Understanding mobility aid requirements – where do you start?
Collaborative Post
Dealing with any kind of mobility issues can be quite overwhelming. Whether it’s for yourself, a loved one or anyone else under your care, it can be quite difficult even working out where to begin with these kinds of things.
Luckily, there are a wide range of options available to you, depending on what your mobility aid needs are. From carrying out a needs assessment to taking a dynamic approach, here’s where to start with this journey.
A needs assessment
The first thing you need to take care of is a needs assessment. No two people with mobility impairments will have the exact same needs, and it’s vital that your approach is able to cater to the individual.
It’s important to think about whether it’s a short-term issue, such as an injury, or an age or a chronic health-related issue that’s likely to regress. You will also need to involve any relevant healthcare professionals, such as physiotherapists and GPs, who may be able to provide further insight into the individual in question.
Weekly routines
A big part of understanding mobility aid requirements is taking a step back, and considering the person in question’s weekly routine.
For example, someone who just needs to get around the house and take small walks around the block might have very different requirements compared to someone who needs to get to work every day.
The solution(s) you end up going with will need to be designed around this routine, to make it as easy and convenient as possible. By starting with this kind of foundation, you also make the process much easier going forward.
Consult an expert
Once you have a better idea of what your mobility requirements are, you can start looking at specific solutions. If you’re not already set on a specific option, or think you need to do more research, then it’s worth looking at providers like Assurance Mobility. You’ll likely find that there is a range of products that you weren’t aware of, and some of them could have a profound impact on the individual in question.
Taking a dynamic approach
Lastly, it’s crucial that you remain dynamic in your approach. Mobility needs are rarely static – they will inevitably change over time, depending on the individual in question, their access to support systems, their lifestyle and routine, along with any number of other factors.
As a result, you need to ensure that your approach to mobility aids is able to adapt to these kinds of changes. That may mean investing in a range of solutions to have them all on hand, or taking a step back every now and then and reassessing – so long as you’re not static and dogmatic in your mindset.
Taking your first step in this journey will inevitably be the most difficult part of the process, but it’s also the most important. The sooner you get going, the sooner you can start to transform the life of the individual in question.
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