Spring is in full swing, and summer is right around the corner– the perfect time to embrace the outdoors, reconnect with nature, and enjoy family gatherings. For many seniors, navigating uneven sidewalks, grass, or crowded outdoor events can be challenging. The right mobility aids for spring can make all the difference!
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best mobility aids for outdoor adventures, share tips on choosing the perfect equipment, and highlight how you can stay active, independent, and ready to join in on the fun.
What to Consider When Choosing Outdoor Mobility Equipment
Before investing in mobility equipment, consider how and where you’ll be using it this season. Here are four main things to keep in mind:
Battery Range
There’s nothing worse than running out of battery mid-adventure! When looking for durable medical equipment for spring, look for electric mobility devices with long-lasting batteries that can keep you moving all day long.
Are you or a loved one seeking a comfortable and supportive seating solution?
Do you require joint pain relief or mobility aids due to a health condition?
Lift chairs are more than just comfortable recliners– they can promote independent mobility and positively impact health outcomes. Hidden motors in the chair gently assist in raising the chair from a seated to standing position, creating safe transitions and enhancing overall quality of life. Users can safely enter and exit their favorite recliner without putting unnecessary strain on their joints.
As the days grow longer and the weather warms up, spring is the perfect season to refresh your home and make it more accessible for everyone. Whether you’re preparing for visits from family, want to support an aging loved one, or simply are looking to future-proof your home, a few thoughtful upgrades can make a world of a difference. If you’re looking for spring safety tips for seniors or want to ensure the best home safety for elderly loved ones, now is the time to start.
Here are some practical, effective ways to boost mobility in your home this spring– a true caregiver spring checklist for anyone supporting aging adults.
1. Upgrade Entrances with Ramps and Thresholds
Start your spring home preparation for elderly family members at the front door! Make entering and exiting your home a bit easier for everyone from guests with strollers to loved ones with mobility challenges.
Entrance/Access Ramps: These ramps have a gentle slope designed to help individuals up inclines
Want to provide a higher level of care for loved ones at home?
Want to upgrade care delivery at your nursing home or facility?
It may be time to consider a Med-Surg bed.
Here, we’ll go over what a Med-Surg bed is, the differences between a Med-Surg and standard hospital bed, unique benefits that a Med-Surg bed can provide, and so much more.
What is a Med-Surg Bed?
A medical-surgical (Med-Surg) bed is a specialized type of hospital bed designed to meet the needs of patients requiring extended care, whether in medical facilities or home settings. Unlike standard hospital beds, Med-Surg beds are equipped with additional features that go the extra mile in providing advanced patient care.
Med-Surg beds are primarily designed for acute care settings, including medical and surgical units. They are best for patients with complex recovery needs and advanced positioning requirements. Though you’ll usually find Med-Surg beds in a hospital, certain high-needs patients may find value in
Considering a long term home care bed for yourself or a family member?
You may be facing a very important decision: is it better to rent or purchase a home hospital bed?
Instead of purchasing for full price outright, some families find it beneficial to rent a hospital bed for a set monthly fee.
In this blog, we’ll go over the benefits– and drawbacks– of each option so that you can make the best decision for your family.
Renting a Hospital Bed
Pros
Lower Upfront Costs
Compared to purchasing a hospital bed, renting requires a much smaller initial investment. The costs of renting a hospital bed can vary considerably depending on supplier, model, add-ons, and more.
However, here is a baseline approximation of costs:
Full Electric Hospital Beds
Weekly rates: $195-$250
Monthly rates: $210-$399
Semi-Electric and Manual Hospital Beds
Weekly rates: $45-$90
Monthly rates: $150-$195
Keep in mind that additional fees may apply, such as a delivery fee, pick-up fee, installation fee, and
Do you spend hours a day in your favorite recliner?
Are you recovering from an injury?
Do you struggle with chronic pain or balance challenges?
Lift chairs can transform your everyday life by promoting positive health outcomes, comfort, and independence.
What is a Lift Chair?
Lift chairs are specialized chairs designed to provide comfort and help loved ones safely transition in and out of their favorite recliner. A lift chair contains an electric motor that gently moves vertically, supporting users when sitting down or rising to their feet.
If you’re wondering if a lift chair might be a good fit for yourself or a loved one, consider these five signs:
Difficulty Standing Up From Seated Positions
As we age, factors like muscle loss, arthritis, and balance issues mean that everyday actions can suddenly become a physical challenge. It’s common to struggle with raising yourself from a seated to standing position without assistance.
Looking for the perfect at-home care bed for your loved one?
There are plenty of options on the market: from hospital beds, to MedSurge beds, long term care beds, adjustable beds, and more.
Where do you start? How do you know what bed type you need?
Here, we’ll go over the difference between two main types of at-home care beds:
Hospital Beds
Adjustable Beds
With this guide, you can make an informed decision for your loved one. The right bed improves mobility, creates positive health outcomes, and can make everyday life easier than ever.
Hospital Beds
As you might guess from the name, hospital beds were originally designed for inpatient and outpatient care. MedSurge beds, for example, are surgical beds that are only used inside hospitals (not generally for home use).
Today, there are plenty of “at-home hospital beds” on the market. These beds have more features than a typical home care bed, while still being relatively affordable.
Want to take you or your loved one’s at-home hospital bed to the next level of comfort? Our top tips for alleviating pressure, customizing your hospital bed, temperature regulation, and more.
6 Ways to Make Your At-Home Hospital Bed More Comfortable
Do you have a loved one who uses an at-home hospital bed? Do they spend a significant portion of their time in bed?
At-home hospital beds can transform daily care for both caregivers and loved ones. For those who spend much of their day in bed, comfort plays a huge role in quality of life and happiness.
Here, we’re going over the top ways to make any at-home hospital bed more comfortable.
1.Choose the Right Mattress
A quality mattress is the foundation of a restful night’s sleep. Just like traditional beds, hospital mattresses come in a wide range of options to fit individual needs.
Looking for some extra support while you sleep? Experiencing aching joints or pressure sores?
Are you looking to make your home more safe and comfortable for an aging loved one? Or are you helping “remodel” their home to be more accessible?
There are plenty of steps that you can take in order to make a living space safer for elderly individuals. These recommendations don’t require expensive construction costs (some are free!), and can make all the difference in everyday life for you or a loved one.
Read on for our top tips on creating a home perfect for “aging in place”.
1. Clear Clutter and Obstructions
This is one of the most important steps to keeping your home accessible. Best of all, it’s completely free of cost! Clean up your home to reduce the risk of falls and make it easier to navigate. Remove piles of clothing on the floor, re-organize furniture to create clear walkways, and sort cluttered cables.
Not only will this reduce tripping risk, but a clean home provides a sense of mental calmness. This can decrease anxiety and make it easier for a loved one to independently
Do you want to make sure that an elderly loved one is safe living at home? Make sure you consider fall prevention.
Unexpected falls are one of the most dangerous risk factors for aging adults. Falls become more common as we age because we lose muscle mass and struggle to keep our balance. A simple fall out of bed can lead to broken bones, head trauma, and other scary consequences.
Here’s the good news: there are modern hospital beds and tools specifically designed to prevent falls out of bed. With the right hospital bed at home, you can have peace of mind knowing that you don’t need to worry about falls in the night.
In this blog, we’ll go over our top tips for preventing falls, top hospital beds, and other features to look out for to keep elderly loved ones safe.
Top Tips for Preventing Falls from Bed
1.Use a Hi-Low Bed
Safely getting in and out of bed isn’t always easy! A hi-low hospital bed is a type of bed that can easily be adjusted to different heights using a built-in