Toileting Aids

You suffer from osteoarthritis and your knee pain is unbearable. After years of limited mobility and the inability to maintain an active lifestyle, you agree to have an orthopedic surgeon examine your knee. The surgeon determines you are a good candidate for a Total Knee Replacement (TKR). Most patients undergoing TKR are 50 to 80 years of age. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons a reduction of knee pain is experienced by more than 90% of TKR patients. Additionally, basic activities of daily living significantly improved.¹ Preparation for your joint replacement will help ease the stress of major surgery. AllegroMedical.com provides 3 Tips to help you prepare for your Total Knee Replacement Surgery.

Being disabled in today’s society hasn't been easier with a transfer aid. There are countless options for transferring a loved one or yourself in those hard to get at places. Transfer aids are used for many different activities such as getting into a car, using the restroom, taking a bath, and moving into a chair. If a person is able to bear some of their own weight for a short amount of time, there are various products to assist in transferring between two locations ¹. Transfer boards are meant to bear the full weight of the person and are designed to be smooth for easy motion ². As with any medical equipment, careful professional assessment to the individual situation is recommended to ensure that the most proper choice is made.

Originally popular in Europe and Asia, Bidets have been making a splash here in the United States over the past decade. With more and more people traveling and moving, people are bringing their customs and familiar traditions with them to their new residence. Originally invented in France, the bidet was used to wash ones feet ¹. Since then it has evolved into much more, giving users a clean hygienic alternative to using toilet paper.

The Bathroom is one of the most dangerous rooms in the house with the highest injury rate in senior adults age 65 and older.  The majority of bathroom injuries are the result of falls.  Exiting the tub or shower is the most dangerous activity for all age groups since bathroom floors and fixtures are more slippery after showering.  Toileting is especially hazardous for aging adults when getting on and off the toilet.   Moving from a sit to stand position after sitting for an extended period of time can cause dizziness that results in falls.   According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all adults should be aware of bathroom activities that result in the majority of injuries, especially stepping into and out of showers/tubs and standing up from or sitting on toilets.¹ 

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.

As adults age, once simple tasks like sitting, standing, and walking can become more challenging, leading to a reduction in physical activity.  Older adults should participate in safe and effective moderate physical activities to achieve an improved quality of life.   Sadly, one-third of adults over the age of 50 lack physical activity in their daily lives. ¹   Older adults living a sedentary lifestyle have reduced strength and balance which increases risk of falling².  Senior adults, age 65 and older, are at high risk for falls with one out of three seniors falling each year.³   Daily living aids are helpful tools that will keep you safe and moving independently.   AllegroMedical.com presents five daily living aids to help you increase physical activity safely.

Face it, we live in a world of disposables.  And I say 'hooray' for those use-and-toss wipes that help us stay healthy, clean and sanitary.  Anything  pre-treated or pre-moistened with protection, moisture, anti-bacterials, that gets the job done fast is worth its weight in gold.