aging

If you live with physical disabilities or limitations, driving may be impeded. There are mobility aids and devices that can enhance accessibility, helping to keep you safer on the road. From assistance with seat belts to a convenient way to stow scooters and chairs when driving, there are mobility solutions for the situations you could encounter behind the wheel.

Leaving home with physical disabilities or mobility issues presents certain challenges. It could serve to increase anxiety surrounding driving and getting out which could jeopardize independence and confidence behind the wheel. Maintain your autonomy, or the autonomy of someone you love, with simple accessibility options that help keep drivers safe.

Also, National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April offers the perfect platform to learn more and ask questions regarding safety related to driving. When accessibility is compromised due to physical challenges, health issues, or aging, mobility aids could offer a solution.

Consider these accessibility options that help to keep you safe on the road:

Height Help

As we age, we shrink! It is a lot easier for seniors to drive when they have good reach and control behind the wheel. Check out wedge seat cushions available widely at most medical supply or mobility equipment venues or foot pedal extensions, that can give shorter drivers better control and reach of the pedals, while also keeping them close to the wheel.

Seatbelt Support

To ensure that everyone wears their seatbelt, make sure that it is within reach and easy to buckle. There are reaching tools specially designed for seatbelts, consisting of a strap with a rubber handle that helps the user reach and fit the belt around them. This also comes with added padding around the neck that helps protect the wearer from uncomfortable chafing. When the belt is easy to secure, you are more inclined to wear it which is the safest thing to do.

Ocular Options

Driving is difficult, possibly dangerous if you can’t see well. First, always wear corrective lenses if you have been prescribed them and visit your eye care provider at least every year. Health conditions and even things like diet can impact how well you can see. Protect your sight with preventative care.

Consider these driving tips when vision is an issue:

• Augment the auto with another mirror or two-why not? Make sure that you don’t have a blind spot that could cause issues. There are oversized mirrors that affix to the rearview but that provide a much wider view of the back and sides of the vehicle. These are a big help when parallel parking especially for those that have limited flexibility and range of motion in their neck or back.
• Make the leap and invest in a backup camera for your main vehicle. This can prevent blind spots and help those that may struggle to flex, move, and look around. These often come with night vision cameras which may be helpful to anyone with night blindness or that has had eye surgery for cataracts, which can cause difficulty driving after dark.
• The sun can be blinding and cause a nasty accident in the blink of an eye. Invest in a glare shield that is customized to fit perfectly over your existing sun visor. This will provide better glare protection, without any obstacles in your view. These are great for any driver but those with vision issues or impairment will benefit greatly.

For vision issues, make sure to discuss your options with your eye care professional. Wear polarized sunglasses or prescription glasses to further reduce glare and the damage that UV rays can do to your eyes.

Stow Service

If you use a wheelchair or scooter, the problem may not pertain to driving as much as what to do with your mobility device when you get behind the wheel? Also, how will you store the equipment until your next stop? This is where vehicle lifts come in and they enable many with physical disabilities and challenges to resume driving, while maintaining their freedom, too. If you feel that a vehicle lift is right for you, speak with a mobility professional to learn more about this solution.

Entry/Exit

A key to accessibility is entry and egress. Have you ever struggled to get in or out of a building or door? Portable ramps make any step, stoop, or stair accessible. These are easy to fold and stash in the trunk, for when they are needed. They are easy to pull out and implement when you get where you are going and need to navigate some tricky entry or exit. Another perk of temporary, portable ramps is the price; these are very affordable mobility solutions.

Keep loved ones, or yourself, behind the wheel longer with accessibility and mobility aids that make driving easier and safer. Talk to the team at Pacific Mobility to find out more about adaptive aids and equipment for your vehicle, too.

Occupational therapy focuses on recuperation, rehabilitation, and recovery of individuals that have experienced accidents and injuries or that have just had surgery. Mobility aids can improve and hasten healing from such incidents, while also providing the sense of safety and security that help many get around easier. Talk with your OT provider and mobility professionals to learn more and consider observing Occupational Therapy Month this April to show your support.

Occupational Therapy Month in April each year strives to spread awareness and make connections among those that could potentially benefit from treatment and therapy. The benefits of occupational therapy extend across patients and seniors to families and caregivers, moving people toward recovery. As for mobility aids, occupational therapists (OTs) embrace the tools and adaptive equipment that can help individuals move and live with more ease.  Let’s discuss a few.

