Friday 30 April 2010

HOME :: Health-and-Fitness RSS Feed XML RSS Feed RSS feeds allow you to be notified whenever brand new articles are released by your favorite authors. Google Yahoo NewsGator Bloglines MSN AOL The Magic Bullet - Is Modern Medicine Really a Cure Or Just a Bandage? By Christina Major

For thousands of years, people thought of diseases and illness as spiritual matters or things from the outside of the body attacking a person. They used herbs, rituals, manipulative therapy (massage, chiropractic, water therapies) and especially food to counteract the malevolent forces. But they all agreed, if the body wasn't susceptible to the force, the person wouldn't have gotten sick.
Then, in the 1800s, an accidental discovery opened human eyes to the microscopic worlds, and led to the germ theory of modern day. This theory states that all illnesses are caused by a single cause, a microscopic entity and therefore can be cured by a single treatment, known as a magic bullet. For nearly a century after, this was called penicillin. Today we know of a large number of bacteria that are not affected by antibiotics at all. Viruses have rarely been susceptible.
Ever since the germ theory arrived, there have been a small minority of scientists that rejects the single cause theory, magic bullet theory, and believe that it is the host's susceptibility the infection that determines if the bacteria or virus can cause illness or not. Dr. Roger Williams expounded upon this idea in the 1950's in his book Biochemical Individually. He was able to show how 'normal' people varied in their biochemistry and showed that 'normal' covers a very wide range. He also explained this is the reason some people can be severely disabled by a substance, while others feel no effect and still more that thrive. This correlated to the idea if the host is susceptible, it will get sick.
This idea of biochemical individuality is the reason why the theory of a magic bullet will not work. To eliminate illnesses, cancers and allergies in people, the individual must be taken into account when treating the problem. It has been well documented that certain people have been infected with a bacteria or virus and successfully eradicated it without becoming sick.
This is not to say modern medicine and pharmaceuticals have not been beneficial. Indeed, society would be much worse off without them and many, many people would not be alive. However, modern medicine often only treats the symptoms, not the cause, of such illnesses. An antihistamine stops the body from reacting to an allergen, but does not treat why the body reacted in the first place. The arthritis drug stops the pain of arthritis but does not fix the joints. There needs to be a better way. And there is, keep the body healthy through nutrition.
Ancient peoples had fewer health problems than we do based on analysis of preserved bodies. Many nutritionists have found that the diets of the people consisted of mainly fruits, vegetables and lean game meats. Grains were complex and always eaten cooked, with their hulls intact. We can recreate that type of diet we are programmed to eat is a very simple way. Removing processed foods, excess sugars and trans-fats from out diet in a huge start. Further refining this is to eat lean proteins, and many different types of vegetables and fruits. Many people feel instant energy and improved health within days of beginning to eat healthier. Of course, to reach full heath takes time, most people did not become sick right away. Be sure to contact your physician before starting a new health regime.
Christina Major is the owner and holistic nutritionist of Crystal Holistic Health Consulting. Crystal HHC offers nutritional consulting for most health problems including diabetes, cancer, heart disease, weight loss and childhood obesity.

HOME :: Home-and-Family / Elder-Care Seniors and Medications - Make Sure Your Pharmacist Works For You By Paula Stone and Ron Stone Platinum Quality Author

A senior recently found out just how bad it can be for seniors with multiple health issues.
He has glaucoma. His eye doctor prescribed a medication for his glaucoma.
The doctor knew his entire health history, which includes a lot of heart problems, though the patient never had a heart attack
But the glaucoma medications he was taking can cause heart attacks in people who are at risk.
It should never have been prescribed for this particular patient.
He had a heart attack in January.
And then...finally...his eye doctor took him off the medication...too late.
This is something a good pharmacist might notice, too, but his didn't, even though he is a family friend.
Doctors make mistakes.
Medicines conflict with each other and seniors often pay the price.
And prescriptions are strong medicine.
One of the effects social workers see in seniors is mental confusion that is caused by medications.
Mental confusion may NOT be Alzheimer's in all cases.
For one thing there are different kinds of dementia. Brain damage from strokes is just one other. But people often recover significantly from strokes.
Even a lack of B vitamins can cause mental confusion and slurred speech, especially in cancer patients who have not been able to eat.
And nursing homes often drug patients to keep them quiet, a practice that makes them seem more fragile and disabled than they really are.
Simple exhaustion can make people, even young people confused. Just ask any new parent.
But it is worse for seniors, because people around them assume their minds are going when they aren't.
My doctor carries around a little manual that has facts about different medications listed in it. Some people might assume that she is less than expert.
I feel differently.
I have a lot of allergies to medicines, including some that could kill me. I want a doctor that checks everything twice.
And I always ask the pharmacist if she sees a problem, too. She knows me and she cares. I depend on her.
Ron and Paula Stone are lifestyle specialists. They have various businesses including an insurance agency specializing in final expense insurance or burial insurance. Learn more at their websites, Final Expense Insurance and Burial Insurance

