A manual wheelchair is one of the most commonly used assistive equipment to enhance mobility and improve the quality of life for those who have difficulty walking. Wheelchair mobility helps wheelchair users to go to any part of the house, socialize, and access services like healthcare. Proper mobility aids the user’s physical health and quality of life by decreasing most natural problems like deformity progression, pressure sores, aiding respiration and digestion, and offering mobility.
For senior adults who have decreased lower body power and can go longer to walk frequently or at all, wheelchairs and mobility scooters are ideal. An electric wheelchair is appropriate for your parents if they have little upper body strength. These do not require as much core strength or arm strength as an electric scooter or a lightweight wheelchair.
When an older parent requires a wheelchair, it can be a significant milestone for those who care for them. It’s distressing and daunting, especially if you’re moving because of a serious disease. In any case, for seniors, a wheelchair can mean losing movement and freedom. Nonetheless, it’s critical to make the process more bearable while still ensuring that your aging parent has a good quality of life.
The time when a senior needs a wheelchair
Finding the correct wheelchair for seniors can be difficult, as it depends on a range of characteristics such as their cognitive capacity, weight, and height. Here are five indicators that a senior requires a wheelchair.
- Seniors changed their mobility.
Many senior adults can experience abrupt and even significant changes in their ability to move around alone. Whether an injury from a fall or a stroke has affected your mobility, these rapid changes necessitate a re-evaluation of your present mobility aids. Seniors used a walker just because they couldn’t bear their weight on their legs and then had a stroke that affected their ability to move one of their arms. A transport wheelchair would be a much safer option for them.
- Walking for seniors causes pain.
Suppose walking gives seniors too much discomfort. Whether from arthritis or injury, it may be time to move to a manual wheelchair. Of course, seniors should always talk with their doctors before making any decisions; their discomfort may be treatable, and they may be able to keep their mobility with some physical therapy. A portable wheelchair, on the other hand, can considerably enhance their quality of life if their doctor thinks that there is no way to alleviate their agony and they cannot take the pain produced by walking.
- Doctor’s suggestion
It’s vital to follow your doctor’s advice if they propose switching from a walker to a wheelchair, even if it’s difficult to hear. Doctors will almost always be on the side of preserving their independence. After all, the more independence they have, the longer their strength and flexibility will last. So, if their senior doctor advises them to make a move, it’s probably for a very good reason.
- Self-assuredness and self-esteem
Self-esteem is defined as a general assessment of one’s self-concept or sense of personal worth and sufficiency, and high self-esteem has been associated with several favorable health outcomes in people with disabilities, including reduced depression and increased life satisfaction and well-being. Wheelchairs have been proved to significantly impact seniors’ quality of life and ability to participate in activities. When wheelchair users have a wheelchair that fits them and can use it well, they may gain more confidence and self-esteem. The weight and dimensions of the chair affect the senior’s ability to navigate through the home and in the community.
- Risk of falling with a walker
Falls can happen, and they can be dangerous for the elderly. If seniors have fallen while using their walker once or twice, it’s usually nothing to be concerned about if they didn’t seriously harm them. However, if they find themselves stumbling and frequently falling due to their inability to use the walker effectively, it’s time to look for another mode of transportation.
Types of wheelchair best for seniors
Whether you need a wheelchair full-time or merely have limited mobility for a portion of the time, you may need a dependable transport wheelchair. When you need or want the help of a caregiver to propel you, you can utilize a transport chair. Even manual wheelchair users can become ill, weary, or require surgery, requiring the usage of a transfer chair. People who normally use canes or crutches may find that a transfer chair makes it easier to get around during long-distance or rapid travel.
As dependent mobility solutions, manual wheelchairs are effective. They’re made to propel the caregiver and to keep the user safe. With the big rear wheels, curbs and other obstructions may be easier to navigate. Most low-cost, best manual wheelchairs have a fixed rear axle position. The user must maintain sitting balance due to the seat’s vertical posture. More affordable wheelchairs include vertical movement thanks to semi-adjustable rear axles. This vertical adjustment allows that operator to vary the direction of the wheelchair seat in space, allowing gravity to help with placement and balance, providing the person more stability.
A travel wheelchair is a lightweight wheelchair designed to be used. These wheelchairs are meant to be lighter and foldable than regular wheelchairs. These wheelchairs are perfect for travel since they can be folded and stored like baggage, but you can also use them to get about an airport, travel to a hotel, and visit any area while on vacation. A perfect travel wheelchair has all of the features you need daily but is smaller in profile. A lightweight travel wheelchair can be purchased by anyone, making it convenient to have on hand before departure.
Final Thoughts
It might be difficult to stop for mobility aids, especially if you have difficulty getting around. Visit AvaCare Medical, an online store for all your home health care requirements, to take the stress out of purchasing. On our simple-to-navigate website, you may browse our selection of mobility aids from the comfort of your own home.
Placing and paying for your order is simple, and our customer service team is available to assist you with any questions you may have. We will deliver your mobility equipment to your house in days with no trouble. Don’t hesitate to contact us at 1-877-813-7799 or email us at info@avacaremedical.com.