Last Updated on February 1, 2017
There are numerous handicap aids for the home which can make it easier to get around and regain that feeling of independence. We’re confident you can find the right tool to assist you in this list of handicap aids we have put together.
Handicap Aids: Around The House
These handicap aids are designed to assist you in your daily home life. Whether it’s getting around or performing tasks, these tools can help you accomplish more with less effort.
Stairlifts
If stairs have become an obstacle, you can overcome them with a stairlift. Stairlifts help you travel up and down stairs on a mechanical track in a seated position. This eliminates the effort involved with walking up and down the stairs and greatly reduces the risk of injuries that can be sustained from falling down stairs. Stairlifts can be installed to fit just about any stairwell with minimal modifications. For more information, please inquire here.
Ramps
For wheelchair-bound individuals, wheelchair ramps are one of the most essential handicap aids available. Modular wheelchair ramps can help you get in and out of your home with ease, while threshold ramps can help you get through doors and other raised ledges.
Reclining Lift Chairs
When leisure time is no longer as relaxing as it once was, it may be time to look into a reclining lift chair. Even the best La-Z-Boy on the market is a struggle to get in and out of if it’s not powered. With reclining lift chairs being electronically powered, you can use a remote control to raise the seat height to a comfortable level. Then gently ease yourself into the chair, and use the remote to lower it again. This helps take pressure off the muscles and joints when sitting and standing.
Reaching Aids
You’ve just settled into your favorite power recliner and are ready to relax for the evening. Hold on a minute, the remote is just out of arm’s reach. Not to worry, with a reaching aid by your side you won’t have to get up! Reaching aids can help you reach, lift, and move things closer to you while exerting minimal effort. They’re also great for grabbing items from tall shelves.
Bedroom Aids
We spend roughly a third of our lives sleeping. Our beds should be as comfortable, safe, and secure as possible. In other words, a place where you can look forward to laying down at the end of a long day. A simple over-the-bed table is a versatile tool that can be used however you need it. Anything you need to have accessible from your bed can be placed on the table and rolled away when you’re done. Bedside rails are also recommended for those with limited mobility who may be at risk of injury.
Pill Organizers
Pill organizers help to reduce the stress and anxiety that comes with taking your medication. Modern-day pill organizers can not only separate your medication by date and time, they can sound an alarm when it’s time to take your next dose. In order for the medication to be effective, it has to be taken as prescribed, and you can help ensure that happens by having a tool for keeping it all organized.
Handicap Aids: In the Bathroom
A list of handicap aids for the home would not be complete without taking into consideration something as crucial as the bathroom. The potential for slips, falls, and injuries in the bathroom are greater than perhaps any other room in the house. Tools, like handicap toilet aids and others, will help reduce those risks.
Safety Bars
Safety grab bars are an essential bathroom aid. They can be installed anywhere there’s a potential for for someone to fall, or wherever an individual needs extra assistance with getting up and down. These places tend to include the inside of a shower, the side of a bathtub, or on the wall beside a toilet. Safety bars provide people with limited mobility something to grab onto if they slip, or assistance if they just need help getting out of the tub after a warm bath.
Bath and Shower Chairs
These bathroom aids almost go hand in hand with safety bars, because if you need one there’s a probability you’ll also need the other. Safety bars can help you get into the bathtub or shower, they provide something to hold onto in the event of a slip and fall, but shower chairs can help prevent falls altogether. These are especially recommended if the individual has difficulty standing for long periods of time. Instead, they can sit comfortably as they freshen up in the morning.
Long Handle Bath/Shower Brushes
Long handle brushes provide assistance to those with limited mobility by giving them the ability to wash difficult-to-reach parts of the body without overexerting themselves. Places like the back of the neck, lower back, legs, and feet can be a challenge to wash if you can’t reach them on your own. Long handle brushes help ensure that a person can bathe independently and stay clean from head to toe.
Handicap Toilet Aids
Raised toilet seats are common handicap toilet aids. They increase the height of a toilet seat, making it easier for a person to sit or stand. The standard height of a toilet seat is around 14 inches, handicap toilet aids increase the height to about 18 inches. This height is more optimal for the average adult and will reduce stress on the knees when sitting and standing. Other handicap toilet aids we recommend are the previously mentioned safety bars, which provide something to hold onto as the person is in the process of sitting or standing.
Conclusion
With assistance in common areas of the home, as well as private areas like the bedroom and bathroom, handicap aids can help a person stay independent all throughout their day.