Better Independent Living

Better Independent Living, an online retailer of mobility and daily living aids

Better Independent Living is the trading name of Mobility Smart Limited, a company registered in England and Wales under number 5251905. The business describes itself as based in Lancashire since 2004 and sells mobility, health and wellbeing products through its online shop, with customer advice available by telephone.

Its stated aim is to offer a broad catalogue of products that are easy to buy and use, held in stock for fast delivery, and backed by customer service. The range is organised around the practical settings of daily life rather than around a single product line.

Mobility equipment: walking aids, wheelchairs and scooters

The mobility section covers walking sticks in several formats, including Flexyfoot, folding, quad base, tripod, wooden and adjustable models, along with ferrules, seats and other walking stick accessories. Crutches are offered in Flexyfoot, folding and coloured versions.

Wheelchairs include folding electric, self-propelled, transit and lightweight, attendant-propelled and folding models, complemented by bags, clothing, cushions and gloves. For walking support the shop lists 3-wheel and 4-wheel rollators, rollator accessories, knee walkers and knee scooters, folding walking frames, shopping trolleys and wheelchair ramps.

Mobility scooters form a substantial part of the catalogue: folding, boot and Class 3 scooters, plus models from Drive, Freerider, Monarch, Motion, Pride, Scooterpac, Sunrise and TGA. Bags, clothing and covers are sold as scooter accessories. A separate car mobility section groups car access items, car cushions, swivel car seats, travel toileting aids and Blue Badge holders.

Adaptations for each room of the home

The catalogue is divided by household area. For the bathroom it lists shower boards, shower chairs, shower commode chairs, shower stools, wall-mounted shower seats, bath and shower mats, bath boards, bath cushions, bath lifts, bath seats, bath steps and bathroom grab rails. Toilet equipment includes bed pans and urinals, commode chairs, raised toilet seats, toilet frames and toilet rails.

Around the house the shop offers cleaning aids, furniture raisers, grab rails, perching stools, seat cushions and step stools. The bedroom range covers adjustable beds, bed grab rails, bed raisers, bed tables, bed trays, bed wedges and supports, and orthopaedic pillows. Seating includes care chairs and riser recliner chairs, while home security and safety items include door phones and bells and key safes.

In the kitchen the range includes bottle and jar openers, food preparation aids, kettle tippers, kitchen trays and kitchen trolleys. The living room section lists chair raisers, chair tables, floor and table lamps, footstools and seat cushions, and the outdoor section covers garden tools, half steps, key safes and outdoor grab rails.

Health, wellbeing and continence care

Under health and wellbeing the retailer groups massage therapy and foot massage, orthopaedic supports for back, neck, shoulder and insoles, physiotherapy aids such as exercise aids, grip strengthening aids and pedal exercisers, and therapeutic aids for hot and cold therapy, light therapy and pain management.

Incontinence products include disposable gloves, bed pads, chair pads, mattress protection, wipes and personal continence care. Daily living aids cover comfort and dressing aids such as button hooks, dressing aids, personal grooming and hygiene items, shoe horns and sock and stocking aids, plus warming aids. Dining equipment includes adapted cutlery, clothing protectors, cups and mugs, dinner trays, drinking accessories, plates and bowls.

Hearing and vision aids include big button phones, clocks and watches, hearing aids and magnifying glasses. The household range lists air purifiers and fans, key and tap turners and reachers, and the medical aids section covers blood pressure monitors, fingertip pulse oximeters, first aid kits, TENS machines and medication management items such as pill boxes, organisers, crushers and cutters.

Buying conditions and customer service

The shop advertises free delivery on orders over £39.99, free returns described as easy and hassle free, a price match promise for customers who find an item cheaper elsewhere, and a VAT relief scheme for eligible buyers. Several products are listed with a price shown with VAT relief, and a rollator promotion advertises savings of up to 30%.

Among the products highlighted on the site at the time of writing were a VAT-relief gel seat cushion at £14.95, an EZ Fold N Go Walker at £109.95, a walking stick umbrella at £25.14, an adjustable folding wooden bed tray at £18.95, a mobility scooter pannier bag at £11.95, a Car Caddie at £15.95, a car support handle at £11.95 and a Bigfoot Half Step reduced from £149.95 to £98.95.

The company also publishes a blog with articles on topics such as daily living aids for people with Parkinson's disease, foldable crutches and Freerider mobility scooters, and offers an email newsletter for offers and information.