Walking Sticks, Stairlifts & Mobility Scooters - Can They Be Dangerous?
It is well-know that walking sticks and other types of mobility aids greatly improve the quality of life of elderly and disabled people. However, new research has revealed that mobility aids could be putting vulnerable people at risk. If mobility aids are inappropriately suited for people, or if they do not know how to use them properly, then they can end up doing harm.
Thousands of elderly people are treated in emergency departments each year for injuries from falls involving walking sticks. Clearly if the walking sticks were doing their job properly then no one would fall, but either due to faulty merchandise or bad education for the user, people with sticks continue to hurt themselves by falling over. It is incredibly important that people know how to use mobility aids safely. Walking sticks are relatively simple, but other mobility aids such as mobility scooters or stairlifts also require careful time and attention.
Patients often need to think more carefully when buying mobility aids, and spend more time ensuring that they know how to use them in a safe way. Mobility aids can be very important for elderly or disabled people, giving them independence and the chance to stay in their own home for longer. It’s incredibly important that they know exactly how to use the mobility aid in the safest way, because falls experienced by these vulnerable people can often have serious healthcare consequences.
The likelihood of an elderly person falling increases with age, with the highest injury rates experienced by those over the age of eighty-five. The most common fall-related injury is a fracture, at about forty per cent. A third of all injuries are sustained by the hip and pelvis, and half of all injuries associated with walking sticks occur within the home.
One in three people who have a fall involving a walking stick require hospitalisation, and falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injury. For many simple falls can lead to serious medical consequences. It’s important that elderly people take as many steps as possible to reduce their chance of having an accident, including following an exercise program, having their doctors frequently review their medication, having regular eye exams and adapting their home to make it as safe as possible.
It is recommended that mobility aids are purchased from reputable companies who can be trusted, as many companies employ high-pressure sales tactics and offer sub-standard customer service.
Stannah are a British family-owned company dedicated to quality, safety and service. Building relationships of trust with customers, we don’t cold call, don’t install a stairlift where it isn’t practical and never, ever compromise on safety.