When you’re caring for an older adult, you might recognize that — even as their physical abilities change — they want to keep living life on their own terms and maintain their dignity and independence. That’s where the term aging in place comes in; it means that your loved one has the support, tools, and resources they need to remain in their preferred living environment with their preferred lifestyle despite the changes in their body.
Home medical equipment (HME) plays a crucial role in supporting older adults and enabling them to age in place safely and comfortably. By incorporating HME into the home environment, caregivers can create a supportive and accessible space that promotes independence, reduces the risk of falls, and enhances overall quality of life.
What Does ‘Aging in Place’ Mean?
Aging in place means that your loved one is able to remain living in their own home, even as their needs change due to age, limited mobility, or chronic health conditions.
In the perfect “age in place” scenario, your loved one would have:
- A safe home with minimal fall risks.
- Tools and services that help your loved one maintain their independence.
- Some way to stay connected with their friends, family, and community.
- A comfortable living environment that is not only safe but is also enjoyable and meets your loved one’s preferences and needs as closely as possible.
Aging in place yields so many physical and mental health benefits for your loved one, including:
- An increased sense of independence.
- An improved quality of life with minimal fall or injury risks.
- Being able to enjoy the familiarity and comfort of home.
Your role as a caregiver will also be so much less stressful because you’ll have the confidence that your loved one is in a safe and comfortable environment when you’re not around to look after them.
Aging in Place: How Home Medical Equipment Can Help
If you’re trying to help your loved one age in place, the first step is to use home medical equipment (HME) to reduce fall risk in and around their home. Here’s why HME is so handy:
- Increased Independence: HME can help older adults maintain their independence and perform daily activities more easily.
- Improved Safety: HME can reduce the risk of falls and accidents, making the home a safer environment.
- Enhanced Comfort: HME can provide comfort and support, especially for those with mobility limitations or chronic health conditions.
- Delayed Move to Assisted Living or Care Facility: By enabling older adults to remain in their homes, HME can help delay or avoid the need for Assisted Living or Care Facility places.
Let’s cover a few important areas of the home where you can employ home medical equipment.
Bedroom Safety
It’s so important to make the bedroom safe and comfortable — after all, this is where your loved one can get critical rest and enjoy some privacy.
- Wedges & Pillows: Instead of using existing pillows to support the body while resting and sleeping, often leading to pain and frustration, sleep wedges and supportive pillows provide the proper support and customized comfort. This reduces aches and pains, and constant tossing and turning — thereby making your loved one more comfortable, allows for a better night’s sleep and also reduces the risk of falls out of bed.
- Bed Rails: Bed rails are a very effective way to keep your loved one from accidentally falling out of bed when they’re resting or sleeping – and they also provide excellent assistance getting in and out of bed. While bed rails are very effective, the product is often viewed with a negative stigma by the user as a symbol of confinement and declining independence. A better and more accurate way to view bed rails is as a product that embraces your loved ones and keeps them safe and independent.
- Lighting: Using remote-controlled or motion-activated lights in the bedroom (and the rest of the home) can be crucial in preventing your loved one from falling as they make their way from the light switch to the bed — and vice versa.
Learn more about our NOVA bedroom products.
Related Blog: Five Fall Risk Areas In & Out of the Home
Bathroom Safety
The bathroom is often a hazardous area for older adults due to slippery surfaces, potential falls, and the need for assistance with tasks like bathing and toileting. In fact, over 60% of falls that happen in the home, occur in the bathroom. By incorporating home medical equipment, you can create a safer and more accessible bathroom environment.
Consider using the following equipment:
- Grab Bars: Grab bars installed near the toilet and inside the shower provide essential support and stability on wet surfaces.
- Non-Slip Mats: Non-slip mats should be placed on the floor of the shower or bathtub to prevent slipping.
- Bath Chairs with Extra Long Hand Held Shower: Bath chairs can provide a safe and comfortable place to sit while bathing, reducing the risk of falls and fatigue. Since most hand held showers only have 60” long hose and will not be long enough to use while seated, it is essential to get an extra long 84” Hand Held Shower with an On/Off switch. This makes it much easier and comfortable to bathe independently. All NOVA bath chairs come with a Hand Held Shower clip to conveniently attach the shower handle. It is also recommended to attach a Bath Chair Basket to make it easy and safe to grab bathing essentials such as soap and shampoo.
- Toilet Seat Risers: Toilet seat risers can make it easier to get on and off the toilet, another great way to reduce the risk of falls.
Learn more about NOVA bathroom products on NOVAjoy.com.
Related Blog: The Best Equipment to Reduce the Risk of Falls in the Bathroom
Walkers & Rollators
Walkers and rollators are invaluable aids for older adults who need extra support and stability while walking. Rollators have many life enhancing features such as locking hand brakes, seats, baskets and accessory options such as cup holders and bags. These mobility devices can help prevent falls, improve balance, and enhance overall mobility, allowing individuals to maintain their independence and enjoy a more active lifestyle.
Walkers and rollators provide the following benefits:
- Increased Stability: Walkers and rollators provide a stable base of support, helping to prevent falls and improve balance.
- Enhanced Mobility: These devices assist with walking and make it easier for individuals with limited mobility to get around.
- Reduced Pain: Walkers and rollators can help alleviate joint pain and fatigue, allowing your loved one to stay active for longer periods.
- Improved Independence: By providing support and stability, walkers and rollators can help older adults maintain their independence and participate in activities they enjoy.
The best way to find a walker or rollator is to visit a local HME store or independent pharmacy with your loved one so they can “Test Drive” different models and find the one that feels most comfortable and is equipped with features that best suit their lifestyle.
You can use our NOVA Dealer Locator to find a store near you that provides caring and expert education and guidance.
Related Blog: The Benefits of Taking Your Mobility Walker for a Test Drive
Need More Support?
At NOVA, we’re committed to providing caregivers with the resources they need to help their loved ones enjoy a better quality of life and live life to the fullest. We believe in Empowering Human Ability at any age or stage in life.
Learn more about how the NOVA Network supports aging in place with the very best in mobility aids, home medical equipment, and community resources.
