Are you spending more time helping your aging family members?   If your elderly parents, spouse, or loved ones are approaching their seventies and are living 'independently' in their home, you may notice significantly more time and energy is need to assist them with general tasks.   You aren't quite a 'caregiver' for them, but you worry more about their safety and ability to remain independent.  Keeping your aging parents active and independent or enabling a spouse or other family member to stay self-reliant throughout their elder years delays the costs and emotional drain of hiring or providing caregiving.  AllegroMedical.com offers four “Caregiver Approved” products that will provide you with peace-of-mind and help keep your loved ones independent longer.

Telemergency-2000 We’ve all seen the commercials where an elderly lady has fallen and can’t get up.  With one third of adults age 65 and older at risk for falling, it is important to be prepared in advance of a fall.1   The longer your loved remains on the floor after a fall, the more likely they are to develop secondary injuries (i.e., muscle damage, pressure sores, pneumonia, and dehydration).  Additionally, lying on the floor for more than one hour is associated with a higher incidence of death within the next six to 12 months.2   An emergency alert system with a wireless pendant can call for help at the touch of a button.  The Telemergency 2000 Telephone & Wireless Emergency Alert Pendant is affordable without requiring a monthly subscription and doubles as an amplified telephone with large easy-to-read buttons.  The wireless pendant conveniently acts as a speakerphone avoiding a dangerous rush to the phone in addition to an emergency alert.

“Has a pendant to use if you are dizzy or can't get to phone to call for help. Can turn on or off emergency calling feature and even talk from your bed to person returning your call.”  AllegroMedical.com review by rrc from Geneva,NY

Toilevator

Transitioning from a sit-to-standing position poses many challenges for aging adults, especially when trying to rise from a toilet safely.  The Toilevator, designed by the Center for Studies in Aging, raises the toilet from the floor allowing for an easier transition from a sit-to-stand or stand-to-sit position.  The ability to independently manage toileting allows an aging loved one to maintain their dignity and modesty.

“This toilet riser allowed us to raise the height of our toilet so my husband could sit and rise easier without losing the use of a specialized toilet seat we use for cleanliness. My sons installed it using only a few tools in about an hour.”  AllegroMedical.com review by Jane from Illinois

Elderly adults experience age-associated changes in muscle strength and posture control.  These changes make it more difficult to avoid falling while reaching or bending for a dropped item.3   Pick-up tools like an aluminum reacher with magnetic tip assist your elderly parent in retrieving dropped items or items stored out of reach safely without help. AllegroMedical.com customers use this reacher to remove laundry out of dryer, boxed crackers and cereal out of the cupboard, and to pick up shoes from the floor.

Aluminum Reacher

“If something falls, I can retrieve it myself immediately without help. I can also reach items on shelves that were previously too high. Really makes a difference in everyday living. ” AllegroMedical.com review by Mondel from Illinois

Toileting poses many challenges in elderly people.  Aside from the sitting and standing issues, aging causes biochemical and physiological changes of the body that could result in skin sensitivities.4  Other issues such vision impairments may make it difficult for the elderly to know when they are ‘clean’.  Good personal hygiene is important for p hysical health.  The EZ Wash Solution ComfortSeat allows your elderly family member to easily clean themselves after toileting with the turn of a dial.  The unit attaches to your toilet and doesn’t require electricity.

“I was worried my husband wouldn't like this product because it doesn't heat the water, but he said it was fine. It is very helpful for someone who has difficulty wiping themselves--my husband has Parkinson's disease. I had it installed in a vacation home. I had a plumber do it, but I believe it is quite easy. It doesn't require any electricity, only a connection into the water supply line for the toilet.”  AllegroMedical.com review by Pamsc from South Carolina

 Helping an elderly spouse, parent, or loved one remain independent and active benefits everyone’s quality of life.  AllegroMedical.com is here to help keep your aging family members independent and assist you with all of your caregiver needs.

 

1 http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html

2 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1504022/pdf/bmjcred00642-0022.pdf

3 http://www.nchh.org/Portals/0/Contents/Article0786.pdf

4 Siddons, Sarah.  "Are all soaps safe for people of all ages?"  20 August 2009.  HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/cleansing/products/soaps-safe-for-people.htm>  28 March 2013.