Thursday 29 April 2010

HOME :: Health-and-Fitness / Arthritis Natural Arthritis Remedy - Free Yourself From Swelling, Stiffness and Pains Naturally By Gerry Restrivera Platinum Quality Author

Arthritis is the swelling or inflammation of the joints causing pains, stiffness and joint fever. It occurs with different intensities, depending on the severity of the inflammation and damage of the joints. Although there are medicines and pain relievers available for immediate relief, it is best not to get too dependent on drugs to avoid side effects that may cause other health problems. You should learn how to deal with it using natural arthritis remedy.
It is common for older people to suffer from arthritis because joints tend to get damaged or degenerate over the years but this disease can affect anybody even younger people. Suffering from arthritis is a very disabling situation. It can affect your lifestyle and daily activities. You will experience mild to severe joint pains leading to restricted movements preventing you from doing your usual tasks. Affected body parts are usually the feet, knees, hips and fingers. You need to know about natural arthritis remedy to put an end to your pains.
Although age is the main factor contributing to the occurrence of arthritis, there are also other factors affecting arthritis like the food you eat and your lifestyle. While it is advised to get medical help, it is also helpful to deal with it naturally. Here are some helpful tips.
Of course, the best natural arthritis remedy is to eat a healthy diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. Drink raw vegetable juice like potato, celery and carrot juice. Fresh fruits incorporated in your daily diet like pineapple can also help alleviate the pains of swollen joints. It is also important to have a diet low in sugar and fats.
Drink a lot of water. Water has many health benefits and it is also a natural remedy. It is good for people suffering from arthritis. Water can help in lubricating your joints. Increase intake of water to avoid joint stiffness for pain-free movement. It also aids in flushing out harmful toxins and chemicals affecting the occurrence of arthritis.
Regular exercise. Although people suffering from arthritis avoid movements due to joint and muscle pains associated with arthritis, it is not good to stay stagnant or motionless because joints tend to be stiffer without movements causing more pains. Regular lenient exercise like walking is helpful to alleviate the pain and prevent arthritis. Swimming is also good to help your joints and muscles to relax and relieve stress. Just be sure to swim with someone or with a buddy just in case you need assistance or help.
Herbal treatment. Massaging with virgin coconut oil can help relief joint pains. Aloe vera has also anti-inflammatory properties; you can use it in the form of gel to alleviate joint pains.
Stress has a lot of health risks and can also cause muscles and joint pains. Reducing stress is another form of natural arthritis remedy. Leading a stress-free life will reduce your risks of getting arthritis. You need to give yourself and your body sometime to relax and relieve stress. Treat yourself to a body massage or spa once in a while.
Natural arthritis remedy is an alternative you can use to avoid the harsh effects of using drugs. But it is best to find the best remedy that will put an end to all the pains caused by arthritis naturally.
Did you know that you can free yourself of the swelling, stiffness and pain, and live your life 150% better by banishing your arthritis in just one month? Discover the truth how you can banish your arthritis condition from the comfort and privacy of your own home. Discover a natural arthritis remedy visit Arthritis Free In One Month [http://arthritis-natural-remedy.blogspot.com]
To know more about health and beauty remedies visit Great Discovery-Health and Beauty
Gerry Restrivera writes informative articles on various subjects Natural Arthritis Remedy - Free Yourself from Swelling, Stiffness and Pains Naturally. You are allowed to publish this article in its entirety provided that author's name, bio and website links must remain intact and included with every reproduction.

