General

Today, more and more seniors are choosing to “age in place” in the comfort of their own home. Here are five ideas for making aging in place more fun.

On the Just Walkers Blog, we like to write posts answering customer questions. But sometimes we’ll get questions which have short simple answers that don’t require a whole post to explain. Here are some of those questions along with their short answers, for the benefit of anyone else who might be wondering the same thing.

“We frequently go out with my grandmother, and she uses a rolling walker. When she gets tired, she sits down and holds up the whole family. Is there some sort of rolling walker that is safe to push our grandma in?”

What is the difference between the 4-wheel rolling walkers and the 3-wheel rolling walkers?

All rolling walkers, or rollators, give their users extra stability without slowing them down like a traditional walker would. When choosing a rollator for yourself or a loved one, one of the first things you’ll have to decide is whether you want a 3 wheel rollator or a 4 wheel rollator.

Yep, it’s that time of year once again-- the holiday shopping season. If you’re not sure what to get your senior parents, allow us to make a few suggestions.

When you think of roommates, you probably envision college students or early twenty somethings living together. But more and more, senior citizens are moving in together as a way to successfully age in place.

A new study from the Netherlands says that COPD patients can walk longer, farther, and more comfortably when using a rollator.

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a lung disease which restricts airflow and makes breathing difficult. According to the CDC, it affects 4 to 9% of US adults.

Aging in place is becoming more and more popular amongst seniors across the country. But aging in place successfully requires effort and knowledge. Here are several life hacks you can use to age in place and get more out of your golden years.

Those who are buying a walker for the 1st time are often forced to choose between style, features, or durability. This can make purchasing a walker stressful and frustrating. If you or a loved one is at the time of life when a walker has become a necessity, be sure that the walker you choose meets these 5 criteria.

Summer is here, making this the perfect time for ice cream, cook outs, and-- if you’re lucky enough to live near a coast - beach trips! Here are a few tips so you can stay safe and have fun in the sun.

Wilmington, North Carolina. 15% of the county’s population is 65 or older, and that number is only going to grow as baby boomers continue to age. That’s why the city’s senior city planner Christine Hughes has developed a plan to turn the city into the perfect destination for aging in place. The plan consists of four main parts.

George Sperzel wasn’t a big exerciser in his younger years. But when he as approaching 60, he decided to take up competitive running. Now he’s 63 and estimates that he’s run more than a hundred races during the last few years. “I have found that focused training will deliver the same benefits for aging athletes as for anyone of any age,” said George.

More and more seniors are choosing to “age in place,” continuing to live independently in their own home instead of going into assisted living. This can be very rewarding, but comes with its own set of challenges. Here are tips for how to successfully age in place

Caregiver and occupational therapist Lynda Shrager has worked in geriatric rehabilitation for more than thirty-five years. According to her, one of the best things seniors can do to be more successful at aging in place is own a pet.

“My experience reveals that patients who have pets are typically happier and more engaged in many of life’s activities,” said Shrager.

We all want to remain mentally sharp as we get older. Fortunately, a lot of the factors regarding cognitive decline are well within our control, as a new study by the Institute of Medicine points out. It recommends five ways to decrease cognitive decline and stay sharp as you age.

It was a little over two years ago that Drive Medical came out with their popular Drive Nitro 4 Wheel Rollator. Now they’ve released three new versions-- the Tall Height Drive Nitro, the Short Height Drive Nitro, and the Heavy Duty Drive Nitro.

Drive Medical have just come out with their latest rollator-- the iWalker Euro Style Rollator.

Its cross-brace design adds stability and makes it easy to fold. Simply lift up on the handle located in the middle of the seat to fold the rollator, then use the plastic clip to hold it in place. This innovative feature makes the iWalker easy to store and travel with.

Most of us take our mobility for granted. Many of us can walk without the use of a mobility device. And many of those who can’t have easy access to affordable wheelchairs, crutches, rollators, and other mobility devices.

But not everyone is so lucky. That’s why the Wheelchair Foundation has given away over 980,000 wheelchairs in more than 150 countries.

Myth:Wheelchair users are paralyzed and confined to their wheelchair.

Reality:Many wheelchair users can walk. Their strength may be limited, so a wheelchair allows them to travel farther and be more independent. But even in cases where the wheelchair user is paralyzed, “confined” isn’t the right way to think of it. People don’t consider the able-bodied “confined” to their car or bicycle. In the same way, wheelchairs are just another form of transportation.

Although most tech companies these days focus on youth, the aging Baby Boomers population is a large and growing market. That’s why IDEO, the company who invented the first computer mouse, has hired Barbara Beskind, a 90 year old inventor, to help create new gadgets for the elderly.

Recently, iWalkFree came out with the newest version of their hands free crutch-- the iWalk 2.0.

It offers several advantages over traditional arm crutches. Most importantly, it frees your hands and arms so you can continue doing all your daily activities. Secondly, it’s more comfortable than a traditional crutch which gets painful after extended use.

If you live with a wheelchair, then the winter can bring extra challenges. Here are some tips from actual wheelchair users on how best to stay warm and get around this winter.

You might not guess that one of the highest life expectancy places on the globe is a small, smoggy city in Southern California. But the residents of Loma Linda, CA frequently reach age 100 and beyond. Their longevity is largely due to their religion; Loma Linda is home to many Seventh-day Adventists whose religious beliefs enforce a healthy lifestyle.

According to a 2012 list by the World Health Organization, Japan has the longest life expectancy in the world. Men live to an average age of 85 and women to 87. For comparison, American men live to an average age of 77 and women to 82.

In the past, studies have shown the Mediterranean Diet can have huge health benefits, such as decreasing the risk of chronic disease and cancer. But now, a new study from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital has shown that the diet may even slow down aging and lengthen your life.

The residents of Sardinia, Italy have some of the longest lifespans in the world. Not only do they live longer, they also suffer fewer diseases and enjoy more years of healthy life than almost any other group. Why?

This October, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging is observing Residents’ Rights Month. They will be educating seniors who live in long term care facilities about elder abuse/neglect and how to prevent it, so seniors can advocate for their rights.

Learning to use a wheelchair takes time. Though the basic mechanics are simple, if you’re new to wheelchair use you’ll probably run into some issues you’d never thought of before.

Aging in Place, a preferred option for many seniors, means continuing to live in your own home safely and independently as you get older. This sometimes requires assistive technology like walkers and rollators, or support from programs and services for elderly people. According to experts like Rebecca Johnson, it may also help if you have a pet.