Home Care
Caring for Your Loved Ones in Their Home
When a loved one requires assistance with daily living activities, the natural desire is to keep them comfortable and secure in their own home environment. This can be a fulfilling experience for both the caregiver and the recipient of care. However, it’s important to have the right equipment to ensure safety and dignity during daily routines.
Falls are a major concern for older adults, with approximately 36 million falls occurring annually in the United States, resulting in over 9 million emergency room visits, per the NIH. These falls can have serious consequences, including fractures, head injuries, and even death. By reducing the risk of falls, we can improve the quality of life for older adults and reduce the burden on the healthcare system.
Let’s explore four key points of patient care at home and how different mobility products can address those needs:
- Safe and Supported Transfers:
- Sit-to-Stand Aids: Sit-to-stand aids are designed to assist individuals with limited lower body strength or balance in safely transferring from a seated to a standing position. They typically consist of a sturdy frame with handles and a padded back or seat. The user can lean against the back for support and use the handles to assist themselves in standing up. This type of aid can be particularly helpful for individuals recovering from injuries, surgeries, or those with chronic conditions that affect their mobility.
- Mobility and Maintaining Independence:
- Mobile Patient Floor Lifts: Mobile patient floor lifts are portable devices that assist individuals who cannot bear weight in transferring safely between locations within the home. They typically consist of a base with wheels, a lifting mechanism, and a sling. The user is placed in the sling, and the lift is used to gently raise and lower them to the desired height. This type of lift is often used for transfers to and from beds, chairs, toilets, or other locations within the home.
- Ceiling Lifts for Comprehensive Home Accessibility:
- Patient Ceiling Lifts: Ceiling lifts are motorized systems that allow individuals with limited mobility or who are unable to bear weight to move safely and independently throughout their home. They consist of a track that is installed on the ceiling, a motorized lift unit, and a sling. The user is placed in the sling and attached to the lift unit, which can then be moved along the track to different locations. Ceiling lifts are particularly useful for individuals who require extensive transfers within their home, such as those who are unable to walk or stand.
- Bathing and toileting made easier:
- Mobile Shower Commodes: Mobile shower commode chairs are all-in-one devices that combine a toilet seat with a commode chair and wheels. They are designed to make bathing and toileting easier for individuals with limited mobility or who are unable to transfer to and from a traditional toilet or shower. The chair can be easily moved around the bathroom, and the user can transfer onto the toilet seat for toileting or into the shower for bathing. This type of chair can help to reduce the risk of falls and injuries during bathroom activities.
Choosing the Right Equipment:
Consulting with a healthcare professional is crucial to determine the most appropriate equipment for your loved one’s specific needs and home environment. Factors such as the individual’s weight capacity, level of assistance required, and the layout of the home will all influence the selection process.
Conclusion
By providing the right mobility equipment and a supportive environment, you can empower your loved one to maintain a sense of independence and dignity while receiving quality care at home. This approach can significantly improve the overall well-being of both the caregiver and the care recipient.
References:
- Shankar KN, Li A. Older Adult Falls in Emergency Medicine, 2023 Update. Clin Geriatr Med. 2023 Nov;39(4):503-518. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2023.05.010. Epub 2023 Jul 6. PMID: 37798062.. https://www.cdc.gov/falls/data-research/facts-stats/index.html#:~:text=Each%20year%2C%20millions%20of%20older,3