Along with Occupational therapy, these mobility aids can enhance quality of life:

Canes and Walking Sticks

A standard cane will provide support, but a walking stick may offer more stability. Consider tripods or quadrupeds, with three and four feet on their base, respectively. These are often used by individuals that are weak, either following surgery or a medical episode, like a stroke. The multi-point base design of a walking stick that you find in a mobility aid retail venue provides the added assistance needed, either for the short or long term.

Crutches

When you think of crutches, you probably think of someone who has broken a leg or twisted an ankle. True enough crutches are the ideal mobility aid to take the weight off a weak or injured limb, leg, or extremity while recovering and rehabilitating. Crutches are not often used long-term, as there are more convenient options for those that require similar support for prolonged periods or for chronic conditions. Crutches are a great occupational therapy tool for someone who has lost mobility or strength in their feet or legs.

Walkers

Walkers are called by many names, including Zimmer frames. Typically, these ‘walking frames’ or walkers have four legs or two legs with two wheels. These provide walking assistance for those that need it. Some other styles of walkers include foldable, wheeled, non-foldable, and without wheels, the options and features go on and on. You will see people in hospitals often using walkers of all different kinds- there are even knee walkers that you crouch on when moving- or in settings where people are recovering and rehabilitating.

Rollators

A Rollator is essentially a rolling walker, though there are variations and distinctions. These are designed for individuals that may lack the strength or stamina to push a traditional walker forward when moving. Many of these offer seats for the user to sit and rest as needed which also may reduce the risk of a fall for many. Three-wheeled rollators are often called tri-walkers, and you may find a sturdy outdoor variation with four wheels that is good on rough and rugged terrain.

So, yes rollators are good for both indoor and outdoor use. Storage may be the only issue that some consumers face, though many styles are light enough to allow for picking up and folding with relative ease, when necessary.

Wheelchairs

Certainly, you are familiar with wheelchairs and, hopefully, you won’t need one anytime soon. Depending on your needs, injury, or conditioning, a wheelchair may be the most therapeutic mobility aid for you. Depending on the user’s strength level, a self-propelled wheelchair may be a viable option. Those with less upper body strength may find that an attendant-propelled wheelchair is more prudent.

If you will be using a wheelchair for the long term, a powered wheelchair makes a lot of sense and it can be a lot more comfortable for the individual, too. Certain factors, like if you plan to use it outdoors or in, are relevant when seeking and purchasing a wheelchair. Visit a mobility retailer to learn more about wheelchair options today!  

Mobility scooters

So, are you going to be using your mobility aid outdoors most of the time? A scooter might be perfect for you. These are designed for non-road travel but with the speed that you want outside. There are two different classes of mobility scooters with varying speed maximums that you should consider as well as the best terrain for each.

Make sure that you account for transporting the scooter as needed. This can be a challenge. Also, do you have a means of transporting it, that is, a large trunk or truck bed? These are pertinent questions to consider when shopping for the best mobility aids for you and your lifestyle. Your OT can help you pinpoint solutions that work and that provide optimal autonomy and independence.

The strides that mobility aids and OT can make are amazing. If you live with a physical disability or are recovering from an accident, injury, or surgery, consider how mobility aids may help put you on the path to recovery. Talk with your occupational therapist about potential options- and visit Pacific Mobility to learn more about mobility aids available

Prepare your home to care for an elderly loved one before they move in to ensure their comfort and safety. Speak with professional contractors to find pragmatic ways to improve your home surroundings to accommodate your guest as well as discuss mobility solutions with qualified retailers to learn more.

Sometimes, it makes sense to move an older family member, friend, or neighbor into your home. It can be a win-win situation for many, though it does take some thoughtful preparations. If your loved one lives with physical limitations or mobility issues, talk to a reputable and qualified retailer about stairlifts and aids to improve and enhance quality of life.

Get ready for your elderly loved one to move in with the following tips and suggestions:

Install Ramps and Railings

The first thing to do is to ensure safety as your loved one enters the home with ramps and railings. The key to aging in place is safe accessibility, and a sturdy, supportive railing and gently sloping ramp can do just that. In fact, all stairs and steps deserve railings on your property, and any threshold or stair that is not accessible to your loved one needs a portable ramp, at the very least. These are modifications that everyone will benefit from.