Wednesday 28 April 2010

HOME :: Health-and-Fitness / Disability RSS Feed XML RSS Feed RSS feeds allow you to be notified whenever brand new articles are released by your favorite authors. Google Yahoo NewsGator Bloglines MSN AOL Disability Equipment to Restore Independence By Cyrille K

A disability doesn't mean that you are useless or have no other skills as well. Everyone has some special skills which are uncommon, if you are a good statistician and don't know about chemicals then there must be some chemical engineers who are not involved in statistics. Everyone has some competencies and some lacking though is a disability. If you are having some disability challenge in life then you must have some other unique skills which are needed to be explored and polished. To keep the disable people in the life stream now a day's many equipments and devices has been built. As it is often said that necessity is the mother of invention that is why the independence of these people can be restored using such equipments which has been invented time by time feeling the special needs of these uncommon people around us.
Disabilities can be of various types some people have blindness, some have listening and speaking deficiencies and some suffer with mobility challenges. Disability can be temporary, as well as permanent but in each case a person should not get isolated and there must be some helpful equipments and tools which can make the effected person active and independent. Disability equipments provides various benefits to its users, first of all these help them by decreasing the level of dependence on others, secondly give them self confidence and courage to do anything. These equipments increase the sense of dignity and can improve many areas of the life of a person who is having some physical challenges. These makes life easy and not only helps the handicapped but also of his / her care takers. Such equipments can be purchased from various suppliers and manufacturers which deal in healthcare and disability niche. Before going to purchase you must have a proper knowledge that what kind of equipments are available in the market and how can these improve your life. Secondly you also must know that which equipments can be covered through your medical insurance.
There are several types of disability equipments available in the market featuring certain functions and specifications. We have specified below the general categories and corresponding equipments to provide you an overview of these:
o Sport and Leisure
- Hand cycles
- Tandems
- Travel and Holidays
o Personal Care
- Dressing
- Toileting
- Eating and drinking
- Bathing
o Mobility
- Walking Aids
- Wheelchairs (manual and Powered, inc. ramps, accessories and scooters)
- Vehicles and modifications
- Stair lifts
- Platform lifts and step-lifts
- Through-floor lifts
o Seating and Beds
- Chairs and Seating
- Postural Support
- Beds, etc.
- Pressure relieving cushions and mattresses.
o Communication
- Communications Aids
- Accessible Computing
- Visual Impairment
- Hearing Loss
o Household
- Household equipment
- Kitchen Equipment
- Rails
- Switches, Environmental Controls, Alarms and Tele care
o Moving and Handling
- Moving and Handling
- Hoists
o Rehabilitation
- Orthotics
- Rehab equipment
o Pediatric equipment
- Play equipment
Do visit us to get Scooter Wheelchairs and Scooters For Disabled.

HOME :: Health-and-Fitness / Disability Disability Equipment to Restore Independence By Cyrille K

A disability doesn't mean that you are useless or have no other skills as well. Everyone has some special skills which are uncommon, if you are a good statistician and don't know about chemicals then there must be some chemical engineers who are not involved in statistics. Everyone has some competencies and some lacking though is a disability. If you are having some disability challenge in life then you must have some other unique skills which are needed to be explored and polished. To keep the disable people in the life stream now a day's many equipments and devices has been built. As it is often said that necessity is the mother of invention that is why the independence of these people can be restored using such equipments which has been invented time by time feeling the special needs of these uncommon people around us.
Disabilities can be of various types some people have blindness, some have listening and speaking deficiencies and some suffer with mobility challenges. Disability can be temporary, as well as permanent but in each case a person should not get isolated and there must be some helpful equipments and tools which can make the effected person active and independent. Disability equipments provides various benefits to its users, first of all these help them by decreasing the level of dependence on others, secondly give them self confidence and courage to do anything. These equipments increase the sense of dignity and can improve many areas of the life of a person who is having some physical challenges. These makes life easy and not only helps the handicapped but also of his / her care takers. Such equipments can be purchased from various suppliers and manufacturers which deal in healthcare and disability niche. Before going to purchase you must have a proper knowledge that what kind of equipments are available in the market and how can these improve your life. Secondly you also must know that which equipments can be covered through your medical insurance.
There are several types of disability equipments available in the market featuring certain functions and specifications. We have specified below the general categories and corresponding equipments to provide you an overview of these:
o Sport and Leisure
- Hand cycles
- Tandems
- Travel and Holidays
o Personal Care
- Dressing
- Toileting
- Eating and drinking
- Bathing
o Mobility
- Walking Aids
- Wheelchairs (manual and Powered, inc. ramps, accessories and scooters)
- Vehicles and modifications
- Stair lifts
- Platform lifts and step-lifts
- Through-floor lifts
o Seating and Beds
- Chairs and Seating
- Postural Support
- Beds, etc.
- Pressure relieving cushions and mattresses.
o Communication
- Communications Aids
- Accessible Computing
- Visual Impairment
- Hearing Loss
o Household
- Household equipment
- Kitchen Equipment
- Rails
- Switches, Environmental Controls, Alarms and Tele care
o Moving and Handling
- Moving and Handling
- Hoists
o Rehabilitation
- Orthotics
- Rehab equipment
o Pediatric equipment
- Play equipment
Do visit us to get Scooter Wheelchairs and Scooters For Disabled.

