When it comes to taking care of an aging loved one, it’s important to not only think about the needs of the person that are physical needs, such as being warm enough and being fed and bathed, but also about the needs that are more psychological. Many carers notice that when the person they are caring for is more able to do things independently that they are happier. Part of being able to do something independently is mobility; fortunately, for carers and for those with reduced mobility, there are many devices that can help a person with reduced mobility get around safely.
Of course, safety is a primary concern, so it’s not a good idea to encourage someone with reduced mobility to just walk around the house because it’s good for the person to be able to do things for themselves. It’s important to keep in mind that this ability to get around the house (or get up and down the street) should not be treated as a simple goal; the benefits of having the ability to do it because of assisting devices has to be weighed against the risks that are involved with letting someone with reduced mobility head off down the street.
For elderly people who are still walking but who need some assistance to ensure that they don’t fall, there are various types of assisting walking devices. Some people prefer a simple cane, but there are also a wide variety of walkers available which give the person even more stability. The tough thing with using a cane is that most people only use one cane to help them walk around; while this is a good addition to one’s mobility program, it’s even better if a device is added which supports both sides of the person’s body. Since a cane only supports one side of the person’s body, it’s very easy to become preferential to one side of the body. Some people remember to switch the cane back and forth to the opposite side of the body each day in order to stay balanced, but the vast majority of people develop one arm that’s for the cane and the other arm is never involved with the device. A rolling walker can provide even more stability and does not favour the left or the right side of the body.
In contexts where much more movement is required or for a person who is not at all able to walk on their own, there are many devices that can help carers help people with reduced mobility to get around. For example, a scooter is a great way for many elderly people to get around because quite often their carers are their own spouses, a person who is also quite advanced in age in most cases. Usually, the carer is not someone who can be pushing a wheelchair with an adult person in it; this is why the scooter with a built-in motor is the perfect solution for many carers.
In addition to the scooter itself, the best way to be able to use the scooter in multiple contexts is to get a carrier for your car. Once you have a carrier on your car, you can transport the scooter anywhere that you need to go. Loading the scooter onto the carrier (or into a van, for example) is completely automated at the push of a button. Such a device ensures that carers and their loved ones can go to all the places they need to go without the worry of wondering how to get around once they get there or without the disappointment of always being left in the car. Such devices as these are what make caregiving easier and easier despite the emotional stresses that remain.
This information was brought to you by TrustedCare, an online care directory of all registered and reviewed care homes across the UK.
