As you get older, mobility often becomes increasingly difficult. Maybe you took a fall, perhaps you need a bit more stability due to osteoporosis, or maybe you just get fatigued more quickly than you used to and would like mobility support. In fact, mobility is the most common disability that the aging population faces. Close to 10.5 million adults over the age of 65 suffer from major mobility issues. You’d like to stay in your own home, but falls have you worried. Luckily, due to strides in medical technology, a number of mobility equipment options offer support so you can stay active and in the home you love.
Do I need mobility assistance?
There are multiple signs that you might need mobility assistance, including:
Trouble Standing
If you have trouble getting up after being seated for a period of time, it might be time to think about a cane. The extra support it offers is just like someone reaching out a helpful hand. Canes come in all sorts of variations including:
- Traditional curved
- Offset handle
- T-Handle
- Quad base
The right cane not only helps when standing, but maintains your mobility throughout the house keeping you in the home you love longer.
Difficulty Walking
As you age, sometimes it feels like a chore just to walk yourself to the bathroom or to the end of the driveway to retrieve the daily mail. It’s not so bad that you feel like you need a wheelchair, but some mobility assistance would be nice. A walker or rollator helps in situations like these.
Feeling Easily Fatigued
Perhaps you don’t need all that much help walking, but there are times when fatigue sets in and wish you had something to help take a load off. Something for those longer journeys, like down to the park on a summer day or walking from the parking lot to see your grandchild’s baseball game.
For times like these a piece of mobility equipment will help you catch your breath. Remember, canes are small and most walkers and rollators fold up easily, so during the times you don’t need mobility help you can store them conveniently away in the house or car.
Are there other types of mobility equipment?
There’s more to keeping you in your home than just helping you walk. You’re going to need support getting in and out of the bathtub or reaching a bag of sugar in the kitchen. For situations like these, it’s best to outfit your bathroom with grab bars and a raised toilet seat. Grab bars will help you in and out of the tub, and a raised toilet seat will keep you from having to bend so low that it’s tough to stand back up.
For grabbing those high up objects a reacher will help extend your reach. You won’t have to stretch so far that you risk falling. Did you know that one in four Americans over the age of 65 will fall each year? Having a reacher nearby and installing grab bars will reduce the falling risk and keeps you in your home longer.
Everyone wants to age in their own home. It’s the place you know and love. Having the right mobility equipment on hand will ensure you stay in your home as long as possible, keeping you independent and happy in your golden years.