Tuesday 27 April 2010

HOME :: Business / Workplace-Safety RSS Feed XML RSS Feed RSS feeds allow you to be notified whenever brand new articles are released by your favorite authors. Google Yahoo NewsGator Bloglines MSN AOL Fighting Slips, Trips and Falls By Howard F. Miller

Safe day everyone and welcome. One of the most haunting and frustrating issues in safety is - the dreaded - "Slips, Trips and Falls". No matter how much you try to address this issue, it seems to always slip back into your accident investigation file.
According to the 2009 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, in the U.S. disabling workplace injuries from same-level falls had a direct cost of $6.2 billion in workers compensation costs in 2007, ranking second to overexertion as a leading cause of disabling injury. The index also noted that from 1998 - 2007, falls on the same level increased by a whopping 36.7 percent.
According to ASSE's Professional Safety Journal article "Slips, Trips & Falls in Construction & Mining: Causes & Controls," four factors can contribute to slip, trip and fall hazards:
1. Workers - Workers may be prone to slip, trip and fall hazards due to fatigue, risk-taking behavior [running or horseplay] and/or inadequate training. Also, one thing I have learned to look for on the floor was inadequate foot ware. Some of my good friends tried to get as much life out of a pair of shoes as they could even though the company paid for them.
2. Machines or Equipment - Some machine factors that contribute to slip, trip and fall hazards include improperly designed machines, missing components or machines that are not maintained properly [oil leaks].
3. Work environments - Environmental factors include wintery conditions such as snow, ice, wind and other factors such as poor lighting. Poor lighting does contribute to many of these incidents even though most companies do not like to see this on an accident investigation report. I have found it is much easier for them to say, "they [the worker/workers] were not watching what they were doing"
4. Management - management has the ability to control workers, machine and environment factors through proper planning, monitoring and corrective action.
So how do we combat this issue. Awareness, awareness, awareness!!! Slips, trips and falls is an issue that can NEVER be put on the back burner. As safety coordinator I spent numerous hours on the floor looking hazards, talking to people and posting notices. Below you will find some things that can help:
o Remove slip, trip, and fall hazards from the work area, especially in high-trafficked areas. Even though workers may be moving at a reasonable pace and keeping their eyes on their path, it only takes a second to turn things around.
o Establish a no-running policy and enforce it. Though in some industries staff may need to work at a quick pace, such as the manufacturing, hospitality and restaurant industry, making sure that workers do not run can prevent injuries due to slips and falls.
o Make sure workers wear proper footwear with good traction that is kept in good repair. Take a look at the soles of shoes regularly to check for excessive wear. Slip-resistant footwear should be considered where necessary, such as footwear with spiked or studded soles that can improve traction on ice or snow. There are also some really good anti-slip soles out there that is worth checking into.
o Cleaning procedures for floors are essential to good slip resistance. Make sure that all walking surfaces are kept free of spills, water, oil and any other substances that may affect the traction of the surface.
o Report any spills and provide adequate signage regarding hazards such as spills, uneven surfaces, debris, icy sidewalks, smooth concrete and other hazards. Also ensure that your company has a process that documents incidents and reports slip and fall hazards.
o Make sure that staff is trained on how to properly clean/remove slip, trip and fall hazards. Also ensure that staff and management are trained in slip, trip and fall prevention. Workers should resume work only after a hazard has been removed or resolved.
o All workers should be well trained on "EYES ON PATH".
o Make sure all areas have adequate lighting to illuminate any potential hazards. You simply con not avoid a hazard if you can't see it!!
o To prevent surface water accumulation in areas that can lead to slips, trips and falls, ensure that there are adequate drainage systems and pumps in place.
o Be aware of the floor types in your company to help determine the degree of hazards for slips, trips and falls.
Thanks,
Howard F. Miller
I was a safety coordinator and have been in the manufactuing arena for over 20 years. These articles are a passion of mine and hope that it will help keep people safe.

