If you plan to add a wheelchair ramp to your entryway, you may be wondering how long it needs to be. Some people might think a shorter ramp is better because it takes up less space and may cost less money. However, if you add a ramp that is too short for the rise of the entryway being ramped, it can be both hard to use and a safety hazard. This often results in a very steep ramp that may resemble a ski jump!
When you’re getting older or living with a disability, falling is a serious and scary issue. One out of three Americans over 65 fall every year, and almost 10,000 deaths of older Americans each year are related to falls.
At some point, you or a loved one may require a wheelchair ramp to access your home and continue living independently. The decision to rent or buy a ramp depends largely on your unique situation. Here are some guidelines to consider when making this decision. Keep the following considerations in mind to help make the right decision for your specific circumstance.
If you have mobility or balance issues, taking a shower or even getting in or out of the bathtub/shower presents a potentially dangerous situation. For most people, a shower is a time for relaxation and stress release. But if you face physical challenges and/or suffer from a health condition, the act of bathing can be a scary, stressful time. An elderly, ill or disabled person should equip his/her bathtub or shower with a bath seat to prevent the risk of falling.
The bathroom can present challenges for people who are aging, wheelchair-bound, or have limited mobility. More than 2/3 of emergency room visits are due to falls in the bathroom. A loss of balance, wet floors, tight spaces, and/or bending and lifting required to access the tub and shower, are things that can lead to a fall in the bathroom. With that being said you may be wondering, is it possible to enjoy bathing or showering independently at home for those with balance issues or limited mobility? In the rest of this post, we will provide information about some of the options that can make showering and bathing safe again.
Do you have trouble with getting in and out of your bathtub? Would you feel safer if you or your loved one didn’t have to step over the edge of the bathtub to get into the shower? Sadly, one-third of the elder population over the age of 65 falls each year, and the risk of falls increases proportionately with age. In fact, over half of the seniors age 80 or above fall annually.
At some point, you or a loved one may need to consider a wheelchair ramp to continue living independently due to a decline in mobility. Whether you’re using a wheelchair, scooter, cane, or simply have trouble with stairs, a wheelchair ramp can be a quick, easy, and affordable solution. There are a variety of ramp options available, so it’s important to consider some of the major factors that can influence your decision.
Lifeway Mobility announced today that it has become the majority shareholder of Freedom Lifts, a Danielson, Connecticut-based provider of stair lifts, wheelchair lifts, and elevators.
Falls in the home are dangerous for anyone, but they are especially dangerous for people who are injured or aging. Falls are also more likely to happen to people who are injured or aging, as people who are injured or aging might lack the agility to stop the fall. An aging person who falls is more likely to break a bone, and the healing process slows as people age.
As relatives age, they may require a wheelchair in order to navigate around their home. Unfortunately, with the vast majority of elderly people living in older, more traditional homes as opposed to open floor plan designs, maneuverability with a wheelchair can be very difficult. This is especially true of bathrooms; small footprints, corners, vanities, large tubs, and other storage items make moving around the bathroom challenge. While moving a sink or toilet may not be a viable option, there are many bath safety solutions that can make this space more user-friendly and safe for an aging loved one using a wheelchair.
Your parents cared for you as you grew up, and now that they are getting older, they may need additional help living safely in their home. In order for your aging parents to maintain their independence, you need to make sure they have the proper home modifications and safety measures in place to keep them out of a nursing home and in the home they love. Below are some home safety tips on how to help your aging parents live safely & independently in the comfort of their own home.
Design Strategies For Residential Aging-In-Place & Accessibility Lifeway Mobility is hosting a FREE educational webinar that will provide valuable information to architects, home builders, contractors, and design professionals. This one hour webcast will cover the importance of creating home floor plans and living environments that accommodate the individual mobility needs of occupants as well as their visitors through functional, attractive designs. This webinar will be taught by Steve Hoffacker, who was named 2015 CAPS Educator of the Year. Take advantage of this valuable opportunity during your lunch break!
Improving Outcome Measures through Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Lifeway Mobility is hosting a FREE one-hour educational webinar that will provide valuable information regarding the improvement of organizational and health care quality outcomes as it relates to safe patient handling. Taught by Amber Perez, a licensed nurse, certified safe patient handling professional, and the SPHM Director of Clinical Services. You can listen during your lunch break!
At some point, due to age or disability, you or a loved one may be faced with the prospect of having to use a wheelchair to assist in your primary mobility at home. Whether it be a temporary fixture to your home or something that will be more permanent, there are a number of simple modifications that can help improve accessibility and make life easier. If you are like most people, you live in a home that was not designed to accommodate wheelchairs. Below are some simple ideas on how to make sure that you will be able to stay in your home despite the necessity of a wheelchair.
The holiday season is once again here! There are so many things to remember: buying gifts, decorating the house, making travel plans, etc. It’s also important to remember family members and friends who may find it difficult to get into and out of your home while visiting. Similarly, you may find it personally difficult to access a relative’s home if you have limited mobility.
On a spectacular autumn day, Tuesday, October 20th, Lifeway Mobility, an accessibility equipment supplier that also offers a variety of safe patient transfer devices by Handicare, hosted a truly revolutionary pair of conferences for area clinicians at the innovative Oak Hill Assistive Technology in Hartford, CT.
Many of us know of someone, or ourselves, dealing with issues that may cause them to have difficulty functioning in their current home environments. Dorothy Gale said it best, “There’s no place like home.” Boy, was she right! We feel most comfortable in the place we call home and nobody wants to be forced to leave because of physical issues.
2014 saw the largest number of elderly – 44.7 million – ever in the United States. This number represented 14.1% of the entire US population (www.aoa.acl.gov) and is expected to increase by ⅓ by 2040. And, like most who are in this age category, with advancing age comes the realization that living like we did in our younger years may be more challenging than we would like. Home modifications for elderly individuals can help make their current living environment safer and more functional. These changes can be rather simple, and will allow you or a loved one to maintain a certain level of independent living. The below modifications can help make aging in place easier for individuals who wish to stay living in their current home.