The risk of falls, slips and accidents increases with age. It may also become harder and slower to move around the house or take a trip to the shops. Mobility aids can help people retain their freedom and independence by allowing them to continue doing the activities they normally do, safely.
NHS statistics show that 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 will have at least one fall every year, which rises to 1 in 2 people over 80. The risks of falling are well known, with broken wrists and hip fractures particularly common. An additional consequence for many is a reduced assurance in one’s own steps, and a decrease in confidence.
In this Age Space guide we have looked at the different types of mobility aids available to help older people or those with disabilities to regain their confidence and freedom. Where possible we’ve listed some examples of products under each mobility category and their prices. All prices are exclusive of VAT as the vast majority of users will be eligible for VAT relief.
- Travel Scooters
- Folding Scooters
- Rollators and Wheelchairs
- Walking Aids
- Bedroom Aids
- Stairlifts
Wheelfreedom
Age Space preferred mobility retailer
With mobility aids, for example with mobility scooters, it is important to try out a few to find the one that’s best suited to your needs. This can be done in showrooms, much like the excellent one from Wheelfreedom.
Or call them at 0800 008 6951
Mobility Scooters
Mobility scooters are great mobility aid options for those who are still mostly independent but would struggle with walking longer distances e.g. to the shops. Users will still have to get themselves on and off the vehicle, operate it themselves and be comfortable doing so. There are different types of mobility scooters for aimed at people with different needs and requirements, which we’ve broken down for you here.
Travel Scooters
Travel scooters are so ideal for, as the name suggests, travelling! This type of small mobility scooter dismantles quickly and simply into around 5 pieces that are light enough to pick up and put in the boot. Even if you don’t need to put it in a car lots of people like boot scooters for their compactness and price versus other mobility scooters.
Popular Travel Scooter Options
Rascal Vie Mobility Scooter
A good, simple, entry level travel scooter ideal for shorter journeys
- 4mph top speed
- 13 mile range
- Heaviest part is 14.8kg
- Great all-rounder at a reasonable price
Price – £900
exc VAT
SupaCoota Microlite
Easy to fold, light and great in tight spaces but a short range
- 4mph top speed
- 6.2 mile range
- Heaviest part is 11.8kg
- Great for shopping centres and crowds
Price – £2,195
exc VAT
Connex Mobility Scooter
Dismantle and auto-folding, comfortable with an average range
- 4mph top speed
- 9 mile range
- Heaviest part is 17.6kg
- Automatic folding mechanism
Price – £3,295
exc VAT
Or call them at 0800 008 6951
Folding Scooters
If space is a little more in demand, folding scooters might be a great option for you. However, for the convenience of being able to origami-them-up into a smaller form, the whole unit is heavier than the individual parts that a boot scooter breaks down into. That being said, they are still very transportable and light enough for most people to pick up and carry. We think folding scooters are great for people who have less space at home to store a scooter.
Popular Folding Scooter Options
Moving Life Atto Sport
Can be split into two lightweight parts for easy transportation
- 6.2mph top speed
- Up to 12.5 mile range
- Heaviest part is only 17.5kg
- Folds for easy transporting
Price – £2,945
exc VAT
TGA Minimo Plus 4 Scooter
Top scooter in weight, comfort, range and convenience
- 4mph top speed
- Up to 12.5 mile range
- Light Lithium Ion batteries
- Folds for easy transporting
Price – £2,495
exc VAT
eFoldi Lite Mobility Scooter
One of the lightest folding scooters out there
- 4mph top speed
- Up to 10 mile range
- Only 15kg in total
- Folds for easy transporting
Price – £2,299
exc VAT
Or call them at 0800 008 6951
Pavement & Road Scooters
If you have the space to store a bigger scooter and you don’t need to be able to transport it anywhere – pavement and road scooters can be great options. In return for some sacrifice when it comes to size and transportability, pavement and road scooters are often more robust, more stable, comfortable and have a further range than boot and folding scooters.
Pavement scooters are limited to 4mph and are often cheaper than road scooters. Road scooters are the ultimate in scooters, with much further ranges, higher top speeds and great suspension – they are not too far away from a small car!
Popular Pavement & Road Scooter Options
Invacare Leo
Great all-round pavement scooter
- 4mph top speed
- Up to 23 mile range
- 4 and 3 wheel options
- Available in a different colours
Price – £2,315
exc VAT
Rascal Vortex
Top of the range road scooter for all
- 8mph top speed
- Up to 34 mile range
- Great suspension for comfort
- Fantastic looking scooter
Price – £4,039
exc VAT
Kymco Komfy 8
Premium Road Mobility Scooter
- 8mph top speed
- Up to 20 mile range
- Flexible and easy to use
- Large seat for up to 160kg
Price – £2,600
exc VAT
Or call them at 0800 008 6951
Wheelchairs & Rollators
Light, simple, convenient, easy to transport and much cheaper than mobility scooters, rollators & wheelchairs will be the only mobility aid lots of people need. For older people, wheelchairs are more likely to be pushed by someone else over wheeling themselves – so it’s important to bear that in mind when searching for a wheelchair. You can also even get power-assisted wheelchairs that get help give a little boost to help push (however, no where near the extent that mobility scooters are able to).
If your older relative is a little more mobile but still slower or less stable than they’d like, rollators are a fantastic mobility aid for elderly people. They can be great around the shops, home and for short trips.
