In its definition of aging at home, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define it as being able to live safely, independently, and comfortably in one's community regardless of age, income, or ability.
Aging at home has numerous benefits for seniors. First, the quality of life has generally improved, as has the mood and mental health. The physical health of people is also positively impacted.
They are less likely to contract a serious disease because they remain at home, bypassing the infection risk of senior living facilities.
It is generally more affordable to age in place than to move into a nursing home or assisted living facility. Housing and Urban Development estimate that older Americans can save thousands of dollars annually by staying at home.
Age, however, changes the needs of people. Those who remain at home may need some assistive devices and possibly some home modifications to stay safe and livable. Using this guide, you can prepare a home for your loved one to age easily and safely.
Patient Transfer Device
The patient transfer device, also referred to as a patient transfer aid or equipment, is designed to help older people move safely between wheelchairs, chairs, beds, cars, bathtubs, or toilets at home.
According to the CDC, patient transfer devices significantly reduce the risk of caregiver strains and injuries and prevent falls among people over 65.
Bathroom & Bathtub Rails
Grab bars for showers, bathtubs, and toilets are bathroom safety rails installed strategically on walls so seniors can maintain balance and stability in bathing areas where the floor can become slippery and increase the risk of falling.
Several factors should be considered, including how well the bathroom rail grips are, the materials' quality, and the amount of weight they can support.
Basic homecare hospital bed
It can be useful to have a hospital bed at home when you are caring for aging parents. It can support an individual's back for comfort and ease the burden of caring for them.
As you sleep, you may wish to elevate your head and feet to improve circulation and breathing and make eating and drinking easier. You can also search for hospital bed rental to try out a bed suitable for your aged loved ones.
Hospital Bed Mattress
There are various types of hospital bed mattresses, including foam, innerspring, air-filled pockets, gel, and combinations of materials. There is a maximum thickness of 6 inches on these mattresses, and they are flexible enough to accommodate hospital bed frames that require adjustments.
Overbed Table
Spending much time in bed makes things more comfortable, convenient, and safe when you keep things within reach.
Overbed tables often refer to as hospital bed tables because they have a base with lockable wheels that allow them to slide under beds and have an adjustable height tabletop that overhangs the bed.
With this little table, you can eat, read, play games, work on your computer, create crafts, or store things you need close at hand.
Wedges and Rolls
Patients can use a bolster, a wedge, or a roll to add extra support and positioning to their chairs or beds. Holding a position that allows pressure relief can prevent bedsores and pain from excessive pressure on your bones. Several types, sizes, and styles of position aids are available.
Mobility Scooters
A mobility scooter, also known as a power scooter, can help a person with mobility challenges live a more active life. In addition to completing daily tasks around the house, traveling in public areas, conducting daily activities like shopping, and going outdoors, mobility scooters can even be used to run adventures outside.
Before purchasing a scooter, consider several factors, including the location of use, the speed, the battery range, the portability, and the user's comfort.
Canes
A walking cane is a perfect solution if you need extra stability while walking. With these mobility aids, users who have impaired balance or weak muscles can reduce their chances of falling.
With a cane, you can reduce muscle fatigue, prevent joint pain, and relieve pressure on joints while walking. They can support your gait while walking without slowing down too much and come in various sizes, colors, and styles.
Walker
As people age, there is a greater risk of falls, as aging can affect their balance. The use of a walker can help anyone who is aging in place maintain their independence and mobility more safely.
Rollators and walkers may sometimes function interchangeably, but they have distinct differences. You pick up the steady frames with stationary bases as you walk forward.
Wheelchair Ramps
An inclined plane is an alternative to or an addition to stairs for wheelchairs. Users of wheelchairs and scooters can navigate between areas at different heights more easily with these devices. It depends on how and where ramps will be used, whether they are permanent or semi-permanent.
Wheelchair Cushions
The comfort of people who use wheelchairs is as important as their safety. Choosing a wheelchair cushion that will keep you in the correct position is important, reducing the possibility of sliding out of the wheelchair.
Besides preventing pressure sores, pillows can also distribute the user's weight to prevent pressure points from developing.
Fall Prevention
People over 65 may suffer from soft tissue injuries or minor bone breaks, which can cause pain, lack of function, and distress. Seniors may limit their activities due to fear of falling, even if they experience only a minor fall.
In this way, their strength and independence are negatively affected, negatively impacting their quality of life, and they risk losing their strength and independence. Falling is not an uncommon occurrence!
Lift Chair
Lift chairs are recliners with motorized mechanisms that raise the chairs from their bases so the user can switch from seated to standing positions. Lift chairs benefit people with rheumatoid arthritis, neuropathy, osteoarthritis, balance issues, degenerative joint disease, cerebral palsy, ALS, and who are recovering from surgery to reduce the risk of slipping.
Bathtub Lift
A person with balance or strength issues may have difficulty safely getting in and out of the bathtub. Bath lifts reduce the risk of falling when entering and exiting the tub by lowering and lifting users into the tub.
Users and caregivers can easily operate most of them with simple controls since they are battery-operated. There are air cushion models that use compressors, as well as hydraulic manual versions that use the buoyancy of the water and the user's weight.
Bottom line
Caregiving for elderly parents at home can be challenging, especially if the space isn't modified to meet the needs of a senior. While aging at home is often preferable to entering a care facility, caring for elderly parents at home poses challenges.
Our Sky Medical store has a variety of assistive devices that can contribute to safe and comfortable aging a home environment.