Abstraktar
B-1-4
Safe Everyday for rollator users
Topic: Safe Elderly
Ingunn Soendergaard Jacobsen
| Safe Elderly |
First name: Ingunn Soendergaard Family name: Jacobsen
Title of Abstract: Safe Everyday for rollator users Abstract:Using a rollator (walker) could be difficult and is often connected to feelings of uncertainty. In Horsens, the municipality based ergo- and physiotherapists wanted to make it safer for the users to bring the rollator out in the streets and public spaces. Together with volunteers, they have arranged three “Rollator Days” in Horsens. The event gathers 60 rollator users, and has been a success.The idea with Rollator Day is that the 1400 rollator-users in Horsens should feel safe and get help to overcome the problems they feel connected with the use of the rollator. First of all, “driving skills” are developed, so that the users KNOW how to use the rollator – and get a symbolic “Drivers license” when they have finished a “Driver's course”. At the Driver's course, the rollator user learns to force pavements/kerbstones, how to use the brake, how to park etc. There is also a “Rollator Day Garage” at the Rollator Day – so that everyone can get their rollator checked, just like people's cars get a garage check once in a while. Being and feeling a safe rollator-user is not just about driving skills and equipment safety. A lot of rollator users feel isolated and they have got used to living with reduced mobility. Therefore, the “Rollator Day Café” has been established so the participants can meet other rollator users and talk to volunteers from some of the voluntary organizations in Horsens, so that they can get the possibility to join some organisational work, as an alternative to isolation in their homes. |