The team at Ableworld Southampton Mobility & Stairlift Superstore are extremely approachable, friendly and are ready to help you with all of your mobility needs.
Our Southampton Mobility Superstore is located on Portsmouth Road, opposite the bus station and close to Woolston Railway Station. We have great customer parking at the rear of the store, and we are also on several main bus routes, making it easy to visit us in-store.
Our aim at our Southampton Mobility Superstore is to give you a relaxed and pleasurable shopping experience with absolutely no pressure selling or obligation to buy. In our superstore we stock a variety of mobility products, such as mobility scooters, riser recliner chairs, and many different types of daily living aids. Our store features an extensive Stairlift demonstration area, as well as room to fully demonstrate all of our larger mobility products to our customers. We provide full home demonstrations on the operation of scooters, rise/recliner chairs, wheelchairs, bath lifts and stairlifts and much more. We have almost every type of mobility product in-store, ensuring you will be getting the right products for your needs.
Within our Southampton Store we have an extremely dedicated Engineering team who can provide all forms of Stairlift services, such as installations, repair or servicing. We provide no pressure or obligation quotation, although if you wish to continue with your stairlift it can often be fitted the next day.
If you or a loved one struggle to visit us in-store, then please let us know and we can arrange for a home demonstration as long as it's within a 30-mile radius of our stores.
Our Southampton Mobility & Stairlift Superstore is open 7 days a week from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.
We look forward to welcoming you into our Southampton store soon!
When Russian President, Vladimir Putin launched his offensive into the sovereign nation of Ukraine in February, it's not only created violent international conflict that has pitted Ukrainians against Russians, its also generated a widespread humanitarian crisis.
As a result of the conflict in Ukraine, more than 4.2 million Ukrainians have fled their homeland since the Russian invasion began. Neighbouring countries such as Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Hungary and Moldova have opened their borders to these refugees' seeking safety from the Russian troops. A total of 10 million people, 1 in 4 Ukrainians have left their homes, including those who are now internally displaced. This is one of Europe's biggest mass migrations since World War II.
Hope Church in Crewe have been working tirelessly with volunteers to help get donations to those who need it most from the displacement. Lauren got in contact with our Crewe store regarding a refugee called Anya from Mykolaiv who needed a wheelchair to help her be mobile again.
Ableworld strive to support local charities where possible, offering help and support to others in need. So, when approached by Lauren, we were more than happy to help! Ableworld donated a transit aluminium wheelchair worth more than £250! We're thrilled to help get Anya out and about again!
Arthritis is a common condition. Yet while many older individuals face pain, limited mobility, and other challenges related to arthritis, there's still much to be learned about this condition.
To help raise awareness, Ableworld is joining other healthcare organisations to recognise Arthritis Awareness Month this May. Here, we'll take a close look at this condition, its symptoms, and what you or loved ones can do to minimise its effects.
What is Arthritis?
There are thought to be 10 million people with some form of arthritis in the UK. It is the most common cause of disability and it can affect people of all ages not just older people. The word "arthritis" means 'inflammation in the joints'. Inflammation can be thought of as being like a bruise with swelling on the inside of the joints, and this can cause pain and stiffness.
The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. This is often wrongly called "wear and tear" arthritis and is more common in older people.
In a joint with osteoarthritis, minor injury triggers the body's healing process. This can cause the build-up of fluid inside the joint and the formation of new bone leading to swelling. Chemicals in the joint fluid can lead to thinning of the joint cartilage. One reason for the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis is thought to be due to nerve endings in and around the joint becoming more sensitive. These nerve endings can sometimes become more sensitive and can then continue to cause pain, even when the original cause of pain has settled.
The next most common types of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, where the immune system attacks the joints, causing swelling, pain and stiffness, and gout which is caused by crystals of uric acid irritating the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis and gout are two examples of "inflammatory arthritis" but there are many other forms.
Did you know?
Women are three times more likely to be affected than men
Arthritis can sometimes run in families, especially rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis of the fingers
People with arthritis claim their joints can predict the weather
Broccoli and cauliflower are known to help prevent the development of arthritis
Drinking tea could lower your risk of getting arthritis
For many, increased physical activity can improve functioning and reduce pain by up to 40%. It's recommended that adults with arthritis should get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week or about 30 minutes of birks walking five days a week. For those who cannot walk for 30 minutes, short 10-minute walks throughout the day also help.
Arthritis Awareness Month is a great time to learn more about arthritis, how it affects the people in your life, and what can be done to support them. At Ableworld, we have numerous supports available designed to help those people with arthritis.
Can you believe it's May already? Where is this year going?
As it's National Walking month here at Ableworld we feel it's relevant to mention the benefits of walking a small amount every day and how doing low-impact exercises can not only improve your physical self but also your mental well-being.
The one constant we have here in the UK is the weather and how unbelievably unpredictable it can be – you can be out one day enjoying the sun and the next sat at home cooped up with a cup of tea watching the rain. So, we need to have the option of doing walking exercises indoors and outdoors.
Light walking exercises for outdoors:
A simple outdoor walk – Go to the local garden centre or to a park, this offers so many benefits, it can increase your blood flow, help your heart, strengthen your bones and improve your mental health and wellbeing. Try to increase your walking speed on every walk you do, this will slowly help build up your fitness.
Gardening – It gets you into the fresh air and the different aspects of gardening i.e., mowing the lawn, weeding, planting flowers, watering the plants – moving your body enough that it can keep you active and help prevent some diseases. If you need extra support getting up and down from the floor to do your gardening, we have a great gardening tool to help with that.
