Question

I love to soak in the bath, but am afraid that I will be unable to get out, where can I get a walk-in bath?

Answer

• Nothing beats a good soak, but in a walk in bath you will be sitting upright, having to get in and close the door before you can fill the bath and stay seated when you have finished until the water has drained away. The door handle, stepping in and out and seat height make these baths difficult for some people to use, and priced between £2,000 and £6,000, they are an expensive and usually unsatisfactory solution to bathing needs. We have a wide range of powered and non-powered bath seats at the Independent Living Centre, which may give you safe access to your existing bath. Make an appointment with one of the occupational therapists for a bathing assessment.

Question

My husband is unable to walk long distances and we have bought a wheelchair so that we can go out together, but I am finding it more and more difficult to push him. What can I do?

Answer

• There are some small power packs that can be fixed to your wheelchair which will assist when you are pushing your husband forwards in the chair. Why not drop in on a Wednesday morning to have a look at the one we have in the Centre and pick up information about others on the market, or book an appointment with one of the occupational therapists to have a go with the power pack to see if it helps you to manoeuvre the wheelchair.

Question

I have a tremor in my hands and keep spilling my drink. I don’t want to use a cup with a lid and spout, are there any alternatives?

Answer

• Yes. There is a china mug with a plastic insert called an Easi 2 Drink available from Chester Care mail order catalogue Tel. 08702 423234. When the plastic insert is slipped in and the mug filled it is not visible, and as it breaks the wave pattern that builds up when a cup is shaken, it keeps the liquid in the mug, and enabling you to drink without spilling.

Question

I am using a stick to walk around at home, but am finding it tiring to get to and from the shops and to visit my friends. I have never driven, but thought I might buy a scooter for those local trips that are too far to walk...

Answer

• Do make an appointment to come and talk to one of our occupational therapists about your mobility. When visiting the centre you will have the opportunity to try out a selection of scooters in and around the centre. Owning a scooter not only involves understanding how it works and being able to drive it safely on pavements and when crossing roads, but also involves storing and maintaining the machine and charging the batteries regularly in a covered area with a power source. Many people find that one of the extensive range of 4 wheeled walking frames with a seat give them the support and confidence to walk longer distances, knowing that they can rest when they need to along the way.

Question

I’m worried about my mother getting up and down stairs. Social services are unable to help with a stair lift as she could move downstairs but doesn’t want to. How much is a stair lift and which companies should I contact?

Answer

• We can send you a leaflet with questions to ask stair lift engineers when they visit to give you a quote. A new straight stairlift should cost from about £1,700 and we would recommend you get at least 2 quotes before making a decision. We can send you a list of stairlift companies in your area, although we cannot guarantee the work or prices of  these companies. If you would like to bring your mother to the centre to try out our stairlifts then do call to make an appointment.