Getting out and about regularly can help older and frail adults to maintain a sense independence, interact with others, boost their morale and keep them connected to their community. It can involve a whole range of activities including going shopping, attending community events and even getting to appointments.
For some adults who are older and frail, this can be more challenging and it can be easy to fall into the habit of minimising how often you take them out, and for how long. Many carers end up doing jobs like shopping on behalf of the person they care for, for instance, as it’s easier than taking them out to do it for themselves. However, getting out the house can often do the person you care for the world of good.
Here are some ideas to make it easier for the person you care for to get out and about – whether that’s with you, or independently.
Before leaving the house
When supporting someone to get out and about, preparation can play a huge part in helping someone to feel confident, comfortable and ready to leave their home. This might include allowing time for:
- The person you care for (and you) to eat and take any medication needed.
- Planning the journey ahead including any rest breaks and travel times. It could also include meeting spots or check in times if you aren’t with them.
- Finding out what kind of parking is available has and how accessible it is.
- Charging any equipment or devices needed whilst they are out, such as their phone or electric wheelchair.
If the person is due to take medication while they’re out, it can also be helpful to store this somewhere easily accessible to them along with some water to swallow down any tablets. To help them remember, phone alarms can be a useful tool – it can be easy to forget the time when you are busy.
Supporting them to mobilise
Some older and frail adults find getting out and about to be challenging when they have limited mobility, struggle with tiredness or experience pain when walking. Using mobility aids such as a walking stick, rollator or wheelchair can help to make this feel more manageable. Every type of mobility aid has a different purpose so it is worth exploring which one would be most beneficial to the user. For example, a walking stick can help with balance and coordination whilst a rollator can be used to carry small items or allow the user to sit down on it, for those who are affected by fatigue.
If thinking about using a mobility aid, it can be helpful to think about how they will get the equipment where they need to be. For example, if travelling by car, knowing whether the equipment can be lifted in and out of the car easily can an important part of the planning of a journey. You can ask an occupational therapist for advice if you need help with lifting equipment or helping them to mobilise. Your own safety is important too.
An alternative approach may be to use equipment provided by a venue, if they have it. If heading to a shopping centre, they may have wheelchairs or mobility scooters which can be borrowed through the customer service desk.
If walking, comfortable and supportive shoes can also have a big impact on how comfortable someone is feeling on their feet. Choosing their most comfortable shoes may help the, to walk for longer or to keep their pain to a minimum.
Transport can play an important part in helping someone who is older and frail to get out and about safely and comfortably. Whether it is by car, or by public transport, there are some small changes which can be made to make getting out and about a little easier.
Buses can be a good alternative for someone to get to places which they would not be able to walk to. If using the local bus services regularly, it may be worth seeing if they are eligible for a bus pass which may allow them to travel for free, helping with travel costs. Bus passes are specific to each local area and so if wanting to find out if the person you support is eligible for a bus pass, you can contact your local authority.
If the person you support travels by car, having a blue badge can be incredibly useful for parking. A blue badge is a permit which allows people with mobility issues to access free, discounted and accessible parking. Many car parks have Blue Badge spaces close to the exit or the shop, reducing the distance needed to travel to get to the car. We share lots of information on ‘Applying for a Blue Badge’.
There are also a number of other services and schemes which are in place to help those who struggle with getting and about to travel independently. For example, many bus and train companies have staff to help people get on and off transport, and across stations.
If someone would struggle to get out and about without support, particularly to appointments, there also are transport services which people can access. These can look different if every local area but can include:
- Hospital transport: Some people are eligible for free transport to and from hospital, through patient transport services. This can be organised through the hospital where the appointment is.
- Voluntary transport: Some charities and local community groups offer support with specific journeys. These services vary depending on where you live and are usually run by volunteers. You may need to pay a contribution towards fuel costs.
Other helpful resources Alongside support with mobilising, parking and transport, there are also a number of other tools which can be useful when helping someone to get out and about.
Storing personal and important information
Whether it be on a medical bracelet, a card in their purse or stored on their smart phone, having important and information stored somewhere on their person can be hugely beneficial should they become unwell or have a fall. It can help emergency services to understand more about them including their medical history and any medication they currently take. It can also help them to get in touch with their emergency contact.
Radar keys for disabled toilets
Accessing a RADAR key will give the individual access to the 9,000 accessible toilets that are part of the National Key Scheme. These keys can be incredibly useful for those with limited mobility, use a mobility aid or need to use the toilet quickly. There is usually a small charge for an official N&C Phlexicare key and can be accessed online or through the local authority.
For more information
We share more ideas on our guide: ‘Helping someone to get out and about’.
Or if you have a specific question, you could ask it to our Carers First Facebook Community. Our community of carers often have helpful and practical ideas to share.