Key Points
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Mobility aids for aging adults help you maintain your independence and quality of life.
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Evaluate your mobility, lifestyle, and activities when choosing a senior mobility solution.
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Losing your mobility has a profound social, psychological, and physical impact on you.
Performing daily tasks, including standing, walking, or climbing stairs, becomes more challenging as you age. Mobility aids for aging adults help you maintain your independence and reduce falls, so you can live in your home and continue the activities you enjoy.
Loss of mobility, common among older adults, has serious social, psychological, and physical consequences.
"If you're unable to get out, then you can't go shopping, you can't go out with your friends to eat dinner or go to the movies, and you become dependent on other people to get you places," says geriatrician Dr. Suzanne Salamon, an instructor at Harvard Medical School.
This article explores the best mobility aids for seniors, solutions like walkers, canes, scooters, and power wheelchairs.
Electric Scooters
Electric scooters for seniors are mobility solutions you can use indoors or out. Electric scooters have rechargeable batteries and come in compact models that are easy to transport in a car trunk. More robust models have features like suspension, headlights, and storage compartments.
Brands like Pride Mobility and Drive Medical offer high-quality electric scooters for seniors that help seniors with mobility issues.
Pride Mobility S74 Go-Go Sport 4-Wheel Electric Mobility Scooter conveniently disassembles into five smaller lightweight pieces that easily fit into most cars' trunks and all SUVs and vans.
The wraparound tiller is easy to operate if you have arthritis or limited dexterity in your hands. Four non-scuffing, solid 9" tires — and the 3" ground clearance — make navigating challenging terrain easier. The Sport's 18AH battery offers up to 14 miles per charge and a 4.7 mph top speed.
Photo source: Amazon.com
Lift Chairs
Lift chairs for elderly people have a built-in mechanism that raises and lowers the chair seat, so you can easily transition from seated to standing.
Lift chairs come in basic models with simple lift mechanisms or more advanced models with heat and massage functions, reclining positions, and adjustable head and footrests. Some models have a "zero-gravity" position that relieves pressure on the spine and improves circulation.
Lift chairs for elderly people from brands like Golden Technologies and Mega Motion help seniors easily get up and down from a seated position.
Golden Technologies Cloud PR-514 Lift Chair with Twilight MaxiComfort Lift features their patented MaxiComfort system, with a third dimension to the recline motion. The chair base tilts up and back, so the chair cradles you in comfort.
Photo source: Amazon.com
Walkers
Walkers for seniors are mobility aids that have a lightweight frame with four legs and two handles that you grip while walking. Walkers come in folding, rolling, and stationary designs.
Walkers help you conserve energy while walking, so you can stay active and engaged in daily activities.
Choose a walker with handles at wrist level when you're standing upright. Some walkers for seniors feature built-in seats or baskets for carrying items.
Brands like Nova and Medline offer walkers with various features, such as wheels and brakes, to make walking easier.
NOVA Traveler 3 Wheel Rollator Walker offers all-terrain 8" wheels and a carrying bag, basket, and tray. The Traveler is maneuverable in small spaces and folds in seconds, and the brakes engage easily with minimal hand strength.
A removable tray, basket, and zippered pouch transport your personal items, food, or groceries.
Rollators
Rollators for seniors are similar to walkers but typically have four wheels instead of two, so you can walk faster and maneuver more easily. Many rollators have a seat for resting and a basket or storage compartment.
Brands like Drive Medical and Hugo Mobility have rollators for seniors that offer additional support while walking and include features like seats and baskets.
Drive Medical 10257BL-1 4-Wheel Rollator Walker is a mobility aid for aging adults with a durable and supportive frame, a comfortable seat, and an under-seat storage pouch. Four 7.5" caster wheels roll easily outdoors or on uneven floors.
An easy-turn lever quickly adjusts the height of the handles from 31 to 35 inches, and the removable hinged backrest folds down.
Photo source: Amazon.com
Cane Chairs
Cane chairs for elderly users combine a cane's support with a chair's convenience. The cane-like frame incorporates a built-in seat so you can sit down and rest when needed. Cane chairs are lightweight and compact, so they transport and store easily.
Brands like HurryCane and Nova offer cane chairs for elderly people that support you while walking and double as a seat when needed.
NOVA Folding Seat Cane is a lightweight and adjustable mobility solution, so it’s great for travel, events, and walking anywhere. This cane chair for elderly people is easy to use as a simple cane when it's folded, and it packs and stores completely flat.
Photo source: Amazon.com
Stairlifts
Stairlifts for seniors consist of a movable chair or platform that mounts on a motorized rail and attaches to the stairs.
With a stairlift for seniors, you can live in your multi-level home even if you have difficulty climbing stairs.
Consider the weight capacity, the seat height and width, and the design of the staircase. Custom-fit a stairlift to your home and personal needs to ensure optimal safety and functionality.
Brands like Acorn Stairlifts and Bruno have stairlifts for seniors that help you safely navigate the stairs in your homes.
Universal Stair Lift has three separate safety mechanisms and has a 350-pound capacity. The foot pan folds flat to the wall, so others can still navigate the stairs on foot. It has 15 feet of track with an incline range of 25-45 degrees.
The internal rechargeable battery runs up or down more than 20 times if the power is out and plugs directly into your existing AC outlet. This stairlift for seniors operates with an included wireless remote.
Wheelchairs
Wheelchairs for seniors consist of a seat with wheels and a frame that is manually or electrically powered. Wheelchairs for seniors open up the world to you when you can no longer walk, so you enjoy improved independence, greater mobility and access to the community, and a better quality of life.
Consider the weight capacity, the seat width and depth, and the type of terrain where you'll use your wheelchair for seniors. Ensure your chair is the correct size and the seat height and armrests are at the right level.
Brands like Medline and Drive Medical offer a variety of wheelchairs to meet the needs of seniors with different mobility levels.
Medline Lightweight Transport Wheelchair is a folding transport chair with 12" wheels for uneven surfaces. This chair has a durable aluminum ultralight frame and a 300-pound weight capacity. It easily folds, so it's portable and perfect for easy storage, transport, and travel.
Photo source: Amazon.com
Bed Rails
This mobility aid is a metal or plastic rail system that attaches to the bed frame along the edge of your mattress. Bed rails for elderly people assist those prone to falls or who have difficulty getting in and out of bed due to mobility issues.
Bed rails for elderly users from brands like Stander and Drive Medical provide seniors with added support and safety when getting in and out of bed.
The Stander 30" Safety Bed Rail is a folding bedside safety guard rail that fits most king, queen, full, and twin beds. You can use the rail as a grab bar for balance and support when you transfer in and out of bed, and it folds out of the way when it’s not in use.
Slide the base tubes between your mattress and box spring to install — no tools required.
Live Independently and Safely
Mobility for senior solutions is the key to maintaining your independence and health in your senior years. Whether you tire quickly, have difficulty walking, or lack the strength to sit and stand easily, there is a mobility device that can improve your quality of life.
Look for mobility aids for aging adults that suit your needs now and in the future.
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