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Preparing for unexpected trips to the Emergency Room
Whether you care for an older family member, or not, it’s prudent to prepare in advance for a trip to your local emergency room. When the unexpected happens, and you find yourself headed to the hospital, chances are you’ll be in a rush and not thinking straight. It’s...
How to use a cane correctly
Canes are valuable assistive devices that can, IF used correctly, help you walk safely, improve your balance, give support, and reduce your risk of falling. But, believe it or not, using a cane correctly is not as instinctive, or as simple as you would think. It takes...
Is it time for a cane?
So, how do you know if it’s time to start using a cane? And what are the benefits of using a cane? Every[body] is different - and circumstances vary greatly from person to person. But, know this, if you are asking the question, or reading this article, you already...
7 ways to reduce your risk of falling
If you or an older person you know has fallen, you're not alone. The risk of falling and fall-related problems rises with age. Each year, millions of older people, those 65 and older, fall. Statistically, that’s one out of every four - and, less than half tell their...
How to wash someone’s hair in bed
Arguably, one of the biggest challenges in caring for someone that is bedridden, is managing their personal hygiene. Haircare is an essential part of that. It affects a person’s sense of well-being, self-esteem, and identity. No-rinse shampoos, dry shampoo, or wiping...
How to get up from a fall: A step-by-step guide for seniors
Every year millions of seniors experience accidental falls that require medical attention and hospitalizations. As the aging process continues, a fear of falling can eventually limit an at-home senior’s activities to the point it threatens their wellbeing and...
When to choose a standard basic wheelchair
What is a standard basic wheelchair – and what is it for? A standard manual wheelchair, also known as a hospital wheelchair, is perfectly designed for its purpose. It is not built to accommodate long-term use or specialized seating, positioning, or needs. Rather it is...
Benefits of Stretching When You’re a Wheelchair User
So you think stretching is the domain of the young and flexible? Think again. In a chair or out, young or old, we all need flexibility to maintain the range of motion we enjoy. Just because you are older, or less agile, or mobility restricted, doesn’t change your...
Bathroom safety checklist for seniors
Did you know that people use the toilet 7 times a day on average? And that this figure, increases as we age! Did you know that up to 80% of all falls occur in the bathroom? Conclusion: Bathroom safety is absolutely critical. Especially for Seniors. Bathrooms are...
When to choose a reclining wheelchair
Most people won’t encounter the problem of bedsores or pressure sores. However, wheelchair users, people who are bedridden, or those with physical or mobility impediments, do! Primarily because they spend extended periods of time in the same position. This constant...
How to move a patient from the bed to the wheelchair safely, using a pivot transfer
Taking care of a spouse or family member at home is never easy. It can be both emotionally and physically demanding. As a home caregiver, one of the trickiest tasks you will face during the course of the day is the transfer. The average wheelchair user spends about 10...
What causes swollen feet?
Let’s discuss one of the most common aches and complaints experienced amongst the older generation. And what makes this oft-overlooked complaint, so dangerous. WHAT IS OEDEMA? If you experience swelling in your legs, ankles, and feet not related to an injury, it is...
6 HYGIENE TIPS FOR BED BOUND SENIORS
Whether it’s caused by chronic illness, advanced age, disability, or injury, being bedridden comes with a variety of challenges - and none more so than the maintenance of personal hygiene. The importance of good hygiene cannot be underestimated. Regardless of...
A Wheelchair Accessible Home: 6 quick fixes
Let me ask you a hypothetical question: Is your home accessible? If you took a tumble tomorrow and had to spend a few weeks or months in a wheelchair, would you be able to use your front door? Could you use the bathroom? Could you still make dinner? The answer for...
How to use a walker correctly
Isn’t it strange? Nothing is ever as easy as it looks. Using a walker correctly is certainly a prime example. Regardless of what you may think as the person looking on, it’s just not as intuitive as it looks. Like many things, it takes a little time, patience - and...
Wheelchair health: Why posture is key to comfort and health
Most of us, when we think of pressure injuries, immediately think of pressure cushions. And yes, pressure cushions are brilliant, but they are not the be-all and end all of the problem. In fact, the use of a pressure cushion, on a chair that is unsuitable, only...
Life in a chair: 5 keys to comfort
WHY IS POSTURE SO IMPORTANT? It gets a little annoying. Everyone banging on about posture – and the importance of posture. Posture is the concern of the mobile. Right? Wrong! Posture is possibly even more important for someone who is chair-bound or mobility restricted...
7 keys to ensure your chair is correctly setup for YOU
GOOD POSTURE SHOULD NOT REQUIRE ANY EFFORT ON YOUR PART. It is largely determined by the setup and proportions of your chair, relative to your body's proportions. It has much to do with the chair, as it does you. More in fact! That means, how your chair is set up...
Walker or Rollator? Which mobility aid do you need?
If walking has become stressful, and anxiety-inducing, if you have difficulty balancing or tire quickly, then it is time for a little assistance. But, exactly what kind of assistance do you need? With the abundance of options available, specifically between walkers...
5 Must-have Bathroom Safety Aids
Statistically speaking, if an accident or fall is going to occur within the home, it is going to happen in the bathroom. 30 – 50% of these falls are the result of environmental influences, things like slippery floors or uneven surfaces. And yet, in most instances,...
Maintaining Your Wheelchair: 5 essential wheelchair care and maintenance tips
Research shows that the average wheelchair-bound individual spends approximately 9 hours per day in a wheelchair. That’s a significant amount of time. That moves your wheelchair out of the "mobility aid" department – and into the “extension of yourself” department....
7 Top tips to make your wheelchair COVID safe
Tips for wheelchair cleaning and disinfection So we all know that proper wheelchair maintenance is a reality of life. An imperative. I remember someone saying to me once if you want your chair to look after you, you have to look after your chair. True that! So, in our...
8 Crucial considerations when choosing a Wheelchair
So, you need to buy a wheelchair. But, which one? How do you choose? Where do you begin? With so many wheelchairs on the market, it can be intimidating to try and choose the right one, especially if you’ve never purchased a wheelchair before. It’s a big investment,...