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Assistive aids or assistive devices are instruments that make tasks that elderly, disabled and/or caregivers might carry out on a regular basis easier and more manageable to do. For example they can be as simple as a wheel chair, walker or rollator assisting people who experience problems with mobility tasks. Low vision aids assist individuals who have vision difficulties. Examples include page magnifiers, phones for the elderly, or a magnifying lamp. Some are more sophisticated devices like LED holders that can encase and magnify print on medication, or talking watches and clocks that speak the time for individuals, all assist with low vision difficulties. Bathroom safety aids can consist of an elevated toilet seat, a non slip bath mat, a commode chair, shower stool, back scrub, or grab rails, and grab bars. These all foster independent living. Assistive aids and assistive devices are often geared towards elderly people since as people age, they are more likely to experience health related issues. Assistive technology also plays an important role in the lives for not only the elderly but for disabled people of all ages. Assistive technology has been with us for some time and will continue to grow and become more advanced in terms of its capability to assist the elderly and disabled with their everyday tasks in their home or home care facility, encouraging independent living. In an established Canadian newspaper an article was published in June of 2013, which helped shed some light on some startling current trends and projections on population age shifts. What is referred to the Baby Boomers (the post-war generation in Canada who were born between 1947 and 1965) had begun turning age 65 in 2012. The reality is that in 1971, just 8% of Canadians were 65 or older. Currently this year 2013, Canadians have 14% of people that fall into this category. If present demographic trends continue, it is projected that by 2036, the percentage of elderly will increase to 25%. By 2036, some 10 million Canadians will be seniors with a growing need for health and social programs. By 2061, all but a handful of the Baby Boomers will have passed away. However the number of elderly will still range from 12 million to 15 million Canadians. Canada is not in this alone and like its peers, is currently is facing an aging population, and this is expected to continue. On a worldwide scale, research indicates that by 2050, the number of people aged 65 and older will more than triple, to 1.5 billion. The startling concern is will our current health care system be capable of meeting the needs of such a dramatic change in the proportion of elderly people, who are going to represent a significant portion of the population? A greater demand for health care questions whether the existing care system will be able to meet the needs and desires of the elderly sufficiently in the future. The elderly are already experiencing lengthy waiting lists for accommodation in long term care facilities, nursing care facilities and retirement homes. Without some strategies that attempt to deal with these issues, the goal of independent living that disabled and elderly people are trying to achieve, becomes that much more difficult. Assistive aids and assistive devices such as those developed for mobility solutions, bathroom safety, low vision and others, can quite likely help lessen the pressure on a potential Health Care System facing a global crisis, and is going to be further strained. Assistive technology used to provide assistance worldwide for disabled and elderly people are going to prove to be more of an asset to the elderly and disabled than it is today. This process is likely to improve even more through the continued advancements in assistive technological development, and what it can provide to make lifestyle tasks more manageable. There are plenty of options available to anyone who needs assistive devices to experience a normal of a life as possible, and it does not matter if you live in an assisted living facility, assisted living house or in your own home. If you are disabled or experiencing difficulty with everyday tasks, consider the many benefits that assistive devices and assistive aids like those for mobility solutions, bathroom safety, low vision, incontinence, and many others, can provide. Not only can they help you with the direct management of these tasks, but can possibly leave you with a feeling of more independence. This could lead to potentially extending your stay in the place you have considered your home for so long. Assistive Aids or Assistive Devices are tools that make tasks that elderly, disabled and/or caregivers might carry out on a regular basis easier and more manageable to do. Canada and other developed countries are facing a rising increase in the percentage of elderly people. This is placing stress on a health system which is attempting to meet the needs of this demographic trend. The use of assistive aids and devices by disabled and elderly people can help reduce this stress by enabling these people to more independent living, lessening their need to require the use of these facilities. This results in personal and financial savings for the community and for the disabled and elderly who utilize these aids. Along with a feeling of independence, comes an enhanced feeling of self esteem amongst this segment of the population who wisely choose to utilize today's assistive aids and assistive devices. The information in this article should not be solely relied upon to help make health related matters more manageable. Health related matters should always involve consultation with medical professionals. This content and these products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are disabled or are an elderly person who experiences difficulty with carrying out one or more of some everyday task(s), you can select from a very large wide variety of assistive aids and devices at a competitive cost. They are all available at our website with free shipping for Canadian residents.
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