As people contemplate their senior years, most dread the thought of having to leave their homes. In fact, seniors do better for longer when they can age in place. Moving to an unfamiliar environment can increase confusion and other cognitive problems, and it can also provoke depression as people grieve the loss of their home, garden, belongings, and neighbors. The following are some tools that can help people remain in their homes for as long as possible.
As mobility decreases, stairs can become a major safety hazard. The effort of ascending stairs can fatigue the muscles, increasing the likelihood of a fall due to weakness. Poor vision can make it difficult for someone to see where to place their foot when coming down the stairs. Stair Lifts in Pittsburgh PA can provide a safe solution for elders who live in a two or three-story home. A stair lift is a chair that is attached to a rail along the bottom of a stairway. The user sits in the chair, buckles up, and pushes a button to be carried up or down the stairs. A stair lift is designed to pivot so that the user can get in and out safely.
Another useful home modification is to replace a standard tub and shower with a walk-in or roll-in shower. This eliminates the need for a senior to have to step over the edge of the bathtub, which can easily cause a fall. A roll-in shower is large enough to accommodate a wheel chair, while a walk-in shower may be a standard size or larger. A shower chair can be added to a walk-in shower to help ensure stability, and a grab bar can be installed by the door. A grab bar is a great safety feature to have at any age.
Unfortunately, as mobility and balance decrease with age, the need to get up and go to the bathroom at night becomes more frequent. A combination of darkness, sleepiness, and possibly dizziness can make getting in and out of bed at night dangerous. Moreover, many older people are seriously injured from falling out of bed. Installing bed rails that block the top half of the bed can address both problems.
These are just a few of the tools that are available to help seniors age in place. To learn more about Stair Lifts in Pittsburgh PA and other equipment, visit McArdle Surgical.
