Coping with a driving disability with hand controls

As hand controls specialists for driving disabilities we know that life seems to go fast and before we know it time has crept up on us.  For many people disabilities can hit you hard especially the older you get. But having a disability shouldn’t impact on having your own independence. Aging and developing a disability can really come as a shock to some people. Here are some tips that can help.

Mobility

Make sure that you visit your doctor regularly for a check-up as you get older. Issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and mobility issues need to be monitored more frequently because your body will take longer to recover from health problems. Your doctor can advise you if you need to change any routines to keep your body healthy.

Driving

Accept new challenges as they come, and know when to ask for help if a new circumstance, disability, or other challenge arises that you cannot face alone.  You can easily ask any mobility vehicle specialist for help and they will be able to provide you with information on a range of products that are available to keep you mobile whilst driving with a disability.

Driving helps you to keep an active social circle. Many older people find that they drift apart from family members, as those family members develop lives of their own.  Keep making new friends and stay in contact with family. By being able to remain driving through the use of driving adaption’s and mobility aids you will be able to visit them more regularly.  You'll be happier and healthier for it.

As we age, it is important to keep up on regular eye exams. As we age, our eyes age too and are more susceptible to diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration. These conditions impair vision and make walking and driving more difficult, which can in turn impose danger to ourselves and others.

Hand Controls

There are an estimated 2 million licensed disabled drivers in the UK. Drivers with DVLA listed medical conditions form approximately 6% of the 34 million licensed drivers in the UK.  Hand controls to operate the accelerator and brake these are designed for those who have limited movement or no use of both or one of their legs.  

They help offer better control for steering and give you ease of access and automatic transmission for accelerating and breaking. With many the force needed to use them can be adjusted to match your strength making it easier to tailor them to your specific needs. It also ensures that you will not have to over exert yourself when driving if you can balance how you use your hand controls.

Most people look towards having hand controls because they are comfortable and reduce how quickly you become tired when driving as they can match your chosen driving style.      

                   

With this in mind you can continue on the road with the reassurance that you are driving comfortably and safely. If you need any advise then speak to a member of our mobility derby team and they can offer you support and information on the best types of products suited to you. We are Des Gosling Mobility Ltd | Unit 10 Station Yard | Station Road | Melbourne | Derbyshire | DE73 8HJ | 01332 863742

Arthritis Tips for Drivers

Driving With Arthritis

At http://www.desgoslingmobilityltd.co.uk we believe that having arthritis shouldn’t prevent you from remaining mobile and able to drive. With the vast amount of mobility aids that are available for driving as well as vehicle adaption’s you can continue to drive in comfort.

Mobility

Try using mobility aids when you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis flare ups. Mobility aids will help relieve the pain and stress on your joints. Mobility aids that are specially designed for driving will help to relieve pain and problems whilst driving.

Make an effort to stretch daily. Stretching targets muscle groups and also enhances joint mobility. Stretching your joints can greatly improve your daily routine by reducing the possibility of pain. Speak to your physician or, if possible, a physical therapist who can help you build a stretching routine that can be done each day.

If no treatment has been effective for your arthritis, it may be time to consider joint surgery. Joint surgery can increase flexibility and mobility in arthritis patients, and has a good success rate.

What Is Arthritis?

It is a common misconception that one cannot develop rheumatoid arthritis until they are old and have lived a physically demanding lifestyle. The truth is, RA can begin to appear in nearly anyone that does not practice a healthy routine and take care of the joints they use on a daily basis.

How To Ease Arthritis

Reduce the stress in your daily life. Stress causes your body to release the neurochemical cortisol, while causes inflammation. People with arthritis should know that inflammation is the main cause of the pain and stiffness of arthritis. Reducing stress reduces your body's production of these chemicals, which relieves your symptoms.

High heels should be carefully considered if you have arthritis. High heels may enhance your appearance, but they can also physically damage your feet. Heeled shoes increases torque around your knees and can make arthritis worse. Choose more supportive shoes and you can expect your arthritis pain to lessen. Your feet, knees and ankles will appreciate it. It will also make driving easier and more comfortable.

