Getting Around This World Safely And Comfortably.
Getting old is a natural part of life, but it doesn’t mean we have to give up on the activities we love.
Whether it’s travelling, exploring your home town or city, or enjoying hobbies, there are many ways to stay engaged and active.
The key is to adapt and find safe and comfortable ways to continue pursuing your passions.
Travelling for instance is one of life’s greatest joys, and it’s still possible even as we age well into our autumn years.
Planning ahead can make all the difference. Look for destinations that offer senior-friendly amenities, such as accessible transportation and accommodations.
Consider travelling during the off-season to avoid crowds and enjoy a more relaxed experience. Always consult with your healthcare provider before embarking on a trip to ensure it’s suitable for your health needs.
Exploring your own city or town can be just as fulfilling as venturing far away. Visit local parks, museums, and community centres.
Many places now offer programs specifically designed for seniors, providing opportunities to stay active and social.
Walking groups, yoga classes, and art workshops are great ways to engage with others while doing something you love.
Safety is paramount; always be mindful of your surroundings and take necessary precautions, such as wearing comfortable shoes and staying hydrated.
Regardless of the activity, prioritising comfort and safety ensures you can continue enjoying your favourite pastimes. Invest in supportive footwear, ergonomic tools, and mobility aids if needed.
Don’t hesitate to ask for help or use resources available to you. Many communities offer transportation services for seniors, making it easier to get around without the stress of driving.
Aging doesn’t mean stopping; it means adapting. By making thoughtful adjustments, you can continue to live a vibrant and active life, filled with the things you love. Embrace the journey and keep exploring, safely and comfortably.
4 Wheeled Rollator Walkers Make Life Easier.
4-Wheeled Mobility Walkers are now much lighter than ever before, with very lightweight carbon fibre and aluminium frames; there are many available that weigh just a fraction more than 6kg.
They are designed to maximise your mobility and independence by combining style, functionality, lightness, and durability. Some models even include a suspension system for added comfort.
They now have wider seats that offer great comfort when you need a few minutes break from walking.
Most walker frames are adjustable in a variety of ways to ensure that you are in the best possible body position when walking and sitting.
There are now models that can accommodate users weighing more than 200kg, indicating that the strength of modern walkers is quite substantial; they are extremely durable.
Walkers are available in a variety of colours, and if you can’t find the colour you want, some manufacturers offer wraps, one of which is a very nice looking leopard print wrap.
With many great features such as large wheels, sturdy braking systems, and so many of them being incredibly light, they are now much easier to get in and out of your vehicle, you will enjoy relaxing mobility.
If you have a mobility scooter, you can purchase a walker holder that attaches to the back of some rear-mounted shopping bag frames.
The ergonomically designed handles on the most recent walkers are extremely comfortable to use, whether you’re applying the brakes or locking the brakes in place when you want to sit on the seat.
The higher end models fold up extremely easily, and once you squeeze the two sides together, they will lock together via a built-in clip, making it a breeze to put it in the back of your car.
When removing it from your car, simply press down on the clip to release the two halves, and it will effortlessly pop out into place.
The storage compartments are almost always impressively large and often have a zip up separate compartment for you to secure your purse or other valuable items you don’t want to carry on your person.
Walkers are now quite a cool thing to have, so whatever the reason you now need to use one when walking around, enjoy your time pushing around quite a good piece of modern technology.
Most models will come with a one-year warranty; if the warranty details are unclear, be sure to enquire.
Mobility Scooters Get Us Around Safely And Comfortably.
Mobility scooters give you a secure and efficient way to get around town and guarantee that you can live independently.
They come in a few distinct sizes, and each size has a wide range of varieties. Manufacturers of scooters make every effort to accommodate the various situations you might encounter.
In some cases, people may end up having two mobility scooters, a small one for indoor use and a large one for all terrain outdoor excursions where you might need several accessories and an excellent travel range.
Should you consider changing the type of vehicle you own?
One of the most aggravating reasons to consider replacing your vehicle is that your current beloved vehicle is becoming increasingly difficult to enter and exit.
It is something that most of us will encounter at some point in our driving lives, and it is extremely inconvenient that we may need to purchase a different car simply because of the height.
Unless you can get your car’s suspension lifted enough to make the seating position the right height for you, if it’s too low, it’s probably no longer any good for you.
A vehicle that is too low to enter and exit can be a painful experience, and if you can afford it, you may be much better off accepting that a replacement vehicle is now required.
The most common solution I see people adopt is to replace their sedan or hatchback with a small to mid-sized SUV. I guess that’s probably because most of us are not start starting forwards for an NBA team.
We are all different heights and the best height vehicle for you to enter and exit will be something only you can figure out.
