It’s no surprise that 90 percent of seniors want to age at home as opposed to an assisted living facility or nursing home. They want to live out their golden years in the place where they feel the safest and most comfortable—a home full of memories and close to friends and family.
This desire for greater independence has shifted senior care from traditional nursing homes to in-home care, In fact, by 2021 the number of nursing facilities in the U.S. is expected to drop 20 percent. But for seniors with mobility issues, this trend comes with its own set of challenges. Eighteen percent of Americans and twenty percent of Canadians over age 65 have physical disabilities, and helping them move safely around their home can require modifications in the home.
Thankfully, there are a number of mobility solutions that can give your loved one back some of the freedom they desire without the need for expensive home remodels. Here are just three of them:
Stairlifts – Second only to car accidents, falls are a leading cause of injury, and staircases can be one of the biggest hazards for seniors. In Canada, for instance, 13 percent of falls experienced by seniors happen when they’re going up and down steps. However, a stairlift allows seniors to move safely and comfortably from the first floor to a second-floor bedroom or bathroom. With a swivel seat for easy in and out, powered footrest for back pain suffers, and a smooth ride between floors, the stairlifts from Handicare give seniors with mobility issues access to their whole house again.
Stairlifts – Second only to car accidents,
- Ceiling Lifts – Lifting a patient from their bed to a wheelchair or from their wheelchair to the shower or commode can be physically taxing on a caregiver. A ceiling lift with an overhead track system and safety sling attachment provides the muscle to securely and comfortably raise and lower patients, reducing the injury risk for everyone.
Ceiling Lifts – Lifting a patient from their bed to a wheelchair or from their wheelchair to the shower or commode can be physically taxing on a caregiver. A
- Sit-to-Stand Lifts – A sit-to-stand lift helps transfer patients from a seated position to a standing one, and is best suited for a senior who can still bear weight on both legs and has some degree of mobility. Available in both hydraulic and manual models, these sit-to-stand solutions can be easily moved from one room to another and also exercises leg muscles to improve balance. Because 10 percent of fall-related injuries are caused by moving from a higher position to a lower one or vice versa, having a sit-to-stand lift reduces potential fall hazards to seniors.
Installing mobility devices in your loved one’s home
If the senior in your life is struggling with a physical disability, but still wants to age in place, it’s important to equip their home with mobility solutions that help accomplish their daily activities. To learn more, contact us today at 866-891-6502.
