Making it Easier for Seniors to Live on Their Own

Many of the elderly, including those on Medicare, often have a very high level of functionality, being able to cook for themselves, take care of their spouses, and drive, without the need of outside assistance. However, there are some tasks that can be very difficult to do on your own, with standing up and sitting down being one of the more common difficulties.

Standing and sitting sounds rather basic, but for those who have arthritis, it can be quite difficult to do so steadily and safely, without any help. This is because after sitting for an extended period of time some types of arthritis can lead to stiffness and pain, which is made worse by movements. For seniors who also provide care for an elderly spouse or relative, it can also be very hard to help them get out of their chair, as well as increasing the risk that both seniors will fall. This is because the weight of the spouse, as well as their general lack of stability, can make it very difficult person helping them stand.

To address this issue, lift chairs are one popular solution and are much like a recliner, except when activated, the lift chair rises upwards, allowing the senior to exit the recliner on their feet. Often called lift recliners, these devices are one of the most common and useful types of home medical equipment.

Lift recliners are easy to use and include an attached hand control that functions much like a Television remote. However, instead of being bombarded by twenty or thirty tiny buttons, like is the case with most TV remotes, a lift chair hand control is designed to be used by feel, featuring only a few large buttons. In addition to having larger buttons, the hand control is also physically attached to the lift chair, preventing the need to replace batteries or worry about it being lost, as is the case with a television remote control.

Most lift chairs that are manufactured by well established companies, such as Golden Lift Chairs and Pride Lift Chairs also include battery backups, which ensure that the lift recliner can still be used even if there is no power. However, a single nine volt battery is all that is used to provide this safety net, which is the same type of battery that is used in most fire alarms. This provides an inexpensive way to ensure that the lift recliner can always be used, even in an emergency or if a breaker blows. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that the battery will need to be replaced annually or whenever the battery backup is actually used.

In addition to using a lift recliner, many seniors also use rollators, which are the modern version of the traditional walker. The main advantage of a rollator is that it has wheels on it, so it can be pushed, rather than lifted and repositioned with every few steps, as was the case with a regular walker. Rollators also have brakes, which can be set, so positioning a rollator, with its brakes set, in front of the lift chair will provide a safe way to transition from sitting to standing.

Seniors face many difficulties, especially those who are living on their own, so it is important to find ways of making their lives easier and safer. Lift chairs and rollators help fill this role, ensuring that the senior will be better able to take care of themselves or their spouse.