Mobility Aids Built for Safety

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!