In order to prevent joint stiffness, incorporate low-impact exercises into your day-to-day routine. Doing too much exercise can cause arthritis to flare up. However, light-to-moderate low-impact exercise can help to keep your joints from stiffening up, giving you more freedom of movement. Some exercises you can do to stay limber include driving, walking, swimming, or bicycling.

Our Thoughts

Rheumatoid arthritis may be able to effect nearly anyone, but it can also be fought by those same people. All it takes is a determined spirit and some simple guidelines, such as those mentioned above. Take them to heart and watch each day as life gets just a little bit better. Remember you can keep driving and that mobility aids for vehicle and car adaptions can only help keep you on the road. For further advise we are Des Gosling Mobility Ltd | Unit 10 Station Yard | Station Road | Melbourne | Derbyshire | DE73 8HJ | 01332 863742.

Keeping Mobile, Active & Driving In Old Age

Keeping Mobile, Active & Driving In Old Age

We would like to offer you some great advice from http://www.desgoslingmobilityltd.co.uk on how to stay active, mobile and independent. You shouldn’t have to lose enjoyment of the things you love just because you’re getting older so why not use mobility aids and driving adaptations to help continue being on the road for many more years.

Mobility & Driving

• Make sure that you visit your doctor regularly for a check-up as you get older. Issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and mobility issues need to be monitored more frequently because your body will take longer to recover from health problems. Your doctor can advise you if you need to change any routines to keep your body healthy.  

• Stay active and aim to get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity everyday. Weight bearing exercise builds strong bones which will help to prevent fractures as you age. Exercises, such as yoga or pilates, also allow you to maintain flexibility, so you will retain your mobility as you get older.
• You can also find advice for driving mobility if you are sensing that you are finding it uncomfortable to drive or get in or out of your vehicle. These are things that you should monitor and assess whether you should consider using driving aids to help.
  

Health & Mind Tips

• Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are being shown to be a great ally in the fight against aging. The fatty acids are amazing for the skin and will help keep it soft and moisturized longer. They are also showing promising benefits in their affects on the brain function as well. So go ahead and have more Salmon in your diet.

• Free radicals are destructive by-products formed as your body turns food and oxygen into energy. Because they protect against those free radicals, antioxidants may help you deal with the effects of aging. Sources of antioxidants are fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Blueberries, blackberries, broccoli, and spinach are particularly desirable, as darker foods tend to have a higher amount of antioxidants.

• Developing good coping skills can improve the aging process. Finding the silver lining around the clouds in your life has been associated with a longer life. If you are not naturally an optimist, it's never too late to change. By focusing on the positive in your life, you can be positive you will age better.

• Surround yourself with wonderful people. If you find that the people that you spend a majority of your time with are grouchy more often than they are happy, consider looking for a new group of friends to hang out with. Happiness is contagious and if you are surrounded by it, you are likely to be joyful as well.

• Understand hormone imbalances and be sure to treat them. As you age, many of the more difficult challenges are caused by imbalances in your hormones. This includes issues like depression, insomnia and weight increases. Go to your doctor if you are feeling off in any way and have yourself tested. Doctors can put you on a plan for supplementing your hormones.

• One of the things that you can do, in order to achieve slow aging, is to avoid sugar. It is well known that sugar is one of the direct causes of aging and by avoiding it, you will significantly increase your lifespan. Try to remind yourself of this fact, when sugary sweets and desserts are calling your name.

• Increasing your social activities can improve your lifestyle as you get older. Being part of a group can help you to keep learning and experiencing new things. Join a seniors group, a craft class, or a cooking class. Keeping busy and also mobile is essential. Try not to lose your independence and remain active by driving with the use of mobility aids.

Our Thoughts

In conclusion, there is plenty that you can do and plenty of things that you can omit in your life in order to make sure that you live a long, healthy, and happy life. Aging is inevitable; however, if you follow the tips in this article you can learn to deal with it in the best ways possible and to continue driving well into the future.  

For advice on driving aids and driving mobility products we are Des Gosling Mobility Ltd |  Unit 10 Station Yard| Station Road| Melbourne | Derbyshire | DE73 8HJ | 01332 863742.