Light walking exercises for indoors:
Walking up the stairs – Whether that be at home or at work, take the stairs instead of the escalator or lifts. Even a very small amount of walking up and down stairs can increase your cardiovascular health and also your mood. Start by adding just one extra trip up the stairs each day and then every other day add another.
Doing the food shop – You might not notice the benefits of walking around a supermarket may do for you, but that extra outing in a day can help improve your fitness. Brisking your way through the shopping aisles with a trolley on a Saturday afternoon, you may not consider this to be exercise but on average people walk more than 2,000 steps just to do their weekly supermarket shop. Or if you need the extra support, we have a 3-wheel lightweight walker which is ideal for indoor and outdoor use and also has a handy removable bag great for shopping and storage.
It’s recommended that you do 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise 3 times a week. But moving in a way that’s safe and beneficial to you is the best way to go – if you need to ease yourself into light exercise standing for longer periods of time than your body is used to and repeating this a number a few times a day or using a chair or stool to do simple gentle exercises that won’t exert you too much is a great start.
We have numerous walking aids at Ableworld if you need a little extra help getting out and about this spring/ summer period, from walkers to walking sticks to crutches and trolleys.
While many of us rejoice at the warmer weather, spring and summer can be the worst times of the year for hay fever sufferers. Pollen allergies are quite common and effect around one in five people at some point in their life. For sufferers, summer is the season of runny noses and itchy eyes – not the summer fun you were hoping for!
Sadly, there’s no cure for hay fever yet but there are ways to relieve the symptoms so you can get on with your life and enjoy the outdoors again. The first step is to talk to your pharmacist. Over the counter medications, such as antihistamines, are very effective, but if your symptoms are particularly bad you should book a visit with your GP who will be able to prescribe tailored medication.
Here are some top tips for hay fever season:
Antihistamines: Many non-drowsy antihistamines are available over the counter. When you first experience symptoms, it’s best to ask your pharmacist which kind will be most effective. If your symptoms are severe, you can also contact your GP. They can help you explore a number of prescription medications or other options such as immunotherapy or seasonal allergy shots.
Check the pollen count: The root of your symptoms is your allergy to pollen, so avoiding coming into contact with pollen is your best bet. On days when the pollen count is particularly high, keep windows closed. You might choose to stay indoors if possible. The count is usually highest in the morning and evening, so try and arrange your day around this if you can (a high count is over 50 grains per cubic metre of air)
Change clothes regularly: Every time you go outside, pollen collects on your clothes. After being outdoors, shower and wash your hair straight away to remove the pollen from your body and change your clothing. Try and avoid drying clothes outside if you can.
Wear sunglasses: No doubt you’ve already dug your favourite pair of sunglasses from storage as soon as the temperature hits 15 degrees. It’s important to wear sunglasses when outside, no just for UV protection but also to shield your eyes from the high pollen count. Larger butterfly or wrap-around sunglasses that cover a wider eye section may be especially helpful. Polarised sunglasses offer added protection against reflected sun rays and glare.
Use eye drops: Itchy, dry and bloodshot eyes are one of the worst symptoms of hayfever. Eye drops are a fast way of getting some relief from dried out and itchy eyes. Reintroducing moisture to the eyes could alleviate some of the irritating effects of hayfever.
Get a pollen filter for your car: It can be difficult to keep car windows shut during hot weather, and pollen has other ways of getting in any way! You can buy a pollen filter to be fitted to the vents in your car, but this needs to be changed with every service.
If you’ve tried everything and you’re still suffering, speak to your GP. Don’t let hay fever rule your life, it’s time to enjoy the summer!
Ableworld Nantwich decided to host an Easter Raffle whereby a lucky customer could be in with a chance to win an Easter Egg hamper!
Julie Reid, Store Manager at Ableworld Nantwich said that she wanted all proceedings made from the raffle to go to the Comfort Fund at Elm House, a local Care Home in Nantwich. In which would help the staff to provide entertainment for their residents.
Entries were just £1 and with over hundreds of entrants Julie managed to make over £300! Elm House were thrilled when they got the call regarding the donation.
The lucky customer to win the Easter Egg hamper was Mrs Preston from Nantwich. She was absolutely over the moon to win the raffle; her grandson even came with her to help collect it!
As you know, millions of people have no safe place to call home. More than 3 million have already left Ukraine, while countless more are still trapped underground, taking cover from the shelling and desperate for a safe escape.
Hundreds of thousands of people still have no food, no water, no medical care, and no heat or electricity.
The Polish Integration Support Centre (PISC) have been working around the clock to get donations to those who need it most, both in Ukraine and its bordering countries. Shortly after the invasion of Ukraine was reported, Anna Buckley, Project Director of PISC, launched a rapid drive for donations towards refugees and those displaced by the conflict.
Ableworld, strives to support local charities where possible, offering support to others in need. So, when approached by PISC, Ableworld and one of their suppliers Drive DeVilbiss were more than happy to help! Ableworld and Drive DeVilbiss donated 10 wheelchairs, a variety of walking frames and crutches, all to support the struggling hospitals in Ukraine.
Thanks to the outstanding effort from volunteers and Anna. There has been a total of 46 lorries that have been sent to Ukraine and Poland to date, with hopes of many more to go! The focus is now on the lorries to continue to transport the donations. Funding is massively important as each lorry will cost PISC around £2,000-£2,500. Some lorries so far have even travelled into Ukraine to deliver to cities including Kyiv, though most are going to Poland.
Anyone wishing to donate items is encouraged to contact PISC directly on 07523 627826 or [email protected]