Speak with a Builder

You own it to yourself to talk with a builder about changes that you may not be able to do yourself, but that could be life-changing for your loved one when they come to stay. A contractor will have the expertise and know-how to detail improvements and give you accurate estimates of costs before you begin any repairs or renovations. Ask a contractor to inspect the property to identify areas that may be safety issues, too.  

Pay Attention to the Bathroom

Since most falls and fall-related injuries occur in the bathroom, it makes sense to focus some attention in this area of the home before your loved one moves in. Line the tub and shower with non-slip mats or coatings and install handholds and grab-bars by the sink and toilet, too. Make sure that the lights work properly and that the switches are accessible for all. Invest in a toilet lift to make it easier for loved ones to use the bathroom when living with mobility challenges.

Tap Into Resources

Start taking people up on their offers to help you with your loved one. Pin down people that offer to sit with a loved one so you can get out more, or that say they will provide a ride somewhere. Enlist help from family and friends to help prevent caregiver burnout and to facilitate your loved one doing all that they want to do each day. Look into area agencies on aging that may offer more formal supports to help family caregivers.

Get Grab-Bars

A firm and sturdy place to grab on is going to go a long way at preventing falls around the home. This is why it seems pragmatic to install grab bars everywhere, throughout the home. These are not expensive and are easy to install with a cordless screwdriver or drill. Worried about holes in your sheetrock walls later? Fill them with a bit of white toothpaste to conceal and cover these spots.

Enhance Lighting Throughout

Dim lighting is another reason why people, especially older folks and those with physical disabilities, fall and sustain an injury. Before your loved one moves in, assess and enhance lighting throughout the home environment. Make sure that lights work properly and consider making the switch to LED it is cooler, more efficient, and lasts much longer than other bulbs. Plus, it provides much better illumination that is gentler on the eyes, too.

Evaluate the Stairs

So, what do you want to do about the stairs? Is it necessary for your loved one to ascend and descend the stairs regularly? If the bathroom is upstairs, or you have a bedroom upstairs all ready, consider if a stairlift makes sense for your home. If you have resources downstairs in the home, consider converting to one-level living for your family member. As long as they have access to all that they need for ADLs (activities of daily living) and are comfortable with the arrangement.

Think Ahead to the Future

When you make these plans and modifications, try to consider future needs, as well. Maybe a stairlift doesn’t seem warranted right now, but could it be later? Try to predict future needs to prepare now for situations that could arise at some point, down the road.

Plan now and prepare for your loved one’s arrival with these tips. To learn more about mobility solutions to help make the transition easier, talk to the team at Pacific Mobility.

Stairlifts should be considered essential equipment that are not toys. For this reason, it is strongly recommended that you follow the use instructions and suggestions provided by the manufacturer. Follow basic and proper operation tips to ensure the safety and performance of your new stairlift.

There is a lot to know about your new stairlift. With time, using this mobility aid properly will be second nature, but until then, make sure to use safety and follow manufacturer’s instructions for optimal performance.

Know that you can reach out to speak with a qualified mobility professional about stairlifts and aids at any time. They will be happy to answer any questions that you have!

Here are some stairlift tips for proper use and operation of your new lift:

