When it’s time to talk to your senior about mobility aids you might balk a bit. That’s especially true if you and your senior have argued in the past about some of these helpful tools. You may want to do some research before you bring up the topic again.“> But having the talk is better than just dodging the elephant in the room.
Mobility devices for Seniors that You May Consider
Mobility devices for seniors should aim to enhance independence and assist those with mobility challenges. Here are a few examples:
- Canes: A simple and widely used device for stability while walking. There are various types, including standard canes, quad canes, and folding canes.
- Walkers: Walkers provide more support than canes and come with a frame and handgrips. Some have wheels for easier maneuverability, and others have seats for resting.
- Rollators: Similar to walkers but equipped with wheels, rollators offer more ease of movement. They often include a seat and brakes, allowing users to sit down when needed.
- Wheelchairs: Manual and powered wheelchairs provide a higher level of mobility assistance. Manual wheelchairs require physical effort to move, while powered wheelchairs are electrically powered for easier navigation.
- Mobility Scooters: Electric scooters are designed for both indoor and outdoor use. They are equipped with handlebars, a seat, and a battery-powered motor, providing a convenient means of transportation.
- Knee Scooters: Ideal for individuals recovering from lower leg injuries, knee scooters allow users to rest the injured leg while propelling themselves with the other leg. They offer increased mobility compared to crutches.
- Orthopedic Shoes and Inserts: While not traditional mobility devices, specially designed shoes and orthotic inserts can significantly improve stability and comfort for seniors with foot or balance issues.
- Stair Lifts: For seniors who have difficulty navigating stairs, stair lifts are motorized chairs attached to a track that can carry individuals up and down stairs safely.
- Transfer Benches: These benches are used in the bathroom to help seniors transfer safely in and out of the bathtub. They typically straddle the edge of the tub, providing a stable surface for sitting.
- Reacher Grabbers: Reacher grabbers are long-handled devices with a gripping mechanism at one end. They help seniors reach and pick up items without having to bend or stretch.
The choice of a mobility device depends on individual needs, preferences, and the nature of mobility challenges. Consulting with healthcare professionals can help determine the most suitable option for a senior’s specific situation.
Reasons Why You Can’t Just Wing This Talk
You definitely don’t want to wing this talk at all. Being prepared is going to do a lot to help your senior to be more accepting of what’s coming and to help you feel comfortable even having this conversation. It helps if you have an idea what types of mobility aids your senior is most likely to need and how she’ll be able to benefit from them, but this can be part of your information gathering stage.
This might be all new information for you now, but having the right information during this talk can help you find the right words and invoke the needed decision to help them navigate problems in mobility.
Another reason why you can’t just wing it is that there is a study that looked into how safe those helpful gadgets for older folks, like canes and wheelchairs, really are. They found that not many people talk about injuries from these devices in traditional reports, so the researchers dug into online reviews on Amazon to see what users were saying.
Turns out, there’s some good news and a bit of a warning. People mostly blame serious injuries on devices being faulty, not on users making mistakes.This means that by checking out the quality of the gadget, users and their helpers can probably avoid a lot of accidents. The study suggests that educating people on how to pick and use these devices could prevent many injuries. So, it’s like a call for everyone to be a bit more careful and informed about the tools that help our loved ones move around safely.
Get Their Doctor’s Opinion
Talk to your senior’s doctor about what’s going on and what you’re seeing. There may be a variety of other mobility aids that her doctor can recommend. Some of them may even be ones your elderly family member is more open to using. Working with a physical or occupational therapist may also be something your senior’s doctor recommends. Both types of therapists can show your senior how to use mobility aids and how to get the most out of them.
Remember to Be Supportive
Whenever you’re ready to start the conversation with your elderly family member, try to remember that the overwhelming feeling you’re trying to convey is that you’re there for them. You’re trying to help them to solve a problem and that’s something you’re doing because you’re on her side. If you play into arguing with her or anything negative, that’s more likely to backfire.
Focus on Key Issues for Your Senior
Keep your eye on the prize during your talk. This is about how these tools are going to benefit your elderly family member and what they’re going to do for her. If she’s unable to do some things that she loves and these tools will turn back the clock on that problem, make sure you mention it. You’re going to want to focus on all the good points to win her over.
Another way to help your senior to get used to mobility aids is to bring in home care providers. They can help your senior in providing the right transitional care to remember and adjust to the to use of mobility aids and they can show them easier ways to do some things.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering home care assistance especially in Springfield, PA please contact the caring staff at Correct Choice Home Care today at (267) 323-1700
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