For useful advice on choosing footwear for problems like swollen feet, arthritis, diabetes, odd sized feet or cold feet, please click here.

There is also lots of information on foot care available on the Society of Podiatrists and Chiropodists website, which you can visit by following the link here.

Mobility shops in Fife stock a range of footwear to suit people with problems like oedema, corns, bunions and very wide feet. You can also find out more by contacting Fairprice Mobility on 01592 652244.

If you have a problem with your feet that you cannot address with self-help, please contact your doctor for medical advice.

Demand Responsive Transport is a service in Fife that helps people who have difficulty with transport. It is available for those who are elderly, frail and/ or have disabilities, as well as anyone who is unable to access public transport (all passengers under 18yrs of age must be escorted).

They have a number of drivers and offer help with transport to hospitals, doctors, health related appointments and social journeys.

You will be asked for the date and time of your journey, the pick-up arrangements, the destination address, the approximate waiting time for the driver and any special requirements. You need to book at least 24 hours ahead. This service also has wheelchair-accessible minibuses for hire.

Fife Council also offer concessionary travel in a variety of schemes.

For further information, and to find out if you are eligible for concessionary travel, please click on the link below.

Contact Details
Website: Fife Direct

For information about taxi services that are able to transport someone in a wheelchair, please contact Disability Network Fife using the information below.

Contact information
Website: Disabilities Fife
Phone: 01592 203993

If the walking aid was privately purchased then contact should be made with the company it was purchased from. Replacement ferrules can be purchased at most high street pharmacy shops.

People may lose interest in going out for a whole variety of reasons, including illness, bereavement or an unexpected life event.

If you are worried about this you can speak to your GP for advice and support. Your GP may also be able to find out if there are any local support groups in Fife.

You can also contact Alzheimer's Scotland for additional support and advice if you are concerned about your memory in particular.

Samaritans is a local service that promotes well-being by providing information or arranging a time to meet up and talk. If you would like to contact their national service, please use the information below.

Contact information
Website: Samaritans
Email: jo@samaritans.org

For more local support, please get in touch with the Samaritans office for your area.

Organisation: Samaritans Dunfermline
Phone: 01383 722222

Organisation: Samaritans Kirkcaldy
Phone: 01592 654242

To search for community groups, organisations, information and support in Fife please visit On Your Doorstep by clicking here.

Lifeline 24 is a telephone-based system which you can use to summon help, call assistance, or give you reassurance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The main role of the lifeline service is to obtain help for an elderly or disabled person when an emergency arises. The 'Lifeline' is connected to a control centre where there is always a control operator on duty to respond immediately. This operator is supported by a mobile warden service.

For more information, please use the following details.

Contact information
Website: Lifeline 24
Email: info@lifeline24.co.uk
Phone: 0800 999 0400 (Monday to Friday 8.30am -6pm, Saturday 9am -5pm)

Alternatively, the Fife Falls Response Team can be contacted by pressing Community Alarm, via your GP or NHS24 (Tel. 111).

Fife Council also provide a community alarm service. For further information call the Contact Centre on 03451 551503 to see whether you are eligible.

A commode can be used as an alternative if you are unable to get to your toilet safely.

There are different types of commodes available so it is important to consider these to ensure you get one that is suitable for you. Various commodes can be loaned to you or purchased following an assessment of your needs.

Age UK offer free, discrete delivery of your choice pf products and can be contacted using the information below.

Contact information
Phone: 0800 849 8032
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday - 8am to 6pm, Friday - 8am to 5:30pm, Saturday - 9am to 1pm

The Red Cross also offer commodes with free delivery, and can be contacted by phoning on 844 89 300 90 or 01904 202154.

Fife Council's Transport Services offer demand responsive transport that provides wheelchair accessible transport, free of charge to members of the community who have trouble accessing mainstream public transport.

Dial-a-Ride is a free shopping service, offering accessible transport to major shopping centres for the elderly and disabled living in Fife.

For more information, please follow the link to the main Dial-a-Ride page on Fife's Direct website, which you can access by clicking here.

Alternatively, if you'd like to book a journey, please phone Dial-a-Ride on 03451 55 11 88 between 9.00am and 2.30pm, Monday to Friday. Please note that journey's need to be booked the day of travel.

Ring & Ride is a door to door service, bookable in advance, which will take you anywhere in the local area. All buses have very low steps and drivers who are on hand to help if you need assistance.

If you'd like to get in touch, please use the following details.

Contact information
Phone: 03451 55 11 88
Address: Rothesay House Rothesay Place Glenrothes Fife KY7 5PQ
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 2.30pm

A bus pass, called a freedom pass, is available if you are blind, deaf, partially sighted, without speech, have poor mobility, learning disabilities or have been refused a driving licence on medical grounds. For further information please call the Transport Concession Team at www.fifedirect.org.uk.

Fife Council also offer concessionary travel in a variety of schemes. For further information, and to find out if you are eligible for concessionary travel, please follow the link here.