Canes Archives - Mobility Center

Not all walking canes are made the same way. If you’re searching for “canes for the elderly,” then this post is for you! Take a look at the best types of canes for the elderly on the market today.

The walking cane is the most favorable and broadly used support for individuals with limited mobility. Whether it is for a brief need or for support permanently, the cane is presently used by more than 5 million American citizens (about 70 percent of those individuals use a mobility device, such as a wheelchair, scooter, or walker).

When used properly, the right cane is able to improve balance and decrease the danger of falling by broadening the base of support and reduce the amount of weight spread over lower body joints such as individual’s hips, knees, ankles, and feet.

Whereas clearly the right cane could be a convenient and easy to use supporting apparatus for your elderly loved one, finding the best one could prove challenging because of the many options and types available.

What Kinds of Walking Canes Are Available?

There are many types of walking canes available for various uses, read below and find out which walking cane is best for you or your loved one.

Single-Point Canes

These walking canes have a single point of contact to the ground and is usually one of the most widely used kind of walking cane. These types of canes are available in a variety of designs and styles.

Multiple-Point Canes

Multiple-point canes usually have 3 or 4 points of contact to the ground. Quad and tri-pod style canes are able to stand on their own to offer more stability for individuals requiring a little extra assistance with balance.

Hemi-Walker Canes

Such walking canes are different from quad canes because their base is a lot larger. Many individuals transferring from a walker to a cane because of paralysis, frailty, or limited functionality of an arm, leg, or both consider these canes to be the ideal choice.

Folding Canes

These types of canes break down to easily be stored away and make a perfect choice for individuals that don’t require use their cane all the time. Folding canes are usually made of very light-weight materials and come with a strap or satchel for easy transport.

Seat Canes

These canes un-fold to offer a convenient place to reset when the individual needs to take a small break. Seat canes are usually made of durable material and sometimes weigh a little more than conventional single-point canes.

What Attributes Should You Look For In Walking Canes?

As you start to explore what kind of walking cane is ideal for you or a loved one, think about the primary functionality and various cane attributes listed below to help you make a decision. The ideal kind of handle and grip is going to offer the strength, comfort, and mobility required to carry out activities of day to day living.

Walking Cane Handle Designs

C-Cane
Off-set Handle
Function Grip
Fritz Handle

Besides the design of these handles, you should also think about the different materials available when it comes to grips. Foam Grips, Jell-Grips, and Orthopedic Grips have been designed for comfort and to decrease joint pain and exhaustion and might be available for your style of preferred cane.

Walking Cane Body Design

The cane’s design is vital for comfort and well-being. The ergonomically designed wood and aluminum canes provide you with the ideal support possible. Additionally, think about what attributes come on it’s body (for instance, a LED Light)

Cane Tips

Finding a cane tip that is non-slip (such as rubber) is going to provide extra stability and aid in preventing falls. Cans tips can be purchased separately if they wear out.

Height & Weight Capacity

The individual’s height and weight are important factors when choosing a cane. The cane should meet your hand to provide you with an upright position and support your weight dispersion without causing exhaustion in your back, arm, or wrist.

Mobility Center In Mesa, Arizona

Mobility Center has been proudly serving the entire Phoenix, Arizona area since 1975 with the finest in mobility aids, scooters, wheel chairs, lifts and support equipment. Visit our convenient location to see the products and receive the individual attention that you deserve. Our service area includes Mesa, Apache Junction, Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Glendale, Surprise, and Sun City.

Types of Mobility Aids

Mobility aids are devices designed to help individuals that have trouble moving around, enjoy more freedom and greater independence.

Usually, individuals that have disabilities or injuries, or older adults that are at a heightened risk of falling, decide to use mobility aids.

These devices offer several advantages to users, including greater independence, decreased pain, and increased self-confidence and self-esteem.

Types Of Mobility Aids

The type of mobility aid needed is going to depend on the mobility problem or injury. The more general types of mobility aids comprise of:

Mobility Scooters

Comparable to wheelchairs, these scooters come with a seat set on the top of 3, 4, or 5 small wheels.

The user’s feet rest on footings, and there are handle-bars or a steering wheel to manage direction. They are usually powered by a battery.

These scooters are helpful for individuals that don’t have the upper-body stamina or agility for using a manual wheelchair. A lot of scooter users report a positive influence on their lives because of their choice of mobility aid.

Guidelines for using mobility scooters on side-walks and roadways differ by location. Training is typically available for those wishing to use a mobility scooter for their first time.

Canes

Canes are likewise to crutches in the way that they support body weight and aid in transmitting the load from the legs to the upper torso.

Nevertheless, they take less weight off of the lower body than crutches do, and place increased pressure on the wrists and hands.

Crutches

Crutches aid in transferring weight from the legs to the upper torso. They can be used separately or in pairs. Crutches aid in keeping individuals upright and can be used by people with short-term injuries or enduring disabilities.

Walkers

Walkers, also called Zimmer frames, are comprised of a metal frame with 4 legs offering stability and reinforcement to the user. These very firm walking aids are used by 4 ½ percent of adults in the US over the age of 65.

Typical walkers come with 3-sided framework surrounding the user. Users raise the framework and place it further in front of them, as they step forward to come up to it, before doing the process over.

Many walkers come with wheels or glides on the base of it’s legs, meaning the user is able to slide the walker instead of raising it. This is particularly helpful for individuals with minimal arm strength.

Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs can be used by those that shouldn’t be putting weight on their lower limbs or that are incapable of walking. They are more suitable than walkers for individuals with acute disabilities or when traveling over further distances is required.

Wheelchairs can be manually moved by the user, pushed by another individual, or powered electrically. Wheelchairs that can be moved by a user’s neural impulses was designed in 2016.

Guide Dogs

Guide dogs are highly trained service animals used to escort those that are blind or partially sighted by helping their owner’s navigate obstructions.

With a guide dog or service animal it also has beneficial psychologic, physiologic, and social effects.

In the United States. and many other countries, guide dogs or service animals are required to legally be permitted access to any business where the general public is allowed (unless where health or safety risks are present).

Safety Modifications

Many home or office modifications could be made to aid in navigating a building or in other areas where there are variances in surface heights.

These comprise of:

Ramps – Access ramps are particularly important as many individuals, including those with wheelchairs and mobility scooters, can’t manage stairs. Those that have walkers, canes, and crutches can also find that ramps offer easier access than traditional steps.
Stair Lifts – This type of equipment is designed move individuals and wheelchairs up and down staircases, either through the flooring or along the staircase itself.
Hand Rails – Specialized handrails are fitted in a lot of restrooms and by entryways to offer support and stability to individuals that have mobility issues.