Common Mobility Solutions You Can Purchase Now for Use Later

While you may not be able to predict the future, you certainly can prepare for it. When you are unsure what life will bring, better to be safe than sorry; enhancing accessibility around the home is always a smart investment. Talk to a mobility retail professional about aids and equipment that you can purchase now to use later.  

A lot of consumers wonder if now is the right time to invest in ways to make the home more accessible so that they may age in place and stay in their own home environment across their lifespan. The truth is, there are mobility aids, equipment, and adaptive devices that you can purchase now, to use later. This also helps to spread out the cost of items that may be expensive, though effective at enhancing access and quality of life.  

Even if you don’t need them right now, here are a few mobility solutions that will serve you well later: 

Lifts 

Lifts, such as stairlifts, are an aid that can automatically bring value to the property. These may be used as needed, but stairlifts that are professionally installed will also permit those who do not use the lift to utilize the stairs, too. These lifts can ensure many are able to age in place, that is, stay in their own home for as long as they wish, while not compromising quality of life and accessibility.  

Talk to a reputable mobility vendor to find out about installing a lift now for use later on.  

Grab Bars 

Such a seemingly simple and nondescript aid, but grab bars can improve safety and reduce the risk of falls greatly. They are easy enough to install, simply secure to the beam or stud in walls, and provide stability for those nearby. It is recommended that grab bars be installed near the toilet, sinks, and stairs of the home as well as any other areas like doorways and near the tub to offer support as needed.  

There is no need to wait to install grab bars. They make sense for anyone using the space, including children and seniors.  

Reaching Tools 

Every home should have at least one reaching tool accessible, as needed, at all times. These can go a long way toward reducing the risk of a nasty slip, fall, and subsequent injury. Have you ever hyperextended your arm or hand, reaching for something that is just out of reach? Have you ever struggled or even fallen when trying to get up from the floor after reaching or grasping something you dropped? When was the last time that you had full and ready access to items under or pushed back in cupboards or closets? 

Reaching tools are great for so many daily tasks that it would be impossible to list them all but here are a few: 

• Use these implements to access food or objects overhead in kitchen cabinets.  
• Take these tools with you outside to retrieve trash, toys, or other items that could be laying in the yard.  
• Try using a reaching tool for simple tasks including setting up and placing mousetraps! 
• Consider investing in lazy Susan fixtures for cabinets for better visibility and organization of all your items stored there. A reaching tool provides access without bending, grasping, or risking a fall.  
• Practice using the reaching tool with objects of varying sizes and weights until you become accustomed to and adept at using it.  

If these scenarios sound familiar, get yourself a reaching tool or two! Find them widely available at mobility retailers and some medical supply stores. These are inexpensive and something that can be used now and later.  

Shower Seats 

When it comes to fall reduction, put some focus on the bathroom. Did you know that falls are the leading cause of accidental death among seniors? It’s true; for this reason, buy aids now that reduce risks later on. Anyone can take a tumble in the bathroom if you think about it; it is an inherently slick and slippery space.  

Shower seats are unassuming, unintrusive, and lifesaving, when it comes to showering or bathing with a mobility issue. They provide a great spot to sit and bathe, reducing the risks of slipping and possibly getting hurt. These are found at most mobility retail centers, but you may also find some styles widely online. They can be used as needed, without impeding the use of the tub or shower for others. Furthermore, they are relatively inexpensive to buy. 

If you are thinking about enhancing the home environment with mobility aids and equipment to use later, come talk to the team at Pacific Mobility. For generations, we have been providing consumers with quality mobility aids and devices to improve their overall quality of life. Call or visit us today!