Tag: mobility

O’Sullivans Mobility Aids Launch on YouTube 

Hello, it’s been a while since our last blog post describing our trip to Naidex 2016.

We’ve been super busy in the meantime launching our YouTube channel, that you can see by clicking here.

We’ve uploaded a few introductory videos from our trip to Naidex 2016.

Over the next few weeks, we hope to share some tips, hints and advice on various products in the shop.

When purchasing a product, we understand that patients need as much information as possible to make an appropriate purchase.

We hope that our videos will shed some further light on the excellent wheelchairs, mobility scooters and medical beds available in store.
Happy viewing!

Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!😀😀

Things to consider when purchasing a mattress

Getting a good nights sleep is essential to maintaining to your health. In addition, for those who spend long periods in bed due to illness or disability, ensuring the correct mattress is essential for ones ongoing health. An inappropriate mattress can result in poor sleep as well as pressure sores and ulcers.

There are a large number of mattresses but all broadly fit into two categories:

  • Profiling bed mattresses
  • Hospital bed mattresses.

Profiling bed mattresses are similar to those found in regular beds except that they offer much greater levels of comfort and quality to users.

Hospital beds mattresses in contrast are usually very functional and are designed for long-term care bed bound patients. They are usually easily washable and contain an anti-bacterial mattress closure and cover.

At O’Sullivans Mobility Aids we offer a wide range of both profiling and hospital bed mattresses.

Here we break down a series of profiling bed mattresses:

These mattresses come in a range of sizes from 2 Ft 3″ all the ways to 6 Ft”.

Latex foam mattresses are a recent innovation to the market and are starting to become more popular because of their quality and great levels of comfort. Excellent heat reduction and breathable properties, which are more efficient than any other type of foam, allowing the mattress to breathe and keep fresh. Hypo allergenic and anti microbial, the material which prevents dust, mould and bacteria from settling in the mattress.

Pocket sprung mattresses are one of the most comfortable mattresses with an effective design that provides high levels of comfort and support where it’s needed most. They are designed to contour with your body and are constructed of numerous individual springs that move independently, giving an exceptional amount of support and cushioning. A pocket sprung mattress uses these individual springs to respond to everyone’s individual body weight, increasing their usability and comfort

Memory foam has a unique open cell structure that reacts and responds to body heat and weight by moulding to the contours of your body, therefore optimising the support it provides. It is the most effective material for relieving pressure points and used for prevention of pressure sores and has multiple orthopaedic benefits making a huge difference to your quality of sleep. This mattress is made up of 7cm of memory foam bonded onto 15cm of reflex foam.Memory Foam mattresses are the most expensive mattress type in this range.

The pocket sprung foam mattress: part of the mattress is made with superior quality springs providing the familiar bounce of a traditional mattress. A 7cm layer of high density memory foam is added to provide excellent comfort and support, moulding to your body for a comfortable night’s sleep. Owing to the Thermal properties associated with memory foam this provides a warmer option during the winter months. Alternatively you can turn the mattress and sleep comfortably on the cooler side of the 500 pocket spring system, thus providing a firmer support where needed.

No Turn Memory Foam Mattress: Memory foam has a unique open cell structure that reacts and responds to body heat and weight by moulding to the contours of your body, therefore optimising the support it provides. It is the most effective material for relieving pressure points and used for prevention of pressure sores and has multiple orthopaedic benefits making a huge difference to your quality of sleep. This mattress is made up of 5cm memory foam bonded onto 15cm of reflex foam.

Reflex Foam Mattress Code:  Luxurious Reflex mattress, ribbed carefully to work in harmony with your body. The Completely Filler-Free Reflex achieves the most outstanding levels of performance, shape retention and long term durability. Its unique construction ensures excellent mattress ventilation

Here is a guide to mattress firmness:

pocket sprung mattress Soft/Medium

latex foam mattress Soft/Medium

reflex foam mattress Medium/Firm

memory foam mattress Firm

Next weeks blog will discuss hospital bed mattresses.

Don’t hesitate to contact us with regard to any queries,

We are available via live chat on our website, phone 025 24656 and email: info@osullivansaids.ie O'Sullivans Mobility Aids mattresses

Tips for wheelchair and Scooter Users

 

  1. Remove loose carpets and rugs. Especially if you have hardwood or tile floors, loose floor coverings can be a frustrating obstacle for wheelchairs and scooters. Removing them obviously doesn’t cost anything, and it can make a big difference in your ability to easily navigate your home.  Alternatively, an adhesive backing can be used to hold rugs in place.

 

  1. Move furniture to accommodate your mobility device. This seems obvious, but many people don’t know just how much room is needed for their mobility device.  As a general rule, arrange furniture to allow at least a 32-inch path and 5-foot turning radius.  Some furniture might need to be removed altogether to accommodate this.