It will mean that you will need to visit several car yards and endeavour to get in and out of as many cars as you need to arrive at the best decision for you.
Unless you’re extremely tall, it’s difficult to imagine you’d want to climb into a large SUV that requires a step when you have mobility issues.
If we’ve reached the point in our lives where getting in and out of cars is a problem, it’s probably safe to say that we’ll also need something with an easy-to-use automatic transmission and a very comfortable ride position and height.
Some adjustable seats are easier to use than others, and some have more positional adjustments than others. I believe that a significant amount of time should be spent on finding a replacement vehicle with the best possible seat for you.
Equally important to me is how adjustable the steering wheel is; if you can’t find the perfect combination of seat and steering wheel, driving distances longer than going down the shop for milk and bread may become too uncomfortable.
The door sills should be low, making it easier to climb over when getting in and out of the car.
Don’t settle for anything less than 7 year warranty and if you don’t want the hassle of having to take your vehicle to the dealer for services, make sure that the seller one you buy can prove that:
1. They will come to your home, pick up your car, carry out the service and return it to you at no additional cost.
2. The warranty conditions will be 100% ok with you getting the servicing done by a reputable mobile mechanic service.
Another thing to think about when making a vehicle change later in the timeline is how wheelchair friendly the vehicle should be and what makes a vehicle wheelchair friendly.
Another possibility is that you would like to have a vehicle capable of transporting a mobility scooter.
In this case, you would require a Van that is equipped with a retractable ramp that allows you to drive your scooter on and off the vehicle.
If your neck no longer likes turning around too much, a reverse camera is a very worthwhile option. These things make reverse parking a lot easier.
It should also have parking/reversing sensors to alert you when you are getting too close to something.
Also, keep in mind the size of the door opening on any vehicle you consider, as well as how wide the doors actually open. Both of these factors can have a significant impact on how easy it is to get in and out of a vehicle.
Every car has blind spots, but some are significantly worse than others. Blind spots are sometimes caused by a windscreen pillar obstruction or poorly designed side-view or rear-view mirrors.
Other factors that contribute to blind spots include headrests and additional pillars; unfortunately, some vehicles were designed in such a way that they simply block out far too much vision for the driver.
Blind spots may also be related to your body size and shape, and you may or may not be able to adjust the driving height and seating position sufficiently to overcome the blind spot issue.
Cars with blind spot monitoring are available, so look for models that include this as a standard feature.
If you believe you will need to tow a boat, caravan, or trailer, look for features such as trailer sway control and whether the towbar tongue is easily removable.
Finally, even though it should be standard in any vehicle you ever look at by now, double-check that they are Bluetooth enabled in order to connect your phone to the car.
Relaxing, Safe & Enjoyable ‘Seniors Only’ Ocean Cruises.
Most cruises for seniors simply mean that there will be no one under the age of 18 on board when they are.
Some cruise lines, on the other hand, only cater to those over the age of 40 and have built their business model around attracting those people with a few more years under their belt than the average.
The business of entertaining wealthy seniors is probably one of the most financially rewarding ventures for any company.
Senior travellers know exactly what they want, are willing to pay for it. A 75 year old retiree isn’t going to be that interested in the frivolous things that cruise line operators may throw at much younger audiences.
What I’m guessing cruise line operators have figured out is that the top ten lists for most seniors don’t change, regardless of what some 19-year-old extremely attractive Instagram influencer says to their 13 million followers.
That is of course unless that young influencer is talking about a nice bottle of Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon (Cab Sav).
Yes, the wants and needs of seniors are pretty much impervious to the latest social media trends, so cruise lines can set up their ships to cater for 80% of what most seniors like, and then they can have confidence that there will be no sudden paradigm shifts surrounding cruise holidays that target senior citizens.
Except for the occasional and very rare senior adrenaline junkie, you can bet that most seniors aren’t interested in going down water slides, learning circus skills, playing dodge ball, or riding a flying fox across the ship.
Seniors/Retirees cruisers are more aligned to memorable experiences whilst meeting new friends. Sure seniors will still want to play some sports and have fun but there also needs to be facility to enjoy the finer things in life.
A bit of culture, some elegant dining and some low-impact on shore adventures at destinations that people don’t need to have their head on a swivel for.
The growing desire for seniors to explore this incredible world via a very large and beautifully appointed ocean liner has started a very unique trend and it’s a trend that is very hard to ignore for any serious cruise company.
A minimum of 5 star luxury on board, fine cuisine, and visits to historical and culturally significant landmarks at leisure destinations in complete style and class is pretty much all any advertisement for senior travellers needs to say.