HOME :: Health-and-Fitness / Disability Disabled Bathroom Bath Bench and Other Ideas to Consider in Making Bathrooms Handicapped-Friendly By Henry Girard Platinum Quality Author

If you are planning to create a bathroom for a disabled person, you only have two things to consider: how to make the bathroom safe for someone with mobility problems and how to make bathing a safer and more comfortable experience for the invalid.
Safety in the bathroom is a major concern for people with mobility problems. Once a person becomes disabled, using a bathroom becomes tough that assistance from another person is required. Aside from that, maneuvering alone in the bathroom is very dangerous for someone who has difficulties with movement. Falling on the floor, head injuries from falls, and hip fractures are common accidents that can occur to a disabled. When bathing becomes tougher, disabled individuals let the personal hygiene suffers to avoid the painful experience of going to the bathroom.
Properly designing your bathroom to make it more accessible to disabled individuals can greatly help them in becoming more independent and in experiencing a safe and comfortable bath.
Here are some ideas that you can incorporate in your bathroom to make it handicapped-friendly:
Make sure that there is enough floor space in your bathroom so that if a wheelchair is used, it will be easier and safer for the disabled to maneuver around the room.
Ensure that bathroom sink, countertops, and cabinets are within the handicapped person's reach. If you are installing a handicapped lavatory, it must have a minimum clearance of 30 inches starting from the bottom of the seat to the floor. Bathroom fixtures and faucets should also be within reach.
Isolate exposed electrical wiring and plumbing to eliminate tripping. For the furniture edges, use protection caps to avoid accidents.
Install grab bars in the shower, beside the bathtub, and anywhere a person may need them.
Check the floor if they are made of non-slippery materials. Avoid using tile or vinyl unless it is sanded or has a sand-like texture. You can also add slip-proof coating to the bathroom floor to make it safer.
Use disabled bathroom bath bench. Disability equipment like a bathroom bath bench is designed to assist individuals who cannot do things on their own with regards to bathroom experience. The bath bench is ideal for physically disabled and those who have trouble standing for long periods. Disabled bathroom bath bench allows them to sit in the shower and cleanse themselves privately. For those who are able and still strong enough to shower on their own, it gives them some sense of relaxation-imagine yourself sitting in the shower with the cold water washing your whole body after a long day. In addition, women would love to have shower benches on their bathrooms so that they can sit while shaving their legs. More importantly, a disabled bathroom bath bench ensures that nobody falls while washing himself or herself.
Making a bathroom safe and comfortable for everyone in the house, especially for the disabled, requires careful planning and consideration. By choosing the appropriate fittings and fixtures for the bathroom, you can make it a safe and accessible place for everyone.
The author is Henry Girard, an expert in medical equipment and independent living products like disabled bathroom bath bench. Disabled bathroom bath benches are shower benches that are ideal for stable handicap showering. More information about benches for the shower is available at Medame.com. You can also call 877-253-6251 for product inquiries.