• Never allow anyone besides a professional mobility technician install or repair your stairlift for you. Allowing anyone that does not represent the company you bought it from may make your warranty null and void.
• Always wear the safety belt and buckle up when riding up or down on the lift. It may seem unnecessary or inconvenient to always remember to buckle up, but it is imperative. You could sustain an injury if the device runs into an obstacle or something unexpected. Make sure that you are able to fasten the safety belt or ask for assistance from someone else in the home.
• Sure, stairlifts look like a lot of fun, but remember they are not a toy. Always supervise children around your mobility aids and equipment, including stairlifts. Do not set the standard that it is okay for children to sit on or play with the lift. It is not and it can be dangerous. Always use the child-proof immobilization feature when there are children in the home.
• Remember to fold the seat back up when not in use for others in the home who do not use the lift. When the seat is folded up, it is out of the way and does not serve as an obstacle or a fall risk to those that are not watching out for it.
• Engage and ask retailers to demonstrate the obstruction sensors on your stairlift; most current and contemporary lifts have this feature. These sensors detect when something is on the rail or in their path and stop. This makes the lift safer in homes with pets, children, and toys. Always err on the side of caution and keep an eye out for pets when using your lift to ensure they steer clear when it is in operation.
• Always advise those using stairlifts to be wary and try to avoid wearing loose, drapey clothing on their lift. Long, loose items can become caught in the mechanisms of your stairlift, which is a recipe for disaster. This situation could cause injury to the user and damage to the device.
• Remember that stairlifts and liquids do not mix. Do not try to transport liquids, open drinks, or containers up and down the lift. Always use a lid to prevent any kind of spill that can harm your lift. If you do happen to disregard this warning and spill liquid on the stairlift’s parts, contact the lift’s manufacturer right away to ask for further advice and assistance. Avoid using the lift in the meantime to prevent injury.
• Stairlifts have very clear weight and usage restrictions. Pay heed to these if you want your stairlift to last and work properly. Never allow more than one person to use or ride the lift at one time and always adhere to the weight restrictions and limits set by the manufacturer. Check your stairlift owner’s manual if you are unsure about what the weight limit is.
• Do not carry heavy loads or big items up or down on the stairlift. This is not the intended purpose, and it could damage the lift at the very least but cause serious injury, too. Also, it is too easy to underestimate the weight of objects, belongings, and loads which could exceed the weight limit for the device. This can cause damage to the lift as well as injury to the rider.
• Make sure to have your stairlift serviced and inspected regularly, too. This ensures it works safely and properly for years to come! If you have any concerns or the lift is not working properly, contact your dealer or manufacturer about service, which is usually covered by the warranty.

Servicing your stairlift as recommended by the manufacturer also addresses safety issues before they can become problems. Consult with the owner’s manual accompanying your lift to learn more. Don’t have a manual? Contact the retailer, dealer, or manufacturer to obtain or download one today!

Do you have a new stairlift? Use these tips to use it properly and safely. Also, talk to the team at Pacific Mobility for more recommendations or to learn more about your lift.

Mobility aids do more than improve access they also can increase safety, too. There are distinct devices that are built for safety and that can make your home a safer place. Patient Safety Awareness Week in March strives to improve safety of patients in medical facilities setting the bar for those who want safer environments at home, too.  From lifts to grab-bars, consider the wide range of options available.

Patient Safety Awareness Week in March strives to improve safety in and around medical facilities for the patients seeking help there. Take some cues from healthcare professionals and beef-up safety around your own home using many of the same methods and implements.

One way that patients are safer is with mobility aids and devices. Consider investing time in researching mobility equipment that may work well in your living environment.

Here is what every senior should know about stairlifts and aids that are built for safety:

Stairlifts

Medical professionals endorse the use of stairlifts as an effective means of reducing falls in the home. Did you know that around 36 million seniors fall each year in the US and of these, nearly 32,000 succumb to their injuries and die? Stairs and steps are one of the prime areas that can cause obstacles for seniors at home particularly if the individual also lives with a medical issue or physical limitation.

Stairlifts ease the user up and down stairs, indoors and out, to prevent possible falls. The seat is comfortable and easily accessible, with platforms at the top and bottom for easy operation. Remote hand controls make it a breeze and easy to adapt to, also. Stairlifts are aids that are built for enhancing safety.

Walkers

Walkers are another mobility aid that is designed with safety in mind, and to help reduce the possibility of nasty falls and related injuries. When it comes to walkers, there is a wide range of options from rolling styles to knee walkers, which are particularly useful in recovery or rehabilitative situations. Walkers provide sturdy support during physical activity for users with a variety of medical conditions and issues.

Shower Seats

If you visit a healthcare facility and peek in the bathroom, you will likely see a shower seat and possibly a Shower Buddy, too. These are designed to make bathing safer and the Shower Buddy can also help to keep the caregiver safe too. Transporting patients can be tricky, one wrong move, and the caregiver, nurse, or provider could be seriously injured. Add slick surfaces and water to the mix, and you could have a dangerous situation on your hands. A Shower Buddy is a type of lift that helps during this process.

Shower seats are ideal for any home, really, and they are inexpensive to buy. They provide a place to sit and shower or wash, that is stable and secure. A seat goes a long way toward preventing falls the shower or tub.

