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Mobility aids and wheelchairs

If you ever find getting about tough, don’t feel down – there are a large number of mobility aids available to help you, including walking sticks and walkers that may help you get around in the home. Even just cunningly placed handrails around the walls can assist greatly.

Wheelchairs are often most helpful outside of the home, for covering longer distances and for crossing rougher terrain. Look upon this as a way of taking back some freedom of movement out and about, rather than any sort of failure on your part.

Wheelchairs are available through the NHS (not social services), but you will need to be assessed by an OT or a physiotherapist, either at your home, in hospital or at your local NHS wheelchair service.

You will be helped to decide on the right chair for you by the wheelchair service. If you need a more expensive chair than is on offer, and the therapist agrees, you may be able to get a voucher to pay the difference (only available in England).

If you want an outdoor powered wheelchair or electric scooter, you will almost certainly have to pay for this yourself. If you are on the higher rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance, you may be able to buy a wheelchair on preferential terms through Motability.

You can get help choosing the right wheelchair for you from the Disabled Living Foundation and the Disabled Living Centres Council.

Date updated - 21/11/2011