Improving my mobility

Aquinas

hello! thank you for accepting me

thespiceman

Hello @Aquinas Pleased to meet you welcome.

Thank you for joining.

I am one of the team of community champions. We guide, advise and help new members who join the forum.

Please have a look around our website. We are friendly, care and share.

Feel free to join in discussions.

Please ask if we can help and advise. Some one will know from our team or a member of our community.

Please take care.

@thespiceman

Antonia_Alumni

Welcome to the community @Aquinas , please have a read through our guidelines about our community and please feel free to join our recent discussions.

If you have any questions, please let us know.

Ami2301

Hi @Aquinas welcome to the community! Would you like to tell us a bit about yourself?

Adrian_Scope

Welcome to the community @Aquinas! It's great to have you with us. 

Aquinas

Thank you everybody for your warm welcome!  I have multiple disorders and diseases and struggle every day with these.  So far I get no help,  struggle to walk and get no PIP as yet.  So hoping for suggestions especially for my limited mobility

Ami2301

I have limited mobility too @Aquinas I am unable to walk with support from others and or a walking frame. It can be frustrating but I have learned to make the best out of what I can do

steve51

Hi @Aquinas

Welcome it’s great to meet you this evening.

I am one of the Community Champion’s here at Scope.

Please let me know if you need any help getting around?????

@steve51

Aquinas

Hi Steve51

yes - I can drive short distances but my walking ability is pretty poor. My husband still works (and goes away at weekends on his hobbies) and refuses to push me in a wheelchair after one attempt when we borrowed one at a National Trust place.   I am therefore pretty restricted. Are there any organisations that can help, do you know ? 

Ami2301

My post meant to say *I am able to walk a few metres with the support of others and a walking frame. Are you considering a powered wheelchair?  

Aquinas

I am not sure! It's what I would like but I don't have any covered storage for it, neither could I fit one in my car (nor lift it) 

Ami2301

I know what you mean, when I was first offered to use a powered wheelchair, I was hesitant. As soon as i got to grips with it, i loved it! I cannot live without mine now as it has gave me back so much independence Have you been referred to NHS Wheelchair Services?

Aquinas

No, only the Red Cross who hire out manual chairs and other equipment.. Thanks for the link, I'll look into it. 

steve51

Hi @Aquinas

Thanks!!!!!!!

Yes I have had numerous “Scooters” 

“Large ” that go on the roads “Great Fun”

“Medium” that go on the “pavement”

“Small” that fold up & fit into the “boot of a car”

You can either buy a “New” or “Used” one.

There is also the “Motability Scheme” to consider.

Please please come back to me & I will try to help you further if required.

@steve51

Aquinas

Thanks so much @Steve51!  It's at this point that I really wish I had a garage - I live in a tiny cottage so there is no storage space and even getting in and out of the "front" door is a mission.  I just wonder if my GP will actually agree to refer me to the NHS Wheelchair services - last time I tried was not successful.  In the mean time I have at least found a Shopmobility place so I can hire various sorts of chairs and see if they suit.  

steve51

Hi @Aquinas

“No Problems”

Yes I had big problems with my GP so I “knocked him on the head” & I got myself a better one.

To be honest I have never “looked back”

The only thing is I “wish” I had done it “sooner”

“Sorry” to ask but do you receive any “Benefits”

“DLA/PIP” where you can get the “scooters” on the “Motability Scheme”

Please let me know how you feel?????

@steve51

Aquinas

No, not yet - to be honest I've had so much stress with both my own health and several other issues that I haven't had the mental energy to deal with PIP as I know how problematical the application can be for people.        I've already changed GPs once but several places refused to have me as I would have been too expensive ( having catheters etc).  Now all the GP surgeries locally are operating beyond their capacity and many are refusing new patients.