Grab-bars

You can’t go wrong with a good grab-bar. First, they are remarkably inexpensive and easy to find. Second, they can be almost lifesaving when it comes to reducing the risk of a fall. A grab-bar that is securely and properly installed provides that bit of stability that many need when doing things like washing, preparing food, getting dressed- basically, any of the routine activities of daily living (ADLs). Grab-bars are great at the top and bottom of stairs, near doors, and anyplace that the resident may need to ‘grab’ some quick support.

Ramps

Do you have ramps outside your home? Many residences do, as they provide a gentle and easy means of access for anyone entering the property. If you don’t want to make the investment in permanent and fixed ramps, consider portable ramps for use anywhere you need quick and convenient access. These can be put in the trunk of a vehicle for use on the go, or you could keep them in place at home. The choice is yours! The price of portable ramps makes them a safety feature that no home should be without.

Lift Chairs

At first glance, a lift chair looks like a regular recliner in the living room. Actually, a lift chair is a motorized mobility aid that gently raises and lowers to make it easier for the person sitting in the chair to get up or down. These are especially helpful for those with mobility issues, neuropathy, or pain associated with joints, legs, or feet.

Bed Rails

Hospitals and nursing facilities use bed rails. Would you or your loved one benefit from them, as well? Bed rails do more than keep the sleeping person from rolling out of bed- they offer a sturdy grip and support for getting in and out of bed, too. These can be installed and attached to a wide range of bed styles; talk to a mobility retailer to learn more.

Make safety a priority in your home. Talk to the team at Pacific Mobility about mobility aids, like lifts and ramps, that are built for safety and endorsed by healthcare professionals. You have a lot of options in mobility equipment that can improve everyday living. Call or visit today!

Did you know that Diabetes can cause mobility issues? Diabetes is a serious medical condition that causes complications and problems with mobility and that can be life-threatening, too.

It is estimated that around 30 million people have Type 2 Diabetes in this country and around seven million have not yet been diagnosed. Diabetes can be debilitating and impact all areas of health and wellness, including mobility. If you live with physical limitations or mobility issues related to Type 2 Diabetes, talk to a qualified mobility retailer about stairlifts and aids that can help you.

Are you at risk for Type 2 Diabetes? Consider the following risk factors:

• Obesity is the prime risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. Maintain a healthy weight and get physical activity.
• Genetics are another risk factor for Diabetes. If you had a close family member with this disease, there is a chance you will develop it, as well.
• Some races and ethnicities are at higher risk of Type 2 Diabetes than others.
• If you have had Gestational Diabetes when pregnant, you may later have Type 2 Diabetes.
• Individuals over age 45 are at higher risk.
• Men are more likely to develop Diabetes.

If you feel you could be at risk for Type 2 Diabetes, take a test to see if you have Diabetes. The American Diabetes Alert Day is observed every fourth Tuesday throughout March, which is the perfect time to visit their website and take advantage of their Diabetes Risk Test, an easy online tool.  

When you think of the impacts that Diabetes can have on your life, you may not consider how it affects the way you get around and move. The fact is, Diabetes can be devastating to your physical health and mobility, impacting your autonomy and independence in the process.

Some diabetic symptoms that may cause mobility issues include these:

Tingling and Pain

If you have Diabetes, you likely have noticed the occasional tingling and numbness that you can experience in the extremities, like your hands, your feet, and your legs. The numbness feels similar to when you have a limb fall asleep and the tingling that accompanies it waking back up. This feeling can perpetuate into a burning sensation that is not only uncomfortable but painful and concerning, as well. This loss of sensation and chronic pain can greatly impact how you move and get around, perhaps at times reducing physical activity and eroding quality of life.

Neuropathy Numbness

Diabetic neuropathy may be the cause for the previously mentioned numbness, which typically begins in the feet and legs before moving on to the arms and hands. If you experience Diabetic neuropathy can happen at any time, so it could cause you to take a nasty fall. This condition is marked by an inability to feel your feet while you are up and on them. It is a frightening experience and easy to see how it could affect mobility.

