Tips for choosing the right mobility aid

If you’re finding that your mobility is not quite what it used to be, are recovering from injury or illness, or living with a long-term condition, you might benefit from a mobility aid to help you maintain your independence. But with so many options out there, how do you know what to go for?

We’ve put together some questions that you can ask yourself to help narrow down what might be the best fit for you, as well as some resources for some extra help.

Ask yourself:

Q: Do you find it difficult to remain on your feet after so long?
A: Perhaps a rollator with a seat is a great choice to let you enjoy more time outdoors or around town with the ability to take a rest whenever you need to. You can even get walking sticks with seats, for a little extra support on the go.

Q: Do you need a powerchair or scooter, but don’t want to worry about battery life?
A: You might want to look for one with longer battery life so that you can go longer between charges, or an aid that allows for a spare battery that you can charge and swap in.

Q: Do you need an aid that can go over different surfaces, rather than just pavements?
A: There are many aids that you can use on grass, tracks, and even sand and extreme off-roading. 

For any chair or scooter you want to take over different surfaces, or even some rollators or walkers, you should consider the wheel type, tyres, ground clearance, and power capabilities if it’s an electric aid. Check the suitability over different terrains that you might want to use it on, so that you can be more free to travel where you want to.

Q: Do you need an aid to support you with going on holiday long-distance or abroad?
A: There are many aids that are lightweight, have compact designs, are foldable, or can disassemble easily to take with you – such as travel mobility scooters or folding rollators and walkers. For a smaller helping hand, options like folding walking sticks are great to take in your bag.

There are also a number of airline-friendly aids that have flight safe batteries (though always double check with your specific airline).

Q: Can you make your own garden accessible, if you’re unable to go far?
A: If it’s better for you to keep to your own outdoor space, you can make it more accessible so that you still get the benefits of being outdoors - which is great for both our physical and mental health!

You could opt for a new outdoor bench or chair within an easy distance of the door, grab rails to hold on to, ramps for use with wheeled aids, or half-steps to make step sizes smaller. You can even get specialised gardening aids to help with enjoying your outdoor hobbies.

How do I know this mobility aid is right for my individual needs?

Your healthcare professional will be able to advise on whether a specific mobility aid is or isn’t suitable for you, and our friendly teams at Complete Care Shop can also give you free expert advice to help you find the perfect product for your needs.

When you’re buying your mobility aid, it’s extremely important to make sure you take correct measurements and ensure it’s a good fit.

For some expert tips, you can read our guides on:

How to measure for a walking stick
Choosing the right wheelchair dimensions - a complete size guide
A buying guide to rollators

Or find all our guides in our Help & Advice section.

You should also ensure the aid is also a good fit for your lifestyle:

• Will it fit in your car boot?
• How much does it weigh if you or someone you’re with needs to carry it?
• Does it fit through your doorways?
• Do you have a space to store it where it won’t be in the way or pose a hazard if you don’t use it all the time?
• Can the item be used indoors only, outdoors only, or both; consider where you want to use it?

Additional help

If you need further help on choosing your mobility aid or help with any other of our services at Complete Care Shop, you can contact our advice services for more information.