As the years go on, everyone on the planet grows older in age. For some, this is simply growing through their youth, but for some, this means growing to be old. Now, growing old is not always bad as it usually means you get to grow old with your family around you, but there are some physical dangers to growing old.
It is important to know that as you grow old, your body naturally grows older and becomes somewhat weaker in terms of bone structure and strength. This will not only make it more difficult for you to move around, but will also make you much more susceptible to getting injured if you happen to fall, and this can happen even in the safety of your own home. Luckily, there are many different items and assistive devices that are used now to help people with their mobility.
Some of the items and assistive devices used to aid older adults in mobility involve stair lifts for home, straight stair cases, wheelchair lifts, vertical lifts for home, and even a handicap accessible bathroom. It may seem odd for straight stair cases to help older people be more mobile but they are easier to use because they are straightforward and have grab bars attached as well. Here is what you need to know about the older adults in your life and the straight stair cases that can help them.
In the United States, the most common disability is associated with limited mobility and right now 53 million Americans live with a disability. 6.8 million older adults in America will use some form of assistive device to help aid their mobility. These devices are all designed to help cater to older adults and to make moving around much more manageable for them inside the safety of their homes.
Straight stair cases can also help prevent injuries because of their design. Nearly every 11 seconds, an emergency room will treat an older adult that has fallen. For most older adults, more than half of all falls will occur right in the very safety of their own home. Each year nearly 2 million older adults will end up being injured as the result of a fall and will have to visit the emergency room because of it.
Assistive devices like straight stair cases and scooter ramps will help older people live at home for a longer period of time. This is important because nearly 90% of all people over the age of 65 have displayed a want to stay living in their own home for as long as they can. Every year almost 235,000 people will end up getting injured in their bathroom, which is a very dangerous place for older people. Keep in mind that 48% of all homeowners over the age of 55 stated they want to make serious changes to the design of their bathroom.
In Conclusion
If you know older adults that you love and cherish, make sure they have the assistive devices they need even if it is something like installing straight stair cases. By the year of 2030, it is projected that older adults will make up 20% of the entire population in the United States alone. Because of advancements in both technology and medicine, people are living longer than ever before. If you know an older adult that is going to be living at home, try to get them as much help as they need when they try to move throughout the house.