Time for some nest-building!
NOW that opening the front door wafts in some reasonably balmy air, rather than a cold blast, the idea of calling in builders or installers to improve comfort at home becomes more inviting.
During the spring, birds get busy — and it’s a good time for us to take a closer look at what needs doing in our own nests, too.
If that involves adapting a little to suit reduced mobility, it might be helpful to know that specialist companies with a reputation to uphold will treat their older customers with special care and consideration, planning everything carefully for minimum disruption.
Bathing confidence
WITH hotter, stickier weather not far around the corner, this seems like a good time to adapt the bathroom to make sure of that daily shower.
Using a specialist company, ideally a British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) member, means you shouldn’t have to worry that a new shower or bath will have an ‘institutional’ look.
Today’s adapted bathrooms combine style with practicality, while being designed to meet the needs of all members of the household.
And even if you are not yet at the stage of needing specialist bathroom equipment, but are planning to update your bathroom anyway, then adapting it now can be an excellent way to prevent accidents and make life easier, as and when your mobility does reduce.
Scoot into the sunshine
WITH brighter skies above us, it’s the best time of year to think about acquiring a mobility scooter to enjoy the warmer weather, do the shopping and stay in touch with the local community.
But it is essential to choose a scooter that’s the right size for you and has suitable controls, for example, to suit arthritic fingers.
If you plan to make short, everyday journeys, such as trips to the local shops, then a Class 2 pavement mobility scooter with a speed of up to 4 mph will probably be best for you.
But if you will mainly use the scooter for days out with friends and family, then a folding scooter that can be easily loaded into a car boot might be a better option.
Some of these scooters can be taken on cruise ships, trains and planes, making foreign holidays more feasible.
And if you want to make longer journeys from home, to a neighbouring town or around a very hilly area, then a Class 3 scooter that can go on the road at up to 8mph might make more sense.
Try out various different models, making sure they allow you to achieve a good posture with sufficient leg room and with the controls in easy reach.
Don’t let the bed bugs bite
IT’S Allergy Awareness Week and — according to the national charity, Allergy UK — the bedroom is the most allergic room in the house.
This comes as no surprise when you realise that you never sleep alone, but typically share a bed with more than two million dust mites, which can cause ‘stuffed-up’, cold-like symptoms.
As research shows that people spend an average 52.5 hours in the bedroom a week, the nation is literally sleeping with the enemy.
It is important to use a washable mattress protector to help control numbers. Keeping a mattress cool with good air flow will also help to prevent the type of environment that dust mites love.
Some mattresses, designed to help with health issues and to support your posture as you sleep, are made from medical specification foam combined with channelled zones that allow you to find the perfect posture for relaxation and comfort. A moveable cell structure
within the mattress promotes airflow and moves with you, helping to prevent morning aches and pains. It is important to use the correct base with a mattress, especially if you have an adjustable bed that moulds itself to fit your body. With this kind of bed it is often recommended to have a foam mattress rather than a sprung one.
And it is also important to note that while most mattresses are 6 ft 3 in in length, an adjustable bed mattress is 6 ft 6 in to allow for bending.
Help on the stairs
NO ONE wants to have a stairlift fitted. But those who have to contend with health conditions such as arthritis will find it a huge help.
An occupational therapist (OT) can help you decide whether having one would be suitable for your wants and needs, and whether you might qualify for a means-tested grant.
There are types to suit most budgets, with hiring options and reconditioned models also available.
Stairlifts can be custom-built for most stairs. Straight ones are the easiest to install, while stairs that curve around need a bespoke rail. The design and production involved can more than double the price, according to Which? Elderly Care.
There are stairlifts that you can ‘perch’ on if you have problems bending your knees. And a new option is a self-supporting vertical lift that doesn’t require structural alterations, making it much more viable for home use.
It might also be helpful to consider an outdoor stairlift made of weather-resistant material, which will make it easier to glide down into the garden to tend the flowers or sit out when it’s sunny.
Happier with hearing aids
BE honest — could you really do with a hearing aid? Then join the crowd. Amazingly, more than four million people in Britain who could benefit from a hearing aid are choosing instead to ignore the problem, even though it is affecting their day-to-day lives and relationships.
Partners can find themselves having to speak louder, repeat sentences, and always having to answer the phone or the front door themselves. And then there are family gatherings, crowded restaurants and parties full of unheard conversation to add to the stress.
Research shows that people don’t realise just how much hearing aids have advanced and often leave it a decade between first experiencing hearing loss and visiting an audiologist.
They are really missing out. Today’s digital aids work better than the older analogue ones and are also far smaller and neater. And they do a great job of ensuring that sounds are audible, clear and comfortable.
The three main types sit either in the outer ear, very discreetly behind the ear or invisibly inside the ear canal. So no one need actually be aware that you’re wearing one.
To obtain hearing aids, you can either visit your GP for a referral to a hospital audiology department, or for more choice contact a specialist hearing company to arrange a hearing test at a local hearing centre or a home visit by an audiologist.