At-home mobility solutions

BOTH of my parents have been in and out of hospital recently for major surgery and my father has spent some time in respite care as he recovers. We’ve talked about them selling the family home and moving to a retirement village but they’ve decided they would rather stay independent for as long as they can.

The family home is really lovely and close to everything they need but they’ve started to struggle with the stairs and their old, heavy furniture. Is there an alternative to them moving out? What can we do to help without making them feel like they’re back in hospital?

Our expert is Damian Ryan of Bluesky Healthcare.

It’s a fact of life we become less mobile as we age but if your parents would rather stay in their own home, that’s great.

Most of life’s little difficulties can be solved with the right technology. In fact, many of the tools you may have already seen at your father’s respite care facility can be hired on a short-term basis or can be brought into the family home and tailored to your parents’ lifestyle (and home decor).

If, as you mentioned, climbing stairs is the main problem, I’d recommend a stair lift. The best stair lift would have to be one made by Stannah. Battery-powered (so they still work in a blackout), they can be specially built and installed around staircases of any shape, indoors or out in the garden – wherever they are needed – and they usually come with a warranty and servicing.

If heavy furniture or getting into and out of a sofa that is too close to the ground is becoming a problem, lift and recline chairs are one possible solution.

Disguised as gorgeous modern or traditional looking arm chairs, at the touch of a button, lift and tilt chairs can help you to lie down, stand or sit easily without straining or jarring your body.

The best kind to get would be those specially prescribed for your parents’ spines and medical conditions. Some luxurious models even come with massage and heating options so you might find you want to get one for yourself as well – they’re always the best seat in the house.

You can also get adjustable beds to help people to rise or sit (thankfully these don’t look like something out of a hospital ward). Scooters are handy if, for example, your parents live close to shops but are unable to walk the entire way or prefer not to drive.

Ultimately, it’s your parents’ choice whether they stay or move but it helps to know there are options out there to keep them physically independent and feeling good.

For more information on technologies to help you (or your loved ones) stay independent, call Bluesky Healthcare toll-free on 1300 65 1300.