 

  1. Tie strings to your door handles. To allow a wheelchair or scooter user to more easily pull a door closed while passing through doorways, add a 36-inch string to each door handle in your home.  This comes with little to no cost, and it makes a big difference.

 

  1. Raise your tables and desks. To bring some tables and desks to above knee level, it might be necessary to place furniture coasters or blocks of wood under their legs.  Whatever you use, just be sure the table or desk is sturdy and can’t easily be knocked off its footings when you’re done.

 

  1. Spruce up your device! One thing that can be challenging to get used to when first using a mobility device is the difficulty in carrying items and manoeuvring at the same time.  To help with this, equip your wheelchair or scooter with accessories to help carry everything from books and clothes, to drinks and medical necessities.

 

 

So, there you go! Some changes that will make a huge difference in your ability to get around your home in a wheelchair or scooter, that won’t break the bank or cause a lot of disruption.  As always, if you have questions about equipment you have purchased or are considering, contact the team at O’Sullivans Mobility Aids.

Stair Lifts – How stair lifts can improve your quality of life

Stairlifts can make a tremendous improvement to peoples lives, allowing for peace of mind and safety within the home.

As we age, our mobility and balance are often affected making climbing and descending stairs a challenge. Falls from stairs account for a large part of bone fractures in the elderly.

This can make the bedroom and bathroom we have used for years off limits and requires a considerable investment in converting the downstairs area.

However a stair lift means this doesn’t have to happen! Stairs can be easily accessed with a high quality stairlift from O’Sullivans Aids

Stairlifts can be either linear or curved depending on your stairs.

Our engineers conduct a free onsite visit to assess your home.

Don’t be worried about your stair design, if there’s curves, landings etc we design and fit bespoke stairlift solutions for all clients.

Important features that all stair lifts should provide are discussed here;

Type of stairlift

Straight or curved

Straight stairlifts that go directly up a staircase but do not turn corners.

Some people will attempt to save costs by installing a straight stairlift on a curved staircase and attempt to manage the first or last few steps. However, if your condition deteriorates you will no longer be able to manage this. A disadvantage of  curved stairlifts is that they can cost more than straight stairlifts but decisions must be made with a long term outlook.

Both Stairlifts can usually be installed in a day and when necessary, can be removed leaving little trace.

Standing or Sitting stairlift

Seated

These tend to be the most common type used in a domestic setting. The majority of users are able to walk, but find it difficult to negotiate the stairs. The person must be able to sit safely on the seat during transit and transfer on and off at the top and bottom of the stairs. A swivel seat and lift-up armrests will make transfers onto and off the seat easier. The swivel seat can be manually or electrically operated.

It is preferable that the user can transfer independently; however, in some situations it may be possible for the carer to carry out an assisted transfer in conjunction with a piece of small handling equipment. The ability of the carer to transfer the user at the top of the stairs should be very carefully considered and avoided if at all possible.

Walking sticks may be carried on the stairlift but, if the person uses a larger walking aid, it probably cannot be carried on the stairlift and therefore two aids will be required – one at the bottom and one at the top of the stairs.

Standing

These can be used by people who are able both to walk and to stand while travelling up and down stairs. These may be chosen in preference to seated models if the staircase is exceptionally narrow, or if the person has a stiff leg and is unable to bend his knee when seated. These stairlifts usually have one or two guard rails that the user can hold onto during transit.

Perching

Perching stairlifts are very similar to standing stairlifts except that they provide a small amount of additional support underneath the buttocks. Therefore, the user is transported in a perching position, ie between sitting and standing. These stairlifts usually have one or two guard rails that the user can hold onto during transit.

Safety

Many stairlift providers will install stairlifts that come equipped with a range of safety        features. Such features include arm and foot rests, swivel seats, remote controls and emergency stop buttons among others. The ability of stairs to maintain power during a power cut is essential     and we recommend a combination of battery and plug powered systems.

Purchase from a reliable source
It is extremely important to purchase a stairlift from a trusted company that provides a warranty as standard. A genuine installer will provide the right system without causing many modifications to the structure of you or a loved one’s home, in addition a genuine installer will be trained by manufacturer. They will also be able to provide advice and perform the required maintenance to the stairlift if it is under warranty.

Grants Available

Mobility Aids Housing Grant Scheme

The Mobility Aids Housing Grant Scheme is another grant option available for those requiring smaller changes. The scheme is designed to fast track grant aid to cover basic adaptations to address mobility problems primarily associated with ageing. The work allowed under the scheme can be varied and can include grab rails, access ramps, level access showers, and stairlifts. All applications for grant aid under the Mobility Aids Housing Grant Scheme are assessed on the basis of household means. The maximum grant is €6,000. This may cover 100% of the cost of the works and is available to those with gross annual household incomes of up to €30,000.

