Why is it said that choosing a good wheelchair will bring many benefits to the caregiver?
According to statistics, in 2016, there were 40.63 million disabled/semi-disabled elderly people in my country, accounting for 18.3% of the elderly population. It is predicted that this number will rise to 62.9 million in 2030. This data shows that many elderly people need family members or professional care to take care of them.
Apart from some professional caregivers, it is the adult children who take care of the daily life and rehabilitation care of the elderly. They will "run back and forth" between caring for the elderly, raising children, and working, and are often busy to the point of being dizzy.
Studies have shown that 32% of adult children (family caregivers) who have to take care of the elderly for more than 20 hours a week will experience long-term physical discomfort (back, neck, shoulders, hands, etc.).
Because caring for disabled/semi-disabled elderly people will definitely require the use of wheelchairs and other assistive devices in daily life, and pushing wheelchairs for a long time will inevitably cause pain to caregivers, such as wrist tenosynovitis, acromion slip, capsulitis, rotator cuff injury, Achilles tendonitis, pressure injury, etc. Here it is mentioned that a good wheelchair can not only make the passengers feel comfortable, but also have many benefits for family caregivers.
1. Reduce the burden of care. A well-designed wheelchair can significantly reduce the physical burden on the caregiver. If the wheelchair is heavy and difficult to push, then every trip will be like a "labor slog", and the caregiver will easily feel tired, which will also affect the hands and shoulders in the long run.
2. Improve the efficiency and quality of care. A good wheelchair is not only labor-saving to use, but also improves the efficiency and quality of care. For example, some wheelchairs are equipped with humanized functions such as brake systems and foldable designs, which can make caregivers more comfortable during the care process and improve the quality of care. The brake system can ensure that the wheelchair is stable when parked, avoiding safety hazards caused by sliding; the foldable design makes it easier for caregivers to carry and store it, saving space.
3. Reduce care pressure and promote harmonious relationships. Long-term care for others will inevitably cause stress and anxiety due to some details or things. A good wheelchair is like a capable assistant, which can help caregivers better cope with various challenges in the care process. Reducing the problems and troubles caused by wheelchairs can reduce the psychological pressure when getting along with each other, making the relationship between caregivers and the cared for more harmonious and stable.
The benefits of a good wheelchair to users and caregivers are obvious. Wheelchairs can be divided into aluminum wheelchairs and steel wheelchairs according to materials, and can be divided into standard manual wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs according to functions. When choosing a wheelchair, we might as well spend more time and effort to choose a wheelchair that is truly suitable for users.