Monday 26 April 2010

HOME :: Health-and-Fitness / Disability Buying Mobility Devices For Disabled People According to Requirements By Richard Durfee Platinum Quality Author

Mobility equipments are playing a major role in shaping up the life and living of disabled people. A majority of disabled people have gained independence as well as lost momentum of their life with help of scientifically developed mobility devices. In fact, different mobility equipments are the best friends for physically challenged people.
Buying mobility devices for disabled people of your family needs answer of some very important questions as well as some pre-analysis of requirements. There are different varieties of mobility devices available in the market like, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, lift chairs, lift vehicle lifts, walkers, and ramps. However, to serve the main mobility requirements of your disabled loved ones, you need to analyze their requirements first.
Suppose you have to purchase mobility equipment for self-mobility of any of the members in your family who is physically disabled. Now the suitable mobility equipments to serve your requirements will be among manual wheel chairs, powered wheel chairs, or mobility scooters. The basic differences between all these three mobility devices are the external force required for their movement. Manual wheel chairs are driven by the physical force applied by the disabled people or some caretaker for them, whereas powered wheel chairs are battery operated. Mobility scooters are one-step ahead, they are like automobiles specially designed to use by disabled people.
Now, you have to assess the suitability of above said devices. If the person is able to apply regular force to move the manual wheel chair, you can select it. However, if it is a long-term deal then you have to presume that whether they will be able to drive these manual wheel chairs five or ten years down the line. If your answer is negative, you should go for powered wheel chairs. However, if the disabled people for whom you are going to purchase mobility equipment have to travel a lot in order to perform their daily active routine like going to office for work, or shopping for vegetables and fruits from nearby places then mobility scooters are best buy.
The type of mobility devices also differ depending upon the type of disability. Like if someone is your family got several injuries in any accidents and not able to move then you should select a manual wheel chair for him/her. Sometimes, physiotherapists' advice for regular physical activities to such injured people in accidents for speedy recovery. In such cases, a walker will be the best mobility equipment for temporary disabled member of your family, which not only provides them mobility, but also helps in speedy recovery of their physical injury. You can also think of renting mobility equipment for them, because spending money for a very short span of time is not advisable.
Therefore, next time when you think of buying mobility equipments, must remember these facts. It will help you in making right decision of buying mobility devices for your physically disabled loved ones.
MayFlowerMobility deals in best quality mobility equipments like stair lifts, vehicle lifts, mobility scooters, wheel chairs, lift chairs, walkers and ramps. For more information about their products, visit: http://www.mayflowermobility.com

HOME :: Health-and-Fitness / Disability Do You Know What Power Wheel Chair is All About? By Francisco Segura

Before talking about power wheel chair you must know what a wheel chair is, who needs this, and how it helps. Answers for these questions will give you some sort of knowledge about this sacred device. Wheel chair is nothing but a movable device with a seat and back rest with wheels. This device is used by immobile patients who have a medical condition of permanent disability or illness. But wheel chair is mostly used by people having walking disability. This mechanism is having more than hundred years of existence and in those times it was purely used by disabled people.Progress in all field especially in technology and more incorporation of disabled people brought rigorous transformation in the functioning of wheel chairs.  There are mainly two types of wheel chairs and the ancient is manual wheel chair and the modern is power wheel chair. In this two categories you can see different types of wheel chairs like portable, folding, lightweight to name a few. But while purchasing any wheel chair your must give utmost priority for the disabled patient's convenience and comfort. You may see costly power wheel chair with all modern features and your actual need will be an ordinary manual wheel chair and in this situation you should only go for the later. There are countless small, medium and big size business companies manufacturing and marketing this divine appliance and the details of the list can be seen from the websites exclusively for wheel chairs. If any one desired to purchase a power wheel chair, then they can buy the same from any surgical showroom or from any authorized distributor of some leading wheel chair manufacturer. You can also order your power wheel chair online and while placing order online, you must be very careful about the reliability of the supplier. There are many websites providing bogus address and cheating public. So do not fall in those treacherous elements's trap.As the capabilities of researchers and developers progressed in an express way, it has reflected in wheelchair manufacturing industry also. If you visit any showroom or website totally dedicated for wheel chairs, then you can see power wheel chair in solid and lighter form and using this type of chair will help disabled patients to load and unload from that hallowed contrivance with ease. If you have extra money, then donate a power wheel chair to any charity home so that at least one person can do his or her routine work without assistance.The main advantage of using power wheel chair is that the disabled patients can move around without anyone's help. They will be able to do their routine duties without any difficulties and there are disabled people attending their job without anyone's assistance. It all depends upon many factors like physical and mental state of the patient. There are disabled persons who need wheel chair permanently and for those persons it will be good to provide power wheel chair because using manual wheel chair will affect their body strength. Otherwise these persons will need assistance permanently.
Francisco Segura - EzineArticles Expert Author

