Responding to Needs When Quality Of Life Is Compromised
According to a recently released report from AARP, one in five adults says he or she provides assistance to someone age 50+ with activities of daily living. Integral to completing many of those activities are Aids to Daily Living (ADL). Basic ADLs consist of products designed for self-care tasks, including personal hygiene and grooming, dressing and undressing, feeding, functional transfers, toileting and ambulation.
Maintaining Independence
When everyday tasks become difficult, quality of life is compromised. Frustration often takes over. Living with certain medical conditions, recovering from injuries and surgeries, and managing problems associated with the aging process can be difficult to cope with. Maintaining independence for as long as possible is a universal desire. Specialty items that are designed to overcome the problems associated with impaired or reduced mobility, dexterity, vision, hearing, strength and coordination promote a convenient, comfortable and safe home environment and assist the caregiver when providing healthcare services
Specialty Products That Promote Quality of Life
The need for specialty products can be temporary. The recovery period following an injury or surgical procedure is a good example. Frequently though, the need is due to a permanent disability or chronic medical condition. Regardless of the length of need, finding assistive products can be crucial. Furthermore, most people do not even realize that there are products available that can help increase function, ease discomfort and promote a safe living environment. Your local home medical equipment provider exists to help people living and working with disabilities, injuries and age-related difficulties. They can offer information and professional advice to help users make informed choices about what equipment and aids will enable them to be more independent and improve the quality of their lives.
Don’t Let Age, Illness or Surgery Slow You Down
Mobility
No one wants to be cooped up inside or stuck in front of a TV all day long. If you are bed-confined, you know what it would mean to be able to get up and move around the house or apartment by yourself. If you find yourself spending most of your days indoors, mobility means getting out of the house – by yourself or with assistance - to the library, grocery store, park, theater or over to see the grandkids. When moving around is difficult, there are products that make standing, walking, or transferring easier: canes; walkers with wheels and seats; transport chairs; scooters; vehicle, stair and ceiling lifts; swivel cushions and transfer boards; shopping carts and lift chairs.
Dexterity, Strength and Coordination
The ability to perform everyday functions independently is usually taken for granted until something happens and you can no longer do what used to be second nature. If your strength is sapped or coordination or dexterity is impaired, simple things like eating, dressing, grooming, bathing, reaching and gripping become hurdles to overcome. Too often, seniors and others with physical difficulties resort to spur-of-the-moment and often unsafe means of dealing with everyday tasks around the house. When completing basic personal care functions or household jobs becomes too difficult, there are all kinds of gizmos and gadgets to make life easier and more manageable: shower chairs; tub lifts; grab bars and transfer benches; hand-held showers; long-handled sponges; shampoo trays; button and zipper aids; dressing sticks, elastic shoelaces, long-handled shoehorns; sock and stocking pull-on aids; adult bibs and clothing protectors; cup holders and spill proof cups; plate guards and scoop dishes; specialty eating utensils; doorknob extensions; jar and bottle openers and grippers; key holders/turners; no-slip matting and trays; grips for writing, eating and other utensils; reachers; illuminated magnifiers for reading and positioning pillows.
Leisure and Recreation
When we can’t do the things we enjoy most, it’s easy to become depressed and lethargic. A sense of hopelessness and helplessness creeps into our psyche. It’s important to interact with others and stay as active possible. Sometimes it’s the little things that make all the difference. If you need a helping hand, here are some assistive devices to keep you in the game and help you get a little exercise: book holders and page-turners, magnifiers, pen holders, activity tables and lap trays, playing-card holders and jumbo face cards, pedal and pulley exercisers, ankle and wrist weights and therapy bands, putty and balls.
Years ago, people who had arthritis, injuries, or any condition that affected one’s fine motor skills, visual acuity, mobility or strength just had to deal with it. That is definitely not the case anymore. There are hundreds of assistive devices that are specially designed to fill in the gap between desire and accomplishment. ADLs will help you maintain your independence and keep you active, ultimately contributing to your quality of life.