The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability

The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability may be applied for to assist in the carrying out of works that are reasonably necessary for the purposes of making a house more suitable for the accommodation of a person with a disability (who is a member of the household).

In general, people who require grant aid for minor works i.e. ramps, grab rails, accessible showers and stairlifts, and who satisfy the means test provisions, should apply for assistance under the new Mobility Aids Grant Scheme, also administered by your local authority.

All applications for grant aid under the Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme are assessed on the basis of household means. Since November 2007, the maximum grant available under this scheme is €30,000. Read our blog on such grants here.

Checkout our stairlifts section here

  • Our expert team will arrange a visit to your home – FREE of CHARGE
  • Your questions will be answered
  • Your stairs will be assessed – FREE of CHARGE
  • A custom built Stairlift will be manufactered
  • Our expert team will install the Stairlift
  • We will not leave until you are 100% satisfied and confident in using your new Stairlift
  • Any problem with your Stairlift, don’t worry. Leave all the after care to our team of experts

If you or a loved one are interested in finding out all the benefits that a Stairlift has to offer, simply give us a call at (025)24656 or email info@osullivansaids.ie

 

Looking after your wheelchair

Whether you use your wheelchair occasionally or on a regular basis, maintenance and appropriate use are key factors to ensure you get the most out of your wheelchair!

Here we present some common tips for maximizing the potential and safety for wheelchair users!

  • We recommend you always consult your healthcare professional for advice about transferring to and from the wheelchair. Poor transfers can lead to harm to you and your wheelchair as well as distress to your carer.
  • Use slow speeds on gradients and do not exceed the maximum gradient stated in users manual. Never reverse down a gradient.
  • Balance is key! Wheelchairs are for only suitable for single occupancy as much as you might like to have an enfant on your lap.Users should not move their centre of gravity out of the seating area.
  • Keep your feet on the footplates when moving and avoid standing on footplates. Do not use escalators.
  • Do not reach for items further than your arm will extend. Be aware of hazards in your environment, such as narrow doorways, steps, household appliances, children’s toys, etc.
  • The parking brakes should always be applied when transferring. Ensure that fingers and objects do not get caught in the spokes of the rear wheels.

Maintenance

  • Wipe down frame with a damp cloth at least once a week. If exposed to moisture dry immediately. Metal (steel chair) parts of the chair can be polished once a month with an auto wax.
  • Before each use of the wheelchair, the brakes and tyres should be checked. If there is any side play, loosen nut and retighten axle just enough to remove any side play.
  • Solid Rubber tyres require little upkeep bar an occasional clean with a damp cloth. Worn or cracked tyres need immediate replacement.
  • The wheelchair should be stored in a dry environment, away from direct sunlight.
  • When in storage the wheelchair can be folded up The wheelchair should be kept clean and d
    ust free. This can be done with a duster or damp cloth.

If you have any other technical queries, consult the user manual provided with your wheelchair or give us a ring on 025 24656 or email info@osullivansaids.ie

 

Mobility Aid Battery Maintenance

Do you have  a scooter? powered wheelchair, a powerstroll?

Batteries underpin these devices and failing to maintain your batteries can affect the product life of your mobility aid.

Here are a few tips for keeping your batteries in great shape

Always store your battery fully charged. When storing scooter or electric wheelchair for more than 2 weeks, charge fully and disconnect batteries for storage.

Do not disconnect the charger cord if charging is not completed. Battery longevity will be seriously reduced if the battery is repeatedly used without being fully charged. Therefore be sure to charge the battery fully every time. .

Always complete the charging until the LED light turns green. NEVER stop charging before it is complete.

If the LED is lit GREEN then the charger is switched on and has finished the bulk of its charging and the batteries can be used. However, we recommend that you leave the charger charging for a couple of hours after the green LED has lit. This will maintain and probably increase the capacity of your batteries.

When fully charged, the battery charger will still trickle charge the battery to ensure optimum range.

If you do not use your powerpack for a long time, it should be charged at least every week to keep the battery in a fully usable condition.

The ambient temperature will affect charging time. Charging time will be longer in the winter.

After charging, do not leave the charger socket plugged in to the scooter, as this will cause a power drain on the powerpack and temporarily reduce its range.

Batteries usually carry a twelve-month manufacturer’s warranty. This warranty only covers issues relating to manufacturing faults, and not faults relating to failure to recharge the batteries as instructed above. So look after your batteries!!!

Only use the supplied charger, and recharge the battery to its full capacity every time. You may damage the battery if you use a charger which is not to the correct specification.

Please charge in a well-ventilated space where there is no direct exposure to the sunlight. Do not charge in surroundings where it is humid, raining or dewy.

Never disassemble or modify the charger.

These instructions are for a typical 12v 20ah battery with a 12V charger!

Always be certain to read your individual battery pack for subtle differences between manufacturers!

For more info click here