Tag: elderly safety

Walkers, Rollators, and What You Need to Know

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Posted on by Administrator

For any patient who has difficulty with balance or mobility, it makes sense to invest in tools to keep them safe. Some of the most common mobility devices are walkers and rollators. In this post, we will explore the differences between the two. Also, we will share tips to improve the use and safety of each.

Walkers vs. Rollators

The primary difference between walkers and rollators is wheels. While both devices have four legs, a walker must be lifted to be moved while a rollator can be pushed and will roll. Walkers are more stable because when all four legs are on the ground they won’t move. Thanks to swiveling wheels and brakes, rollators offer easy mobility but not very good assistance for balance.

How to Choose

If a patient has any issues with balance or needs to lean while standing, a walker is a better choice. On the other hand, if the patient is weak or needs to rest while walking, a rollator may be a better choice. Be sure to take location into consideration. Depending on where a patient will be using mobility assistance, they may need or prefer one type or the other.

Staying Safe and Mobile

There are several key components to safety with mobility devices. For one, ensure that each device is adjusted to the correct height for the patient. Elbows should be bent in a natural position while the patient is gripping the device. Secondly, use the device as intended. Many patients find it tempting to place their walker or rollator far in front of them and then take several steps to reach it. Instead, place the device about a step ahead and then step into it before moving the device again. This will help maintain balance and prevent a fall. Finally, be sure you are aware of surroundings. Relocate any power cords, rugs, or other tripping hazards from main walkways. In this way, you can prevent snags and disruptions.

Suggested Accessories

Whether you decide on a walker or a rollator, there are lots of accessories that will make life more convenient and even fun. There is a wide variety of walker baskets available to tote various belongings. Some even include a cup holder. If a walker is being used as part of a larger group of tools, add a cane holder for convenience. Trays are a great help, either for carrying odds and ends around the house or for mealtime convenience. Lastly, don’t forget to have fun with your device. Add color, stickers, flags, and anything else you’d like, as long as it doesn’t hinder function. Just because it has a purpose doesn’t mean it can’t be fun too.

The choice between walkers and rollators will vary from patient to patient. Regardless of the choice you make, be sure to adjust the height and prepare your spaces to keep them as safe as possible. And remember to keep it fun! The more individual and unique the device becomes, the more ownership the patient feels over their tools. If you are looking for the best prices on walkers, rollators, and accessories, look no further than AAA Wholesale Company! You can find our full catalog here.

Safety Features of Grab Bars for Aging Loved Ones

Posted on by Administrator
Image by geralt - https://pixabay.com/en/users/geralt-9301/
Image by geralt – https://pixabay.com/en/users/geralt-9301/

As we age, our bones begin to thin and lose their strength. This condition is called osteopenia.  This can also cause mobility and balance issues. If you have aging loved ones with balance or mobility issues, installing grab bars will help ensure their safety.  This is especially important if your loved one is prone to falling or has suffered a previous injury.  Severe bone thinning that has reached a point where a person is at a high risk for fractures (broken bones) is known as osteoporosis.

For those with osteoporosis, any little fall, trip, or even bump can cause a fracture. Those fractures, in an older person, take much longer to heal.  Further, if an aging loved one suffers osteoporosis, they may never be able to walk or move around as they did prior to a fracture. After a fall or fracture, some older people do not exercise or move around much for fear of falling again.  This is where grab bars can be extremely helpful.  Older people need to remain as active as possible as lack of exercise will further weaken bones and muscle making falling again much more likely.  Adding grab bars to bathtubs, showers, stairways, kitchens, and every other room an aging loved one uses helps reassure them there is support to prevent falling.

Features of Grab Bars

Grab bars come in many different styles and sizes.  Chrome, brushed metal, stainless steel, and plastic are just some of the styles offered.  Some of the features of grab bars are as follows:

  • Metal grab bars have a knurled surface. This is a set of ridges to help your loved one get a firm, non-slip grip on the grab bar.
  • Permanent or temporary. Although both types of grab bars are available (permanent or temporary with suction cups), permanent grab bars are much safer.  If a suction cup does not hold, this can increase the chance of falling.
  • Sizes range from 12” to 48” assuring you get the proper length for your loved one.
  • Grab bars can be straight, angled, or L-shaped.
  • Portable grab bars are great for travel. If your aging loved one must travel, a portable grab bar is perfect for ensuring safety at a hotel or at someone else’s home.

Bathtubs and Showers

Getting in and out of the bathtub or shower is not easy for an aging loved one with mobility issues.  Standing on one leg while putting the other leg over the side of a bathtub can be quite risky without assistance.  Installing one or two grab bars in the shower can substantially lower the risk of falling.  Combined with a transfer bench, your loved one is even safer.  If your aging loved one still stands to shower, grab bars come in handy while in the shower to prevent slips and give them something to hold onto while washing.  As you can see, the most important place in an aging loved one’s home for grab bars is the bathroom.

Kitchens 

No matter what age, the majority of women, along with some men, love the kitchen.  Whether they are cooking, washing dishes, or just having a cup of coffee at the table, installing a grab bar to aid in moving around the kitchen and getting up from the kitchen chair is very beneficial to their safety.  You can even purchase them to blend in with the home décor.

Bathrooms

Placing a grab bar on one or both sides of the toilet can greatly help an aging loved one.  As we age, our knees and hips are not as strong and sometimes that extra support is needed to sit down and get up.  This is especially true if you have an aging loved one who has had bone replacements such as a hip or knee replacement, or if they have suffered a previous fracture.

For aging loved ones with balance or mobility issues, grab bars are essential to help ensure their safety.  They are also a very proactive step to take for aging loved ones without any issues to aid in prevention.  Visit AAA Wholesale Company or fill out the contact form for all of your grab bar needs.  We are happy to help if you are unsure about which product to order.