Mobility at Home for Aging population – As you or your loved ones get older, the physical body wears down, which can make it difficult to move around, even in your own home. For those who are aging, it can be humiliating and frustrating to no longer be able to do the things they once were able to do. Luckily though, there are solutions for when aging takes a toll on mobility. In this post, we’ll go over some of the best ways to promote independence by increasing mobility at home for an aging population.

Mobility aids are devices that allow independence through physical assistance without the aid of another person and are the biggest helpers in promoting independence and increasing mobility in those who are aging. If you have ever used a cane, a walker, crutches, or a wheelchair, you’ve used a mobility aid. Mobility aids can be crucial in giving an aging population a way to maintain control of their quality of life even if deteriorating health prevents or decreases their mobility and independence.

For an aging person, joint problems and other health issues may contribute to poor mobility; therefore stairs are one of the bigger problems in the home as far as independence goes. For the elderly especially, having to walk up and down the stairs to a bedroom, basement, or other room in the home can quickly lead to a serious fall, potentially resulting in injury or even death.

There are two excellent solutions to prevent a fall in the home on stairs, as well as increase independence in an aging population: home elevators and wheelchair stairlifts. At A Plus Elevators & Lifts, we offer various styles of elevators and stairlifts designed to increase independence and mobility in an aging population, including the ones mentioned below.

Home elevators are ideal for multi-level homes and come in a variety of styles. With pneumatic vacuum, electro-hydraulic, direct gear, or gearless drive systems, there is a reliable option for everyone.

Elevators with pneumatic vacuum drive systems are the most environmentally friendly of these options, leaving a small environmental footprint by using air to lift the elevator. Elevators with vacuum drive systems are fairly easy to install compared to other types and have a structure that supports themselves. Pneumatic vacuum drive system elevators can be installed without altering the structure of the home too drastically.

Traditional hydraulic drive system elevators are usually less than ideal for elevator passengers in the home as they make for a bit of a rough ride. For the elderly or those with health and mobility issues, this can be less than ideal. In electro-hydraulic elevators, electronic valve assembly ensures that the ride is extremely smooth. To combat any remaining jerkiness of the elevator, the machine is lubricated with hydraulic oil.

Direct gear drive system elevators are another more traditional style of elevators. Despite being a smooth ride, because of the large gears used to move the elevator, these types of elevators are quite loud. With the case of A Plus Elevators’ direct gear drive system design, an in-line gearbox is used, which greatly reduces the loud gear sounds by more than 50%.

Gearless drive system elevators are the more luxurious elevators of the variants, with the same technology implemented in the system as is in commercial elevators. Gearless drive systems use a motor with a magnet instead of a gear, which results in the smoothest ride out of the various types of elevators.

Wheelchair stairlifts are also another perfect solution for giving the mobility-limited a way to get around their home if stairs are a prominent area where they struggle to navigate. With options for enclosed and unenclosed vertical platform lifts and inclined platform lifts, stairlifts can be used with or without a wheelchair, but are designed to be used with a wheelchair, making them ideal for those in the aging population who are unable to walk or stand.

Vertical platform lifts work similarly to an in-home elevator by lifting the user vertically. There are enclosed and unenclosed vertical platform lifts for those who cannot get up or down stairs. Vertical platform lifts are ideal for both indoor or outdoor use, and their flexibility and precision make them suitable for a passenger and assistant to ride at the same time. Inclined stairlifts use a rail system to lift a passenger in a wheelchair up or down flights of stairs and are a perfect choice when home elevators or vertical platform lifts are not feasible. Depending on the model, a stairlift may be able to go up and down straight or curved stairs, and some models have folding platforms.

Thanks to mobility aids, independence in those who are aging is not unattainable. With assistance from home elevators and stairlifts, independence is made possible for the elderly or disabled in a safe, easy-to-use way.