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Posts Tagged ‘Elderly Care’

Helping Elderly People Help Themselves

February 3rd, 2011 No comments

Later on in life elderly people come to a point where they can't do everything they used too without some form of help. It is normally not because they don't want too but because their body won't allow them to do some of the more strenuous tasks. Of course elderly people don't want to become dependent on other people's help and don't like to have everything done for them.

There are a huge number of items which are specially designed to provide the help that elderly people need without the input of someone else doing it for them. Products such as a folding Easireach can make a huge difference to an elderly person's life without costing much money at all. The Easireach helps to reach items which might otherwise put a strain on the person.

Mobility products are a tremendously helpful form of transport as they mean elderly people can continue to carry out everyday tasks they are used too. Mobility scooters are sometimes expensive though however there are charities and grants which can sometimes subsidise the cost of the purchase to make them more accessible for elderly people.

A major form of help for an elderly person is to have a stair lift fitted to their home. A stair lift can help them stay in the home which may hold a lot of sentimental value and memories for them. With a stair lift they can also keep enjoying the whole of their house. If using a stair lift they won't have an accident and be unable to reach the phone to call for help and so this offers peace of mind for both friends and family. There are again charities and grants which can help to pay for these items.

It is important for elderly people to stay active and not become dependent on other people for everything. This isn't just important for their health but important to them personally. A lot of elderly people don't like to be seen as a burden on family and friends. The items above can help them maintain their independence without putting excessive strain on their bodies.

Stair lifts are a great way of making an elderly person feel independant again, allowing them to navigate up the stairs in their own home.

A Brief History Of Electric Wheelchairs

June 28th, 2010 No comments

Perhaps the greatest scientific contribution that Canada has made to the entire world is that of the electric wheelchair. Developed by Dr. George Johann Klein in the 1950s, this has been considered as a wonder invention in the field.

The electric wheelchair came as a great relief to the second World War veterans. Thousands of war victims were benefited by it. The electric wheelchair of Dr. Klein underwent many modifications. Today, there are many enhanced variants of it catering to specific customer needs.

Until the coming of the electric wheelchair, the existing chairs catered only to the needs of paraplegic individuals. But Dr. Klein's invention stands apart in that it can also be used by quadriplegics. The wheelchair had benefited thousands of Second World War veterans and will hence be remembered forever.

The electric powered wheelchair can be used not only by paraplegics and quadriplegics; doctors now advise patients with cardiovascular problems to use them. The wheelchair has become customized. It is equipped to be used both indoors and outdoors. Some wheelchairs are portable.

The main functions of an electric wheelchair are to help in movement. Besides going forward and backwards, movements like stretching and titling can also be done. Its movement is controlled by joy sticks; chin controls or sip/puff controls. We can control the wheelchair's direction, speed or other parameters by these joysticks.

The price of an electric powered wheelchair can be immense. The prices range from $1000 to $3000 for ordinary models while advanced models can cost $10,000 or more. They also may need frequent upkeep and repair work done. These are some of the disadvantages that electric wheelchairs present.

Are you looking for a power wheelchair? If so, head over to the electric powered wheelchairs web site.