If your elderly loved one has difficulty walking, she may avoid it for fear of falling or having other issues. The problem is that she can lose muscle strength quickly by avoiding walking. Using mobility aids can keep her moving.

Canes

Canes are the easiest mobility aid for your loved one to use because they don’t require any setup or complicated maneuvering. Using the cane simply requires your loved one to hold it in her hand and then to allow it to help her balance. Single-point canes are excellent if your loved one only needs a little bit of support, while a quad cane provides an even more stable point of contact for your loved one.

Walkers

Walkers are for people who need more support than a cane. The walker uses a lightweight frame that your loved one stands inside of and then moves forward as she walks. When your loved one is ready to pause, she can rest on the walker. The best thing about using a walker is that your loved one can remain stable inside the framework of the walker.

Rolling Walkers

Rolling walkers are an excellent choice for your loved one if she doesn’t have the strength or the stamina to lift the walker continuously. The wheels allow the walker to glide along easily. Your loved one uses hand brakes when she needs to stop so that the walker doesn’t move out from underneath her. This can be a more stable form of a walker if your loved one needs even more support.

Learning to Use These Devices

Your loved one’s doctor is the first stop in learning how to properly use these devices. Your loved one might need more practice with her mobility aid, which is where working with an occupational therapist or a physical therapist can be extremely useful. The more your loved one can practice, the better she’ll get at using her device. This is important so that she can learn to rely on it as she’s walking.

Hiring home care providers can help your loved one to feel more secure with using her new mobility aids at home. Knowing that they’re there can also help you to feel more secure.

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in West Memorial, TX, please call the caring staff at At Your Side Home Care. We will answer all of your senior care questions. Call today: (832) 271-1600.

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Donna Wrabel, LMSW

Co-Owner at At Your Side Home Care

For most of us, the word "home" evokes warm feelings of comfort, security and well-being. For older adults, home also means holding tight to cherished memories and maintaining self-esteem and independence. When illness, injury or age make life a little more challenging, remaining at home in a comfortable, familiar environment encourages recovery and enhances the quality of life. Home can be defined as a private residence, an independent or assisted living facility or even a short term stay in the hospital, we recognize the additional benefits provided by a personal, professional assistant.

Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.

Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week

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