people, new to mobility products, fail to realise the importance of backup batteries in the case of power failure, whether it’s for stairlifts, scooters, hearing aids or recliner chairs.  In Mobility Compare’s experience, battery backup is vital especially for mobility products.

Still, do not rely on the backup power too much. It is an emergency solution at best, and certainly not a full-fledged alternative to mains power supply. Even at full charge, most batteries cannot supply more than three operations worth of power for a rise and recline chair. Also, remember to keep the batteries in fully charged condition. If the battery indicator signals that the batteries are out of juice, charge them immediately.  This is essential.

Finally, if you live in Devon or the immediate surrounding area, call 0845 833 1198 and talk to an expert for a free home trial. You could do worse as these are outstanding recliner chairs.   If not….well…….get property hunting!

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