An Essential Guide to Mobility Devices

If you are caring for a loved one with limited mobility, you might want to read on to find out the different types of home mobility devices that are available and how to choose the appropriate one. There are many things to watch out for when moving someone with limited mobility to ensure that he or she does not get injured. Thankfully, there are many home mobility devices available to assist your loved ones in moving around but caregivers need to be familiar with how to use and choose the right mobility device that suits your loved one’s needs. If you are unsure of which mobility devices are best suited for your loved one, you should seek advice from your nurses or doctors.

Moving around at home 

A Commode Chair 

Commode Chair

Commode Chairs are mobile toilets designed for patients with limited mobility. It is usually placed beside the patient’s bedside for easy access.

These are the features you need to consider before purchasing the right commode chair for your loved one:

    1. The number of brakes – Check if the brakes are on 2 or all 4 wheels.
    2. Padded or plastic padding on the seat
    3. The type of arms-rest – Check if the arms rest are removable or swing-aways.
  1. The type of foot-rest – Check if the foot-rests are swing-aways or a foot-plate.
  2. The back support of the commode chair
  3. The durability of the frame
  4. Check if the commode chair is the same height as the bed

A commode chair is one of the few essentials for a patient with limited mobility. Before transferring your loved one from the commode chair to the bed or vice versa, always check to ensure that the brakes are put in place to prevent falls.

A Geriatric Chair 

A geriatric chair is a mobile chair for patients with limited mobility. The geriatric chair provides the necessary support – padded seats and designed for patients with limited mobility to lounge comfortably and move around safely between rooms at home. It is a more comfortable form of mobility device as compared to a wheelchair.

We offer a range of geriatric chairs on our e-commerce website that can be delivered straight to your home. Click here to find out more.

Travelling outdoors

With the aid of mobility devices, patients can maximise their mobility. By maximising mobility, patients with mobility issues are still able to maintain their social life and meet their friends or other family members. With the aid of mobility device, it gives them a sense of normalcy in their life. Here are some tips on how to choose proper mobility devices that are suited for travelling outdoors.

Walking Aid

How to use:

  1. Standing Posture
    • Adjust the walking aid’s height. Ensure that the patient’s arm is extended and the handle is at waist height.
    • The patient should stand tall and not hunch over. With good standing posture, it will decrease the chance of fatigue.
  • The patient should always position him/herself about 1 or 2 step behind the walking aid.

  1.  Walking (with a walker)
    • The caregiver should stand behind and on the weaker leg of the patient.
    • The patient should put the walker in front of him or her.
    • Do not slide the walker forward without lifting the walker.
    • Ensure that all 4 legs are on the floor.
    • The patient should step forward first with the weaker leg.
  • Followed by the other leg.

  1.  Walking (with a stick)
    • The caregiver should stand behind and on the side of the weaker leg.
    • The patient should hold the walking stick with the opposite hand of the weaker leg.
    • Move the walking stick first.
    • Followed by moving the weaker leg.
  • Always move the stronger leg last.

Wheel-Chair

A wheel-chair is essential for your loved one to travel outside of his/her home.

6 features to consider: These are the features you need to consider before buying a wheel-chair.

1. The type of arm-rest and foot-rest

  • Check if it is fixed or removable.

2. The type of arm-rest and foot-rest

  • Check if it is the stand or elevated leg-rest.

3. Desk-arms

  • Check if you can fit the desk arms under the desk.

4. Frame

  • Check the frame of the wheel-chair if it is a light-weight or standard frame.

5. Indoor/Outdoor Wheelchair

  • Consider if you will be using the wheelchair at home or outdoor more.

6. Seat-belt

  • See if there are seat-belts installed to the wheel-chair. Seat-belts need to be used if your loved one has poor seating balance.

Ensure that the brakes are in place before transferring your loved one from the wheelchair to the bed or vice versa. This is to prevent the risk of falling. 

About Jaga-me

Jaga-Me provides professional home care services, if you need help in operating any of these mobility devices safely you should seek help from a certified nurse or occupational therapist. Alternatively, you can engage with our services and our professional nurse will guide you on how to use the mobility device safely and execute proper transference techniques.

At Jaga-Me, we believe that ageing well is still possible despite the loss of mobility. There are many mobility devices available on the market that helps maximise mobility for your loved one at home and for travelling outdoors. With the aid of these mobility devices, ageing at home is possible.

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

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