Being able to move up and out and about probably isn’t something that crosses your mind everyday and it’s something that’s incredibly easy to take for granted — that is of course until you can’t move. Everyone knows the awful feeling of being so sick that you can barely move so you’re confined to the bed or the couch. Or everyone knows what it feels like when you have a sprain, strain, or another kind similar injury that requires braces, crutches, and weeks or months spent awkwardly hobbling around.
Those are the times when people appreciate their ability to move around unassisted on their own the most. After a period of not being able to do so, it seems that all you want to do is stretch your legs, move around, jump up and down, and carry on with your normal activities as you please. But for people with reduced or limited physical strength and mobility due to age or physical disability, mobility management is extremely important and critical to their care, comfort, and sense of self. Mobility management is also a critical consideration for the caregivers of the elderly or the disabled.
According to data from the 2010 United States census, the last year for which data is available, less and less people are going to nursing homes for long term care. Instead, many families are now opting to keep elderly or disabled loved ones in the comfort and security of the home, where they can administer round the clock care and have better control of their loved ones’ well being. That’s not to say that families won’t hire a professional care aide, but the fact remains that nursing home admittance is dropping.
This means that family members who become caregivers to their elderly or disabled loved ones have to learn about thing such as proper patient care, comfort, and safety, which includes mobility management. Being able to move with the assistance of a wheelchair is an important part of creating a sense of independence and self confidence in elderly and disabled patients, and in the world of mobility management, wheelchairs have definitely come a very long way in terms of aesthetics, design, and functionality.
From power wheelchairs, to classic pedal wheelchairs, to geriatric wheelchairs, to bariatric wheelchairs, there are no limits in terms of variety for comfortable high quality seating. The world of mobility management has definitely expanded, with elderly and disabled patients now having more choices than ever in terms of wheelchair options. However the debate over tilt versus recline wheelchairs still rages on to this day.
The long standing debate over tilt versus recline wheelchairs is something that every caregiver, whether it’s a family member caring for a senior or disabled loved one or a professional home care giver caring for a patient, should become familiar with. In terms of what’s better or more comfortable for the patient, that’s something only the patient can determine, but knowing the pros and cons of tilt versus recline wheelchairs can make a big difference when it comes to deciding which mobility management options are best for the patient.
Before diving head first into the tilt versus recline wheelchairs debate, take a look at their similarities in terms of patient comfort and caregiver convenience. Both tilt in space and reclining wheelchairs give patients added comfort by allowing a caregiver to easily adjust the way in which the patient is seated in the chair. It may not seem like much, but even a minor adjustment can be the major difference between a comfortable position and one that causes pain. For example, a small adjustment can relieve pounds of pressure on the lower back. Simple adjustments can also give the head, neck, and shoulders much needed breaks as well.
Many people, both patients and caregivers, aren’t fond of reclining wheelchairs. They work in much of the same way that a recliner would and are easier to adjust than tilt in space wheelchairs. However, the near constant threat of sheering and sliding make many people choose an alternative to minimize the risk of injury.