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Mobility

Mobility assistive products included in TAP

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The TAP product modules cover simple mobility assistive products that can be safely provided in the community.

Read through the following sections to learn about each of these products.

Walking aids

Walking aids help a person to stand up, sit down and walk.

Different types of walking aids suit different people’s needs.

Some common examples are:

  • Walking sticks

A walking stick, which is a single stick with a rubber stopper on the bottom and a handle at the top.

  • Elbow crutches

A pair of elbow crutches, which have a handle one-third down and a loop at the top designed to cup a person’s forearm.

  • Axilla (underarm) crutches

Axilla crutches, which have a padded handle half way down and a padded top to sit just under a person’s armpits.

  • Walking frames

Walking frame, which is a four legged metal frame with a rubber stoppers on each end.

  • Rollators

A rollator, which is a walking frame with four wheels a seat and a basket.

Walking aids can be useful for people who:

  • Can walk, but need extra support to walk safely or for long distances.
  • Can only put weight on one leg, for example people who have had an amputation or a leg injury.

For information about walking aids and how to provide them, complete the TAP walking aids module.

Portable ramps

Portable ramps are ramps that are not fixed in place. They can be moved to where they are needed by the person.

Portable ramps can be useful for people who:

  • Use a wheelchair, rollator, or walking frame, and
  • Need to access areas with a small number of steps, and
  • Are strong enough to lift a portable ramp, or have assistance to do so.

A lightweight portable ramp placed over three steps.

Mathias, an older man, pushing his rollator up a portable ramp that has been placed over three steps.

Remember Mathias?

Mathias uses a rollator to move around. When he and his wife visit their son’s house, they take a portable ramp. The ramp allows Mathias to get into his son’s house, over the three small steps at the front door.

For more information about portable ramps and how to provide them, complete the TAP portable ramps module.

Grab bars

Grab bars support people with weakness or poor balance to move safely from one position to another.

Grab bars can be useful for people who:

  • Need extra support while moving in the bedroom, living areas, bathroom, toilet or by steps.
  • Can grip with one or both hands.

A grab bar, which is a small bar attached to a wall.

For more information about grab bars and how to provide them, complete the TAP grab bars module.

David, an older man, sits on the edge his bed holding onto a grab bar that is attached to the side of his bed. Leitangi, an older woman, stands beside him.

Remember David and his wife Leitangi?

David is frail and depends on Leitangi for assistance with some of his self care. To sit up and move in bed, David had a grab bar installed. He can now sit up safely without needing to ask for Leitangi to assist.

Cali is dressed in a bath robe and steps out of a shower cubicle. She is holding onto a grab bar on the wall of her shower. A shower chair is visible behind her.

Remember Cali?

As well as her walking frame to assist her to walk, Cali has a grab bar in her shower. She holds onto the grab bar to assist with balancing as she steps into and out of the shower.

Transfer boards

Moving your body from one place to another is called a transfer.

Transfer boards help people to move from one place to another.

A curved plastic board with a non-slip pad on the bottom.
Curved transfer board
A flat wooden board with wedge-shaped sides and holes cut from the middle for grip.
Straight wooden transfer board

Transfer boards can be useful for people who:

  • Have difficulty standing up or taking weight through their legs
  • Need assistance from another person to move from one place to another.

A woman uses a transfer board to move between her wheelchair and her car seat.

For more information about transfer boards and how to provide them, complete the TAP transfer boards module.

Therapeutic footwear

Therapeutic footwear are shoes with special features that help to protect and support feet that are at risk of wound development.

An enclosed shoe with an adjustable strap.

A sandal with an open toe and adjustable strap.

For more information about therapeutic footwear and how to provide them, complete the TAP Therapeutic footwear module.