Essential Guide to Choosing Daily Living Aids for Seniors

Muscle mass and strength naturally decline as we age, making walking, climbing stairs, or lifting objects harder. People lose their independence in old age and depend on others for daily chores. From walking to bathing, eating, and toileting, they always need a person along to perform daily activities safely.

Though the assistance is for their safety, they sometimes feel embarrassed about increased dependence. They desire independence, at least for simple tasks. Fortunately, with daily living aids, they can feel the freedom they long desired and perform tasks like walking, climbing, and eating without assistance.

If you have someone who feels too dependent on others and desires independence, consider gifting them or helping them buy the right mobility daily aids. Doing so will allow them to enjoy some freedom and perform daily tasks safely on their own. However, choosing daily living aids for seniors can be challenging, especially when it's your first time doing so. Read this blog to learn how to choose the right DLAs for seniors.

Understanding the Needs of Seniors

Before we delve deep into this guide to choosing the right mobility equipment for seniors, let's understand their needs first.

Physical Needs

• Decreased Mobility: They often face difficulty walking, standing, or sitting for extended periods.
• Reduced strength: Seniors often find tasks, such as lifting, carrying, or opening containers, challenging.
• Limited flexibility: Aged people struggle with bending, reaching, or twisting.
• Sensory impairments: In old age, vision loss, hearing loss, or changes in touch sensitivity is natural.

Cognitive Needs

• Memory loss: Seniors often forget appointments, names, or recent events.
• Decreased attention span: Aged people cannot focus on tasks or conversations.
• Slower processing speed: They often face challenges with decision-making and problem-solving.

Sensory Needs

• Increased anxiety or depression: Emotional challenges related to ageing, illness, or loss.
• Social isolation: Reduced social interaction due to mobility limitations or cognitive decline.

Tips to Choose the Right Daily Living Aids

When choosing daily living aids for seniors, it is essential to consider various factors to ensure that the mobility aids are both effective and comfortable. Here are some tips to help you choose the right daily living aids:

Consult with Healthcare Professionals

If you have never bought mobility aids, consider consulting a doctor, occupational therapist, etc. Professionals can assess seniors' mobility requirements and recommend suitable daily living aids. You can also consult the team of a mobility aid seller. Their team may be able to guide you in choosing the right DLAs.

Involve the Senior in the Process

Remember, the senior will use the equipment, not you. So, purchase the mobility aid only after consulting them. Ensure they are comfortable and confident using the mobility aid. Involving them will also increase acceptance of the equipment and encourage them to use daily living aids consistently.

Prioritise Essential Needs

You have to help the seniors, not overwhelm them. So, avoid buying them several mobility aids at once. Buy them mobility aids one by one. Here's how to do it:

• First, identify the most pressing needs, such as mobility, bathing, or eating. Consider buying mobility aids that address these needs.
• Once they get accustomed to the essential daily mobility aids, encourage them to try advanced and new inventions.

Consider Future Needs

The needs of the senior might change over time. Make sure you choose DLAs that can be adjusted or modified as needed. Also, only buy high-quality and durable daily mobility aids to save money in the long run and provide peace of mind.

Test and Try Before Buying

Even if the mobility aids seem like a good fit, let the senior use them for some time to ensure they are comfortable with the mobility equipment and can use it for a long time. Some retailers offer trial periods for certain DLAs, allowing seniors or people with limited mobility to test them at home.

On the Final Note

Seniors often face difficulty performing daily tasks, including bathing, walking, eating, and toileting. They always need a person for assistance to perform these tasks. Daily living aids can make their lives easier. However, choosing the right mobility equipment for seniors can be difficult.

To choose the right DLAs, consider consulting a healthcare professional, prioritise essential needs, factor in future needs, consult the senior before buying, and try the product before purchasing. If you struggle to find the right mobility aids Hunter Valley, consider contacting Hunteram. We would be happy to assist you!

Read also 10 must-have mobility daily living aids to help the seniors