In part one of this blog series, we discussed a few of the common difficulties associated with being a caregiver to a loved one who has been diagnosed with a form of dementia like Alzheimer’s. There are a multitude of issues that a caregiver could run in to, and we have identified a select few that we, here at HomeCARE Furniture by ComforTek, believe to be some of the most challenging.
The first challenge that we discussed was the difficulty of “scooting” a loved one to and from the table in a conventional care. There are many factors that contribute to the difficulty of doing so including the floor surface material, the type of chair that is being used, and the weight of the loved one that is being pushed. Regardless of the difficulty, no caregiver should have to use unnecessary strain to move their loved one towards the table. A solution to exerting unnecessary energy to scoot your loved one into the table, one can simply purchase, and utilize, one of our innovative homecare chairs. Our mobility assistance chairs feature an innovative mobility assist lever that can be pressed by the caregiver, resulting in the temporary lift of the chair onto non-marring floor casters.
The second caregiver challenge that we discussed was the difficulties that a caregiver might experience when trying to help their loved one sit down, or stand up from, a chair when they are restricted to the use of a walker. In order to sit someone down at the table, one would have to pull the chair an unreasonable distance back from the table, allowing their loved one to sit down without having to sit at an awkward angle — bringing us back to the first caretaker challenge. To avoid needing to move the chair, invest in one of our swivel dining room chairs with casters. Our dining room swivel chairs are the perfect asset to the home of a caretaker who is providing Alzheimer’s care to their loved one — but don’t take our word for it, take one of our past customer’s word.
Mary W. (5-Star Review) “Easy fix”
“With two aging parents eating Sunday dinner with us every week, it was becoming increasingly difficult for them to scoot their chairs under the table. The Tudor Assist [renamed the Titan Swivel] is an awesome answer to that dilemma. We put the chair under the table, turn the seat to the side and all they have to do is sit down, swing under the table and they're set. The wheels are a necessity -- this is a heavy, well-built chair and you can't move it very easy without those wheels. It's a great help and we don't worry about them being comfortable. They have both said, "This is the most comfortable chair I have ever sat it." The back is straight so they aren't slumped in the seat and it's easy for them to sit down in and stand up from. Great chair!!”
We are very to happy to hear how well our mobility assist chairs worked out in your household! Thank you very much, Mary, for your kind words. Now that we have recounted what we discussed in our last blog, we would like to continue forward and speak of the final two caregiver difficulties.
Challenge Three: Feeding Your Loved One While They Sit In A Geriatric Chair
It is extremely common for households to purchase big, bulky, geriatric chairs to place in their homes when their loved one is diagnosed with a form of dementia like Alzheimer’s in an effort to create a safe, comfortable seating area for their loved one. While geriatric chairs are a good alternative to a traditional kitchen chair, they are usually rather bulky and difficult to move. While this might not be an issue for some families, it is common to need a comfortable and supportive chair in many situations, not just the mealtime situation, making it important to get a chair that is comfortable and supportive while still providing mobility.
The Titan Swivel REZ line of HomeCARE chairs are the perfect alternative to geriatric chairs. “Why?” you might ask? Well, to put it simply, it has superior mobility when compared to traditional geriatric chairs. Not only does the mobility assist chair feature the mobility assist lever that we discussed earlier in this blog, but it also features a locking swivel action so that you can turn your loved one around with ease. While yes, our mobility assist chairs were designed for kitchen and dining room use, we implemented large non-marring casters so that they could be utilized as a comfort and safety tool in any room in the house. Check out the Titan Swivel REZ line today.
Challenge Four: Providing Alzheimer’s Care Without risking Personal Injury
When a loved one is diagnosed with a form of dementia like Alzheimer’s, both the caregiver (you) and your loved one can be at risk of injury. For your loved one, the risk of injury directly seems to their recent diagnosis. Alzheimer’s is known to degrade motor functions, spatial awareness, and issues with balance. If your loved one was to walk about the house alone, they would be at risk of tripping or losing balance, falling, and becoming injured. It is to no surprise that an Alzheimer’s patient would be at risk of becoming injured, but it is a little more surprising to most that the caregiver is at an equal risk of injury to the person that they are caring for.
As a caregiver, it is your responsibility to work for two people, exert the energy of two people, and physically move two people. In most cases, the caregiver is of an equal size, or smaller, than the one that they care for, making the simplest of tasks difficult, and even dangerous. Luckily, there are tools that can be utilized in reducing the number of injuries.
Let Our Mobility Assist Chairs Help
There are many tools that are utilized by caretakers as they provide Alzheimer’s care to their loved ones. These tools include railings, walkers, power lifts, and our favorite — a mobility assist chair from us here at HomeCARE Furniture by ComforTek. Our mobility chairs and homecare furniture is designed to create a comfortable, and safe, environment for both parties — because caretakers and their loved ones alike deserve comfort without fearing injury.
If you think that a mobility assist chair would be a beneficial asset to your home, be sure to check out our line of homecare furniture today. Contact us if you have any questions.