Skeletal Stiffness

When you are hyperglycemic, your Diabetes is out of control or unmanageable. When glucose levels increase and become high, sugar can stick to the collagen that is in your bones, tendons, and cartilage. The result? You will feel stiff, even sore, and your bones may ache. This is caused by the thickening of the collagen from the glucose, which curbs the body’s ability to smoothly move bones and joints through your normal range of movement. It can make you feel stiff with difficulty moving at times.

Vertigo

Have you ever heard of Vertigo? If you have experienced it, you know how unpleasant it is. Vertigo, or paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), is much more common among those individuals with Type 2 Diabetes. Vertigo is dizziness, sometimes nausea, and often headaches that can occur, and that makes it tricky to stand, sit, or walk a straight line. Some describe it as feeling ‘drunk’, while others may experience excruciating headaches and vomiting. With Vertigo, you may simply want to lie still.

Vulnerability to Infection

The more life-threatening symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes are the vulnerability to infection and the length of time it takes wounds to heal when you are Diabetic. Slow-healing sores could be susceptible to infection which is why so many Diabetics are amputees.

Weight Gain

The excess weight and weight gain that often accompanies Type 2 Diabetes can affect mobility and restrict physical activity. The best, and only, way to maintain mobility with this condition as you get older is with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Talk to your doctor to learn more.

Observe American Diabetes Alert Day this year and familiarize yourself with the struggles that diabetics endure. One may not think about the mobility complications and issues that this condition causes, but they are significant and severe. For assistance and aid with everyday activities, talk to the team at Pacific Mobility about mobility solutions that make sense and that make life simpler.

Are you, or someone close to you, afraid of stairs? This is a type of disorder, a phobia, that can cause crushing fear and anxiety to those afflicted. Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to reduce and eliminate the fear of ascending or descending steps and stairs, also known as Bathmophobia.

It is estimated that over 12% of Americans have or will experience a phobia, which is an overwhelming fear or anxiety around specific triggers. For example, Bathmophobia is a distinct fear surrounding steps and using steps or stairs. This can be problematic as most homes and residences have multiple levels, and thus, stairs. Though many with this condition tend to avoid stairs altogether, their anxiety could result in a fall when faced with no other option than to navigate steps. There are some tactics that can help including the use of stairlifts and aids, that can make life a lot easier and less stressful.  

Consider these tips to help cope and overcome Bathmophobia, or fear of stairs:

Go Slow

The first piece of advice for everyone, not just those with Bathmophobia, is to go slow; slow down! Feeling the pressure to hurry and ascend or descend stairs can lead to a fall and an injury. Take the steps one at a time, hold on, and try to conquer your fear along the way. With the right footwear and a sturdy railing, you can do it.

Implement Railings

So, speaking of sturdy railings, this is a necessity if you are ever going to be less fearful of steps or stairs. Plus, a railing goes a long way toward reducing the risk of accidents and falls around the home. Depending on the configuration of the stairs, use the banister, railing, or wall to ease your way up or down the steps. If there is no support, do not try to traverse the steps; it is a safety issue that will require further resolution.

Install Aids

There are some mobility aids and devices that can solve the problem of climbing stairs. Consider the practicality of a stairlift. These aids are amazing for helping older individuals or those with physical limitations live independently and access all areas of the home. These are motorized, easy to use, and comfortable plus, you have a safety strap to make sure you are secure during transport. Stairlifts are being installed in more and more homes these days, as they have shown to significantly improve everyday living and quality of life. Talk to a qualified mobility professional to learn more!

Enhance Safety

How safe are your stairs? If your fear is partly due to the condition of the stairs, it is worth the investment to fix them and resolve the issue. Have a professional builder renovate loose, damaged, or uneven steps to make them safer. Also, make sure there is slip-proof surfacing, such as non-slip rubber or tread, to help reduce the risk of a fall.  

Move Downstairs

Is it feasible to reconfigure the home environment to one-level living? Perhaps you can use portable ramps to make entry steps or porch stairs more accessible, too? By consolidating your lifestyle to the most accessible floor of the home, you may be able to cope with Bathmophobia and experience fewer triggers.

Consider Treatment

If your condition is debilitating, have you considered professional treatment for your Bathmophobia? This is a practical option, and it has been determined that CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy) can help! When you meet with a cognitive-behavioral therapist, they will teach relaxation techniques that you can use when feeling anxious or stressed about your phobia, in this case, Bathmophobia.