Friday 23 April 2010

HOME :: Health-and-Fitness / Disability RSS Feed XML RSS Feed RSS feeds allow you to be notified whenever brand new articles are released by your favorite authors. Google Yahoo NewsGator Bloglines MSN AOL Wheelchair Accessible Vans - What If You Can't Afford Them? By Chris A West Platinum Quality Author

There are many different types of wheel chair accessible vans available in the market today, but the most important considerations that you need to keep in mind before slapping any money on the table should be not only the size of the wheelchair that you will be using but also the means by which you be getting it into the van. Different types of vans have different levels of access: from portable ramps, to those that lower the floor all the way, to even power lifts that actually pick up the chair. But if the vans that have these types of improvements already installed prove too much for your pocketbook, know that there are other simpler and less expensive modifications that can be made to standard vans for you to enjoy hassle free entry and exit. So what are your options?
These changes include stiffening the suspension of the vehicle to allow for additional weight to be carried with ease. The floor of the van could also be removed and the front seats adjusted accordingly to give the wheelchair and the person on it more room to maneuver. Furthermore a turning seat could also be added on as this will make it that much easier for a wheel chair to be manipulated. When it comes to ramps, which by the way is one of the best ways to save money and at the same time make any van wheelchair accessible, there are several options available for wheelchair vans and these include folding ramps whether they be manual or motorized, sliding ramps that are hidden in the floor of the van and even rear entry folding ramps. All of these are an excellent addition to wheelchair accessible vans as they make life much easier for the person on the wheel chair and those around them. Platform lifts can also be added to any van so that the wheelchair and its occupant can be lowered and raised from the inside of the vehicle to the ground. There are several types of platform lifts and these include mono and double arm lifts to choose from as well as under body lifts. The mono arm is preferred for private vehicles because they can fit in better while the other two are more for minibuses and buses.
Wheelchair accessible vans make movement and overall transportation that much easier for the person using the wheelchair, but they shouldn't have to cost you an arm and leg just to get them. Keep in mind that simple additions like that of the folding or sliding ramp perform the same basic tasks that more expensive ones do but at a much lower price, plus they can make almost any vehicle wheelchair ready.
Hey, need a new wheelchair or lift chair but money is tight right now. No worries feel free to check out these nationwide resources that help provide people with FREE wheelchairs and FREE lift chairs.
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HOME :: Health-and-Fitness / Disability RSS Feed XML RSS Feed RSS feeds allow you to be notified whenever brand new articles are released by your favorite authors. Google Yahoo NewsGator Bloglines MSN AOL Wheelchair Access By Wally Pahong

Do You Have Wheelchair Access?
"Do they have access in a wheelchair?" It's a simple question, but anything that causes pain between shame and utter contempt when asked hoteliers to many hotels in Europe.
Accessibility hotels is a topic that fascinates feeling, though not the sexist issue in the hotel world. In part because one of our leaders is both a wheelchair user and a nutcase travelers, staying in top hotels around the world during much of the year.
In part also because accessible tourism is becoming the next big thing; older and disabled travelers are quickly beginning to realize that they can travel independently with their friends and relatives, and users no longer need to go in groups Oldies and organized other people with disabilities.
Hotels accessible
In the U.S., strict laws and a culture developed travel more accessible means that the search for hotels and restaurants with access for wheelchair users is not a general problem. Almost all hotels, especially Biggie, have a large percentage of available rooms with various facilities, and restaurants and their lobbyists have toilets for the disabled. Special diets and other needs can generally be met with a little advance.
But the situation in Europe is not at all the same. We have spent the week checking out 4 - and 5-star hotels in Paris to our head, that the visit to Paris before, and the reactions of staff have varied greatly. From "wheelchair accessible? I dunno [read: I do not care]" to "well, if he has a great electric wheelchair that will not fit the loo that is their problem." It is incredibly frustrating, and we'd love to hear from readers who had experienced similar problems.
Wally Pahong writes for http://www.chairblog.net where you can find out more about wheelchair.