As people get older, their physical and mental skills may decline. This can make it hard for them to do everyday things. It can also make them angry and feel like they can’t do anything. However, devices exist that help keep seniors independent and improve their quality of life. Seniors can thrive using these devices and with support from the elder care team and loved ones.

What Are Assistive Devices?

Assistive devices are made to help people with disabilities, injuries, or limits due to age do things they need to do every day. Seniors can use a wide range of helpful tools, from simple ones like reachers and grabbers to more complicated ones like stairlifts and mobility bikes.

Mobility Aids

Mobility aids are among the most popular aids for older people. Some of these are canes, walkers, and wheelchairs, which can make it easier for them to get around their homes and neighborhoods. A mobility aid can give seniors with trouble standing or walking for extended amounts of time the stability and support they need to stay active and independent.

Communication Aids

Communication aids are another type of tool that can help seniors. These gadgets can make it easier for seniors with trouble hearing or speaking to talk to each other. For example, a hearing aid can boost sounds and make it easier for seniors to listen to conversations. A speech-generating device can help a senior with limited speech explain themselves more clearly. The elder care team can help them get used to these aids and ensure they use them consistently.

Visual Aids

Helpful tools can also help seniors who have trouble seeing. For example, a magnifying glass or a handheld electronic magnifier can help a senior understand the small print. A talking watch or clock can also help seniors keep track of the time without relying on their sight.

Cooking Aids

In addition to these aids, some devices help seniors cook, clean, and care for themselves. For example, a senior with limited movement can use a reacher to pick up stuff off the floor or reach things on high shelves. A shower chair or bench can make bathing safer and more comfortable for an older person with trouble moving around.

Things to Consider

When considering aids for older people, it’s essential to consider their wants and preferences. Some seniors might like a cane or walker, standard ways to get around, while others might like a motorized scooter. Some adults may also have a specific illness or disability that makes it hard for them to do something and needs a certain kind of aid.

It’s also important to consider how much these devices cost and how easy they are to get. Many may be covered by insurance or Medicare, but seniors may have to pay for others out of their own cash. It’s important to look into the possibilities and talk to doctors and insurance companies to determine the available choices and how much they might cost. Loved ones and the elder care team can help them choose between devices.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring elder care in Greer, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116.  Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens, Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding area.

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Edward Harrison

Founder at Heart of the Carolinas

Edward Harrison founded the Heart of the Carolinas Homecare in 2007 when he saw there was a need for caregivers that provide non-medical home care services, at a price that most people could afford. It was standard in the industry to require hourly minimums and it was common to be assigned a caregiver, not matched with one based on your individual personal needs. Edward understood that to make a successful relationship between caregiver and client, skills were not enough, personality and compatibility plays as much a role as do skills.

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