Mobility Aids

harleyquin
harleyquin Member Posts: 66
edited 10. Jul 2012, 11:36 in Living with Arthritis archive
Ok so I know this is a flippant post, and I apologise in advance, but why do all mobility aids come in WHITE!!!
I have just had my bathroom changed to a low access shower room...all white tiles etc...and decided to add purple accessories to give it a nice touch and add some colour.
I wanted to replace the standard raised toilet seat (as supplied by occ therapy) with one that has a lid, but they all come in white.
I know it shouldn't matter in the great scheme of things, but frankly i would love a nice purple raised seat and a nice purple long length shower curtain (210 cms) but it seems we seem to have no choice in the matter ...it's white or nothing.
I just wish the mobility companies could be a bit more inventive.

I'll go away now and let you discuss important things :oops:

Harley X

Comments

  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,137
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Harley

    I get that! I think you are right to want the room to look homely and not like a hospital bathroom.

    You'll have to get some nice purple towels and candles etc to customize it. Can you get a fluffy purple loo seat cover?

    Maybe you could brave writing/emailing one of those companies and suggesting they look at other colour options??

    Love

    Toni xx
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    At a guess, I'd say it's less to do with inventiveness and more to do with price. Probably most of these cheaper aids such as loo seats, grab rails, etc are distributed by the NHS and/or Social Services so it'll be essential to keep the costs as low as possible.

    Can one paint a loo seat??? Decorate it with stickers??? Maybe one of the posher end disability shops would have something if you googled it.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • Harlansmummy
    Harlansmummy Member Posts: 89
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Agreed - I would also like a funkier looking scooter ;-)
    Twenty-something mother, home educating my wonderful son and currently TTC.

    My particular flavour of arthritis is yet to be confirmed
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi
    Can you not pimp them yourself?......I understand you not wanting clinical white......uggghhh!!! but if it has to be it has to be I suppose.
    Lots of coloured accessories to brighten everything up.

    As for your scooter......decorate that {Harlansmummy} I think most people on her do do something with their scooters/walkers/crutches etc.

    Even if its only sticky tape {coloured} or stickers.....lots of ideas I've heard on this forum

    Love
    Hileena
  • suzygirl
    suzygirl Member Posts: 2,005
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I don't think its silly at all. I can see the practicality from the nhs point of view but see it as impersonal from a patient point of view. I have decorated my zimmer and wheeled walker :D

    Not quite sure how it all looks when I go out, :oops: but, it brings a smile to my face!!!! :lol:
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    My OH pimped my spare wheelchair because it looked like something an 80yr old would use not the funky trendy Bubbadog would 'ride' in!! :lol: So now it's covered in 'Monster' energy drink stickers (I do love Monster energy drink!) and when my OH & I are out we always get people asking who did it up for us and my OH loves saying he 'pimped it'! But yes as long as you have paid for the aid you can 'pimp' it up, or for other aids I suppose as long as you can take the stuff off the aid when your done with it you could 'pimp' it up!!
  • Avrielle
    Avrielle Member Posts: 182
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Can you not get a cover to put over it, would a toilet lid cover (those furry ones) fit on it? Or you could make one just by cutting some fabric a bit larger than the size of the lid. Enough to tuck under the lid and an extra inch on top of that. Then hem the edges, then thread some elastic through it, so it is tight enough to not slip off, but enough to stretch over the lid. The way to get the right length of elastic is to measure the circumfrence of the lid, then take the same measure of elastic, but while the elastic is stretched out. Don't stretch it to it's absolute capacity, but enough so it is rather taut.

    A simple thing. Plus you could put a bit of padding under the cover before you put it on, to make it look a bit nicer. - Rather than stitching padding in which is more tricky and not as easy to wash.

    I'm no good at sewing and I can do this. And if I can do it, anyone can! :D

    But if you have difficulty sewing because of fingers or whatever, then you could ask a friend or a seamstress, if you know of one. Here we have a local seamstress who does everything from wedding dresses to patching holes in underpants! And she doesn't charge much. Hopefully there is someone like her local to you aswell.

    Anyway. There is an idea for you.
    Life is just a ride. Up and down, round and around, thrills and chills, very brightly coloured and very loud. But don't ever be afraid, because it is just a ride.
  • harleyquin
    harleyquin Member Posts: 66
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you, and some good ideas there too :)

    I just don't want it to look too clinical ...not that I have anything against white at all, it would just be nice to have the option of other colours available, in this day and age, and I was surprised that some of the Independant Diability stores weren't branching out this way.
    I didn't actually mean the items that are supplied to us via the OT I would be more than happy to pay for other options if they were available ( i have just replaced my raised toilet seats to ones with lids)

    Someone took the idea with the lovely colourful walking sticks you can buy...and ran with THAT (excuse the pun) so why not!
    My aunt had union jack bunting around her stick for the Jubilee and always has tinsel around it at Christmas, bless her.

    I will definately be putting some of your ideas into practise, so thank you again.

    Harley X

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