In a nutshell, a high-quality senior cruise is an entertaining and relaxing time aboard a luxury hotel travelling at around 25 knots across our beautiful oceans.
Most senior cruises will have at least one doctor on board and will be able to handle most minor medical issues.
Seniors should make certain that any cruise liner they embark on meets the highest medical standards.
Make sure their pharmaceutical department is up to date on any medications you take on a regular basis, and get written assurance that they will stock everything you require; that is one line that must not be crossed. They should also have a few highly skilled nurses on board.
A reputable ocean cruise aimed at seniors should also be fully equipped for anyone with physical limitations.
They should have wheelchair-accessible rooms and other amenities to make life easier for anyone with limited strength, mobility, or ability.
I believe that senior travellers on a ‘Seniors Only’ cruise have every right to be fussy and blunt about what they want and why they want it (probably shouldn’t even have to say why), so make sure that cruise will make you happy on paper before you board. Bon Voyage Folks!
Australian Outback Bus Tours for Seniors.
If you are a senior traveller and looking for a fun but safe adventure across a pretty harsh and sometimes dangerous country, then Australia is the place for you.
It would be a shame if anyone visiting Australia and travelling around it did not get off the beaten path and experience the Australian outback in all its rawness.
In my opinion, the most important thing to look for in an outback tour that caters to seniors is that it has a lot of experience.
Make sure they have an extra level or three of knowledge about the areas they will be taking people to; knowledge about an area can be just as fascinating as how breathtakingly beautiful it is.
Aside from adequately equipped buses with ample amenities, they must have emergency equipment and satellite communications as a minimum.
They should also ensure that any location where seniors are taken can be reached by the Royal Flying Doctor Service or other emergency rescue flight operators, etc.
I’d imagine that tour operators of this type would consult with a health professional after gathering all medical information from tour participants to ensure that they’re prepared for any potential emergency medical situations.
Any aspects of the tour that may negatively affect travellers with particular types of mobility or ability restrictions must be clearly stated.
They need to make sure these senior travellers fully understand the fine print, so they should be making sur that these conditions must be agreed to by tour participants before tour operators accept money.
I doubt you want to go on an outback tour with more than 50 other people on the bus. Can you imagine if half of the people on the bus had medical conditions that required them to use the restroom frequently?
It would quickly become problematic; it would be preferable for the tour provider to take fewer people and have more toilet capacity on board the bus. Sure, it would cost more, but it would be well worth it.
You’ll want the bus to stop frequently at scenic spots so you can take as many photos as possible. When there are a large number of people on a tour, getting on and off the bus takes a long time.
Make sure to visit the heart of each destination and learn about its history; you might be surprised at what happened a hundred or more years ago in some remote areas of Australia.
In Australia, snakes and spiders can be dangerous, so appropriate clothing is essential, and you must ensure that you buy and wear what the tour operators advise you of; they will not pass on this type of information for no reason. Before signing up, do your research and learn as much as you can about the trip.
There are many outback tour operators in Australia; you just need to find the one that best suits you and your needs.
Emergency App for Mobile Phones.
Are you a current Australian resident or are you planning a trip to this vast and sometimes harsh country?
If so, the ‘Emergency Plus’ app, which is now available for download, is a fantastic mobile phone app.
This smart-phone app has the potential to save your life. In an emergency, time and location accuracy are critical, and having this app allows you to quickly call the Australian Emergency Number (000) and accurately communicate your location to emergency call-takers.
This app was developed by Australia’s emergency services teams and government industry partners; a lot of time and money has been invested in providing this app, and for only a few seconds of download time, you should make this a ‘must have’ on your phone.
Always carry your emergency information booklet with you.
Nobody wants to have a bad day while out walking or shopping, but no one can predict when bad luck will strike.
If you are alone when something bad happens, it is critical that emergency responders have all of your critical information as soon as possible.
It is also critical that your family or loved ones are notified as soon as possible if you are in an emergency situation.
Although most of us have information on our phones that could be useful, none of that matters if your phone’s battery is dead, it has been lost or misplaced during the day, or it has been left at home.
One of the best things we could do only a few dollars but will be invaluable in an emergency.
A small notepad that you keep on your person or in your fanny pack, purse, or handbag and filled out with all the important information can be the best two or three dollars you ever spent in your life.
Label the front cover of the notepad with indelible ink texta, ‘My Emergency Info’ or something similar, and include everything people need to know about you and your emergency contacts.
Make sure the contents are written clearly and that any numbers in there are current and have been double checked; one wrong digit can cause a problem on one of your worst days.
If your handwriting has deteriorated, simply enlist the assistance of another person. It’s a small and simple thing to do, but it could play a very important role in your life one day.
