Home Care for Veterans – Keep Your Senior Veteran Safe with the Right Walking Support
Mobility challenges are one of the greatest risks to the safety and independence of seniors. The instance of falls increases as adults age, with those over the age of 85 at the highest risk of suffering serious injuries resulting from falls. Each year tens of thousands of seniors end up in the emergency room after falling, most of the time in their own home.
Simply because your elderly parents have difficulty moving around, however, does not mean they cannot live active and involved lives. Mobility aids can give them greater confidence and help them maintain a high quality of life both when they are alone and when they are with their senior care providers. While these health care services providers have experience and skill helping seniors move around, having their own mobility aids helps your aging loved ones feel more in control. With their own devices, your parents are also able to live spontaneously, enjoying activities and outings without having to worry that they will not have access to rental aids.
If mobility or balance problems are a part of your parents’ daily life, ask their doctor to help you choose the right type of mobility aid for their needs. Many seniors need assistance with balance or have damage or weakness in one leg. In this situation, a cane may be the optimal choice. Canes are highly portable and make it easy for your seniors to move around confidently nearly anywhere they go. Look for canes with four feet that allow them to stand independently for greater stability. Some models also offer a flexible section at the bottom that pivots and bends in response to your seniors’ movements to help them move more naturally for balance. Be sure to choose a cane at the proper height to provide optimum balance and reduce your parents’ need to lean on the cane.
For mobility and balance challenges that impact both sides of your seniors’ bodies, walkers offer more stability and support. Traditional walkers require the elderly adults to pick the device up, place it ahead of them, and walk into the open space created by the arms, repeating this process as they move along. This design is the safest option for seniors who need to place a considerable amount of pressure on the device as they move and have the ability to move it confidently. If your seniors are able to support themselves better and desire more speed, walkers with wheels allow them to glide along without having to pick up the device.
Whichever type of mobility device you choose, your parents’ senior home services provider can play an important role in helping them get used to their device and use it effectively. This transition can be challenging, so take plenty of time to let your parents practice moving around with their new mobility device. If you are unsure of which aid to choose, their care provider may also be able to help you narrow the options. Plan a trip to a local health products supplier and let your parents try out a few options with the help of their caregiver so you can find the one that makes them the most comfortable.
For more information and to learn about home care for veterans, contact Veteran’s Home Care at (888) 314-6075.