National Wheelchair Hire
from Wheelfreedom
Wheelfreedom provide national wheelchair hire from just £15 and next morning delivery if you order before 3pm. Find out more by clicking the button below.
Find out about national wheelchair hire
Popular Rollator & Wheelchair Options
Rehasense Server Rollator
Simple, stylish, light for indoor or outdoor use
- Light Aluminium frame
- Indoor or Outdoor
- Brakes with parking lock
- Bag and tray included
Price – £270
exc VAT
Rollz Motion Performance
Brilliant design means this Rollator can transform into a wheelchair
- Rollator and Wheelchair in one
- Top class comfort
- Height adjustable
- Easily tackles uneven terrain
Price – £849
exc VAT
Karma Ergo Lite 2 Transit
Market-leading ultra-light wheelchair
- Only 9.2kg
- Comfortable seating position
- Ergonomic back support
- Supports up to 100kg
Price – £475
exc VAT
Other Walking Aids: Walking Frames & Sticks
Don’t fancy (require) wheels? Many people prefer the simplest mobility aids – walking frames and sticks. These types of support for walking enable users to still get the benefits of walking independently, while offering some extra stability and safety while doing so, to help prevent against slips and falls.
Popular Walking Aid Options
Height Adjustable Walking Frame
More stable than other walking frames and fully height adjustable
- Similar to those used by the NHS
- Height adjustable
- Light and comfortable
- Slip-resistant rubber feet
Price – £25.82
exc VAT
Folding Walking Stick
Comfort, stability, support and convenience with this folding stick
- Made from strong and durable steel
- Folds into 4 short sections
- Easy to transport
- Light and comfortable
Price – £7.49
exc VAT
Derby Luxury Walking Stick
A great looking walking stick with comfort and support in mind
- Comfortable and supportive
- Real wood with stained finish
- Very Durable
- Great value for money
Price – £16.65
exc VAT
Mobility Aids in the Home
It is not just getting around out and about that people can struggle with, there are also daily activities around the home that can become a real struggle. Fortunately, there is a wealth of mobility equipment out there to help.
Bedroom Mobility Aids
Sleeping well is incredibly important to everyone, but especially as we get older. To help there are beds that are easier to get in and out of, specialist bedding for comfort and other accessories such as over-bed tables.
Popular Bedroom Mobility Aid Options
Opera Signature Comfort Profiling Bed
Outstanding value for what is a great rising bed in a traditional style
- Made to measure in the UK
- Improves circulation and heart pressure
- Choice of headboards
- Multiple mattress types available
Price – £2,795
exc VAT
Rolling Easy Overbed Table
A fully adjustable over-bed table that can help with meal time
- Ideal for eating, drinking or doing hobbies
- Fully adjustable height
- Can be used for beds or chairs
- Large wheels for all floors
Price – £166.65
exc VAT
Washable Bed Pad with Tucks
Soft and subtle machine washable bed pad with tucks
- 85cms x 90cms
- Soft, comfortable and highly absorbent
- Reduces bedding changes and infection risk
- Tuck in flaps to keep it in place
Price – £19.15
exc VAT
Rise and Recline Chairs
Away from the bedroom there are a lot of great mobility aids out there that can help around the house. One of the most important items, especially for the less mobile elderly, is their living room chair as it is likely, apart from their bed, it is where they’ll spend much of their time.
Rise and recline chairs are both good looking and incredibly functional, with different settings to make getting in and out of a comfortable chair easy. By enabling body weight to be shifted around through the different chair settings they can also help with a variety of common ailments such as heart problems, digestive issues, comfort following hip surgeries and arthritis.
Popular Rise and Recline Chair Options
Wheelfreedom Chessington
Wheelfreedom’s most popular chair
- Relaxed sitting position
- Aids in standing up
- Range of seating mechanisms
- Additional options available
Price – £1,420
exc VAT
Wheelfreedom Epsom
An award-winning chair with express delivery in standard sizes available
- Three sizes available for "Express" ordering
- Waterfall back styling
- Range of seating mechanisms
- Made to measure
Price – £1,420
exc VAT
Repose Westbury
Stylish rise and recline with scroll arms and split-back cushion
- Scroll arms
- Supports lower back and neck
- Range of seating mechanisms
- Made to measure
Price – £1,317.80
exc VAT
Stairlifts
The final type of mobility aid for elderly relatives that we want to talk about are stairlifts. As their name would suggest, stairlifts enable the less mobile to get up and down their stairs very easily. Prices of stairlifts will vary substantially depending on the type, size and curve to your stairs, as well as the type of seat you prefer.
Installing a stairlift is a big decision,but there is lots of choice and guidance available. Wheelfreedom have two stairlift examples installed in their showroom in Chessington that you can try out. There is also a second hand market for stairlifts you may want to consider.
UK Best Selling Stairlift
Stannah Stairlifts
When it comes to stairlifts it is hard to look past the trusty and popular brand, Stannah – synonymous with stairlifts.
- Built to perfectly fit your staircaser
- Choice of colours
- Fits straight or curved staircases
- Swivel seat
Or call them at 0800 008 6951
See all of these mobility aids in person at Wheelfreedom's showroom
Age Space preferred mobility retailer
With over 300 mobility products, Wheelfreedom’s showroom not only boasts the ability to try out most of the mobility products that might interest you, but also experts in their field to help you find the mobility aid that is best for you.
Find Out More About Wheelfreedom
Or call them at 0800 008 6951