The therapist will work to help you replace fears about stairs with rational thoughts to reduce your stress level when faced with stairs. The counselor may achieve this goal through systematic desensitization, which is a slow and gradual exposure to the stressor over a period of time.

Ask for Help

Have you tried reaching out and asking someone that you trust for help? Talk to a friend or family member about your fear, ask for a supportive hand, or to lean on a shoulder when dealing with stairs. When you express your fear, they may provide support and steadiness that makes you more confident and less likely to fall.

Do you struggle with Bathmophobia? Pacific Mobility may be able to help. Call or visit to find out more about mobility aids and equipment like lifts and grab bars that can help you navigate the stairs in your own home safely, securely, and with less anxiety or fear. Do not live in a state of stress due to stairs and do not let your fear risk your autonomy and plans to age in place. Consider these tactics to alleviate Bathmophobia and improve quality of life overall.

When it comes to mobility aids and equipment, when will you know the time is right? It may be a tough conversation to have with a loved one but it is necessary to support aging in place and safety. Stairlifts can change lives for the better. Talk to your senior today.

The time comes when mobility aids are necessary for safety and accessibility but also for quality of life. These devices can change lives for the better when given a fair chance. Stairlifts can facilitate aging in place and autonomy for many seniors, providing them effortless access to areas of the home that may have previously been difficult.

When should you start to consider these types of things, and how do you know when the time is right?

Physical Limitations

An obvious scenario that is going to bring up a conversation surrounding the right time for aids is after a fall or other incident that demonstrates some degree of physical limitation. After a fall, an injury, or a scare, it may be easier and quite a relief, to all involved to bring up the possibility of investing in a stairlift to make the environment more accessible. Remember a stairlift helps reduce the risk of a fall and its aim is to enhance autonomy and independence, not take it away. From this perspective, the conversation should not be unpleasant but should result in a firm plan with a clear timeline.

Aging in Place

Is your loved one focused on aging in place? That is, do they want to remain in their home living situation for as long as possible? In this case, use the easy-to-follow AARP tool to assess their level of mobility and other capacities, too to determine when extra help might be prudent.

In terms of mobility, there is a ‘timed up and go’ test that evaluates how your loved one can stand and walk from a seated position, in preparation for them living on their own. This is not to say that a low performance on this testing tool rules out autonomy, it merely opens the discussion surrounding mobility aids and equipment that might make it easier and more accessible for the senior.

This testing tool also provides assessments for other areas, including mental health and wellbeing. In this test, you simply ask your senior loved one how they are feeling and whether they are sad, anxious, or down. Seniors with chronic illnesses are most at-risk for symptoms of depression, which can impact overall quality of life for a loved one.

Doctor’s Recommendation

Concerned about having a talk with your loved one about their level of mobility and autonomy? Talk to their primary provider or doctor first. If you have concerns such as issues related to your senior’s health and wellbeing, ask their provider for a recommendation. They might write a prescription for simple mobility aids and devices that can make life safer and easier for your loved one and you! It is fine to be concerned about your aging loved one, but be open to their feedback, positive or negative. in response.

Observable Difficulty

Do you have the kind of relationship with the senior that allows you to ask them if they are having difficulty? Some may not mind being asked as long as they are not being judged. Mobility aids should be presented as a blessing, rather than a curse. After all, many consumers are able to stay on their own and preserve their wellbeing by using things like stairlifts, walkers, or grab bars. These help to prevent accidents and injuries that could compromise independence. This fact alone is compelling enough for many to consider some mobility assistance.

Favorable Feedback

As long as there are no imminent safety risks, the topic of mobility aids does not have to be had in a single conversation. Plan on broaching the topic from time to time, with emphasis on the benefits and options available. Check out a website or online vendor for images that clearly depict the various types of equipment available. Be patient- most will be resistant or reticent about things that are new and unfamiliar. But, over time, your loved one could warm up to the idea of some support and stability when going about their ADLs (activities of daily living). Always treat them with respect even if you do not agree with their perspective! Reiterate the many features and advantages that these aids could provide- including greater autonomy over their own life.

Still waiting to have that conversation with your loved one about stairlifts? Do it. Talk to the team at Pacific Mobility for more information and reasons to invest in mobility aids. From stairlifts to grab bars, these aids are what make it possible to hold on to independence, while staying safe.