As stated before I live alone and am very isolated. I am struggling to walk safely with crutches and/or a 4 wheeled walking frame. Even with the frame I struggle to feel safe on anything other than level surfaces e.g steps and slopes are proving very difficult, even tiny steps. My driving feels totally normal and has been key to maintaining my independence. I want to keep my car for as long as possible before maybe converting to a motability vehicle. My home still hasn't had the building work to make it wheelchair accessible.So;-
Q1) I use my car to do my weekly food shop at a local supermarket. I walk with crutches to access a trolley and that then acts as a walking frame. After recent experiences I am afraid that I will now not be able to walk safely to the trolley using crutches. If instead I get my walking frame out of the boot and use that, I then will not be able to access and push the trolley. I know I could maybe shop online but my weekly food shop is now one of the few times I get out and about.
Q2) when I fill my car with diesel at the petrol station, I use my crutches to get to the tills to make the payment. Again I am worried I won't be able to do that anymore. Getting my walking frame out and using that doesn't feel like an option at inevitably busy petrol stations. I know that at some pumps you can pay at the pump but I tried that last time and it didn't work. So I feel I am always going to have to be able to walk to the tills. But how?
Q3) again at petrol stations I am concerned that I can't bend down safely to enable me to check and top up my tyre pressures. How do I get that done?
Q4) my cars service and MOT is coming soon. But I am concerned about how I will walk to the offices etc and how I will get back home whilst the work is ongoing and then back to the garage on completion.
So, basically whilst I can still drive safely I can't walk safely on anything other than simple flat and even surfaces ( like inside my house and any steps and stairs have lots of handrails). For example ,with these concerns, for my recent hospital appointments I have asked for ambulances to take me. And they then take me in a wheelchair.
I am sorry if this message is long.
Q1) I use my car to do my weekly food shop at a local supermarket. I walk with crutches to access a trolley and that then acts as a walking frame. After recent experiences I am afraid that I will now not be able to walk safely to the trolley using crutches. If instead I get my walking frame out of the boot and use that, I then will not be able to access and push the trolley. I know I could maybe shop online but my weekly food shop is now one of the few times I get out and about.
Q2) when I fill my car with diesel at the petrol station, I use my crutches to get to the tills to make the payment. Again I am worried I won't be able to do that anymore. Getting my walking frame out and using that doesn't feel like an option at inevitably busy petrol stations. I know that at some pumps you can pay at the pump but I tried that last time and it didn't work. So I feel I am always going to have to be able to walk to the tills. But how?
Q3) again at petrol stations I am concerned that I can't bend down safely to enable me to check and top up my tyre pressures. How do I get that done?
Q4) my cars service and MOT is coming soon. But I am concerned about how I will walk to the offices etc and how I will get back home whilst the work is ongoing and then back to the garage on completion.
So, basically whilst I can still drive safely I can't walk safely on anything other than simple flat and even surfaces ( like inside my house and any steps and stairs have lots of handrails). For example ,with these concerns, for my recent hospital appointments I have asked for ambulances to take me. And they then take me in a wheelchair.
I am sorry if this message is long.
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