Mobility aids

You can use a walking stick to give you extra support and help you balance. It can give you confidence and make walking less painful.
Choosing a walking stick

• Make sure the stick is the correct height for you (ask for advice when you get your walking stick)
• Consider if you might want one that stands up by itself (some have 3 or 4 feet)
• Think about whether the stick should be right- or left-handed
• Think about whether you will need the stick to go up steps. you should speak to a physiotherapist for advice.

A walking frame gives you more support than walking sticks. You can use them to get around your home or to get out and about.
Choosing a walking frame

• Make sure it’s the right height for you (ask hospital staff or a mobility shop for advice)
• Consider if you want to use it only indoors (frames without wheels are best)
• Consider if you want to use it to get out and about (frames with wheels are best for outdoors)
• Think about whether you are strong enough to lift a frame without wheels
• Think about whether you want a seat, basket or tray attached
• Consider if you will want to fold it to get it into a car

You can use a wheelchair if you struggle to walk or you are disabled.

Getting an NHS wheelchair

Ask you GP, physiotherapist or occupational therapist to refer you to the Berkshire wheelchair service (AJM Healthcare) for an assessment. You will need to do this before you can get an NHS wheelchair. They will decide if you need a wheelchair and, if so, what type you need.
Red Cross branches often hire wheelchairs on a weekly basis.
Some shopping centres have a Shopmobility scheme, where you can borrow a wheelchair while you’re shopping. This is usually free.

Choosing a wheelchair

You can get manual or electric wheelchairs. When you are deciding you need to think about:

• whether you are going to be pushing yourself or pushed by someone else
• how often you need to use it
• whether you need to use it indoors or outdoors, or both
• how comfortable it is
• how much it costs to maintain and repair
• how easy it is to fold and how heavy it is, if you will need to put it in the boot of a car

Mobility scooters can be useful if you struggle to walk or are disabled, need to travel long distances and are able to get on and off a mobility scooter easily.

Mobility scooters are not generally available on the NHS.

Choosing a scooter

You need to think about:

• how often you need to use a scooter
• what you need it for (roads or pavements)
• whether it needs to go in a car
• where you will store and charge your scooter
• how much it costs to maintain and repair
• whether you will be able to steer it (some have special lever to steer them if you have arthritis in your hands