Weighty Issue: Heavy Wheelchairs, Walkers Hinder Caregivers

Weighty Issue: Heavy Wheelchairs, Walkers Hinder Caregivers

(ARA) - As baby boomers continue to gray and medical science extends life, many 50- and 60-somethings are caring for their parents at a time when the boomers themselves are slowing down from age-related ailments. Mobility issues become even more challenging when caregivers find it difficult to meet the physical demands of their roles.

The heft of many modern assistive devices is a good example of the kind of obstacles facing both seniors and their caregivers, experts say. "The average wheelchair weighs around 38 pounds," notes Richard Derks of Medline, a leading manufacturer of wheelchairs and other assistive devices for seniors. "Putting most wheelchairs in a car trunk means you have to lift that 38 pounds from the ground and up about 3 feet an average of four times per trip."

Walkers can create a similar problem for seniors who are ambulatory with the aid of the assistive device. Most walkers weigh 16 pounds or more. "That may seem light, but for seniors with mobility issues lifting that much weight into a car can be a real challenge," Derks says.

Caregivers looking after an aging parent at home may be reluctant to take seniors out on non-essential trips because of this weight issue. Yet, that type of trip - to a restaurant, beauty salon, visiting family and friends, etc. - greatly enhances the quality of life for an otherwise home-bound senior.

"The sheer difficulty of managing a wheelchair often means caregivers run all the errands alone and don't take their loved ones out as much as they might like to," Derks says. "There is a physical and cognitive impact for the elderly."

Physically, mobility issues slow rehabilitation after a health setback. The more homebound seniors are, the less exercise they get. Cognitively, the senior may begin to feel increasingly dependent, falling into a more dependant role than they might want.

The good news is manufacturers of assistive devices are addressing this problem by producing lighter weight wheelchairs and other accessories. Aluminum transport chairs cut the weight down to about 23 pounds. And Medline's Freedom Transport chair weighs less than 15 pounds, a full 25 percent lighter than other transport chairs and 60 percent lighter than a standard wheelchair. Its convenient features -- cup holder and seatbelt for the user, bottle holder for the caregiver, and key ring, cell phone pocket and identification holder -- all speak to the designers' efforts to create a wheelchair that is practical and functional for both the caregiver and patient.

Medline's foray into lighter weight assistive devices has been so successful, the company is now launching a lighter-weight walker, dubbed the Freedom Rollator. Weighing only 10 pounds, the walker has been designed to serve users from 4 feet 10 inches to 6 feet 2 inches tall. It comes packaged in a removable, zippered, water-resistant bag with comfortable shoulder strap for easy portability.

To learn more about Medline's lighter weight assistive products, visit www.medline.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent