Mobility and aged care come with a lot of jargon, and most of it is never explained in plain English. This glossary does exactly that. Every term below is defined the way we would explain it to a family standing in our Cheltenham showroom: simply, honestly, and without the sales speak. If you are working out how to help yourself or a loved one, this is a good place to start, and you are always welcome to talk it through with a specialist.
A lift recliner is a powered armchair that gently tilts forward to help someone stand, and reclines back for resting or sleeping. Sometimes called a lift chair or riser recliner, it is one of the most useful pieces of equipment for anyone who finds getting out of a chair a daily struggle. See our guide to the best lift recliner chairs in Melbourne.
An adjustable bed lets you raise the head and feet independently at the touch of a button, easing reflux, swelling and breathing trouble and making it easier to read, watch television or get comfortable. A care-grade adjustable bed is built for daily support, not just the occasional lie-in like a mattress-shop base. See our guide to the best adjustable beds in Melbourne.
A hi-lo bed (short for high-low) raises and lowers its whole height electrically. It drops close to the floor to reduce injury if someone falls, and rises to a safe height so a person can stand more easily or a carer can help without hurting their back. It is a safety device, not just a comfort upgrade. See our guide to the hi-lo and adjustable beds.
A mobility scooter is a battery-powered seated vehicle for getting around independently when walking longer distances is difficult. They range from compact, boot-friendly models to larger road-capable ones, and the right choice depends on the person’s real world: their footpaths, ramps, driveway and how far they need to travel. See our guide to the best mobility scooters in Melbourne.
A rollator is a wheeled walking frame with four wheels, hand brakes and usually a built-in seat, so you can walk with support and sit down to rest whenever you need to. It is different from a standard pick-up walker, which has no wheels and must be lifted with each step. See our guide to the best walkers and rollators in Melbourne.
A walker, or pick-up frame, is a lightweight four-legged frame without wheels that you lift and place forward with each step. It offers very stable support and suits people who need to lean their weight firmly on the frame, indoors and on level ground. See our guide to the walkers and rollators.
Pressure care means preventing pressure injuries (once called bed sores): skin and tissue damage that develops when someone sits or lies in one position too long. It is managed with the right mattress, cushions and regular movement, and matters most for people who spend long periods in a bed or chair.
A transfer is the act of moving a person from one surface to another, such as bed to chair or chair to scooter. Doing it safely protects both the person and whoever is helping. Equipment like hoists, transfer boards, bed rails and lift chairs can make transfers safer and take the strain out of caring.
Falls prevention is the everyday work of reducing a person’s risk of falling, through the right equipment (grab rails, a bed at the correct height, a well-fitted walker), a safer home set-up, and getting seating and lighting right. For older Australians, preventing a single fall can be the difference between staying home and a hospital stay.
Support at Home is the Australian Government’s in-home aged care program that began in November 2025, replacing Home Care Packages. It helps older people keep living at home by funding services and assistive technology such as mobility and safety equipment, arranged through My Aged Care after an assessment.
Assistive technology (often shortened to AT) is any equipment that helps a person do everyday things more safely and independently, from a walking stick or lift chair to an adjustable bed or mobility scooter. Under aged care and the NDIS, an occupational therapist usually recommends the right AT for the person’s needs.
An occupational therapist is a university-trained health professional who assesses how someone manages daily life at home and recommends equipment, modifications and techniques to keep them safe and independent. For funded equipment through the NDIS or Support at Home, an OT’s assessment and recommendation is usually the starting point.
The NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) is Australia’s scheme that funds supports and equipment for eligible people with a permanent, significant disability, generally under 65. It can fund assistive technology like beds, scooters and lift chairs when they are reasonable and necessary, usually on an occupational therapist’s recommendation.
A walker (pick-up frame) has no wheels and must be lifted with each step, giving very firm, stable support. A rollator has four wheels, hand brakes and a seat, so you keep moving without lifting and can sit to rest. Walkers suit indoor, level use; rollators suit people who walk further and need to pause.
Usually, yes. For equipment funded through the NDIS or Support at Home, an occupational therapist assesses the person and recommends what is reasonable and necessary. We work alongside OTs every week and can prepare a compliant quote to match their recommendation, often within 24 hours.
Support at Home can fund assistive technology, which includes mobility and safety equipment, when it is assessed as needed. The exact items and amounts depend on the person’s assessment and budget. We can help you understand what may be covered and prepare the paperwork your provider needs.
No. A furniture-shop adjustable bed raises the head and feet for comfort. A hi-lo bed also lowers its whole frame close to the floor to reduce fall injuries and raises it to help someone stand or a carer assist safely. For an older person at risk of falls, that height range is a genuine safety feature.
If a term here does not quite fit your situation, that is exactly what we are here for. Mobility Co is a family-owned showroom in bayside Cheltenham, serving Brighton, Hampton, Sandringham, Beaumaris, Black Rock and the wider south-east. You can book a free showroom visit or in-home demonstration, or call us on 1300 225 203. No pressure, just honest advice.
About the author: Daylan Kempster is the co-founder of Mobility Co, a family-owned mobility and assistive-technology showroom in Cheltenham, bayside Melbourne. He and his partner Kiana fit lift recliners, adjustable and hi-lo beds, scooters and walkers in older Australians’ homes every week, working alongside occupational therapists across bayside and south-east Melbourne.