There have been estimates that nearly half of the United States population alone has at least one chronic illness and probably more. More than 40 million people have difficulty taking care of themselves without assistance due to health problems and disabilities. Another 12 million are unable to attend school or perform any meaningful work and require full-time assistance.
In the United States alone, there are over 78 million people in the category over 50 years of age. Recent studies indicate that people in the age category between 50 and 64 years of age have been diagnosed with at least one chronic disease. People with chronic disease typically require more healthcare and eventually some assistance with daily living. It is estimated that as many as 60% of those in the 50-64 age category have been diagnosed with heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or some other form of chronic illness or debilitating disease.
Who will take care of them? It is most likely a family member will step in as a caregiver. And the odds are high that you will become either a caregiver or a recipient of care.
Over the course of this blog, we’re going to be looking at the role of caregiver and the tremendous responsibilities this important role carries. If you are already a caregiver you’ll benefit from our articles in a variety of ways. If you’re not yet a caregiver but think you might be one day, you’ll learn a lot about preparing for this role. Finally, if you know someone who is a caregiver and would like to help but just don’t know what to do, we’ll provide you with some ideas. I think you’ll find these care giver articles to be a valuable resource during a difficult time.
We have also provided a ton of links to helpful resources and products you may need. Look around and find the best price. Many of the things you will need you can buy only on the internet or you can by much cheaper there. We hope we can help.
Popular home caregiver links:
Visiting Angels Senior Home Care
http://www.visitingangels.com/
Home Instead Senior Care
http://www.homeinstead.com/home.aspx
Drugstore.com
Free Shipping on orders of $25.00 or more! New Customers Only. See site for details.
American Nurses Association
http://www.nursingworld.org/
Some popular hand-picked products:
The Super Light from Drive Medical weighs only 16lbs and comes with its own carrying bag with an over-the-shoulder strap. This folding wheelchair is convenient, yet affordable, and its made with 1 aluminum tubing so it can handle up to 300 lbs. The Super Light has a Limited Lifetime Warranty on the frame, so you know it will last for years to come. You will not find any other transport wheelchair that is so easy to take with you anywhere you go!
Drive Medical Super Light Transport Wheelchair
TiLite TiLite Aero Z Rigid Wheelchair
The new Aero Z brings the superior level of performance, customization and style you have come to expect from TiLite to an aluminum chair. We applied the technology and design from our titanium line to the new Aero Z and the results are amazing. Revolutionary style in a completely custom made, ultra lightweight aluminum chair. From components like TiLite’s trademark soft roll casters to seat widths and center of gravity choices. The new Aero Z offers more selectable options than any other chair in its class. More options equal a better fit and performance for the user.
TiLite TiLite Aero Z Rigid Wheelchair
TiLite TiLite TX Folding Wheelchair
Introducing the new TiLite TX, the latest in folding chair technology-developed using rapid prototyping and finite element analysis to meet the demands of our customers. The new TX is stronger, lighter and designed to outperform. The TiLite TX incorporates a radical new cross-brace design that, when combined with welded one-piece side frames and fully integrated caster housings, will give folding chair users better energy transfer for more efficient propulsion. The new TX delivers the TiLite legendary super smooth ride while being incredibly light and compact.
TiLite TiLite TX Folding Wheelchair
Drive Medical Heavy Duty Transport Wheelchair
“Able to tranport 450 pounds, the Drive Medical Heavy Duty Transport chair is the hightest weight capacity transport chair that we carry. Other great features include height adjustable footrests, 12″” flat free rear wheels and a handy carry pouch on the backrest.”
Drive Medical Heavy Duty Transport Wheelchair
Drive Medical Saturn Standard Wheelchair
“A great basic chair at an even better price. The Drive Medical Saturn wheelchair weighs only 37 pounds and comes complete with fixed armrests and swingaway legrests. The 18″” wide seat accomodates most standard sized adults. “
Drive Medical Saturn Standard Wheelchair
Drive Medical Wrangler Transport Wheelchair
A great transport chair at a great price is what you get with the Wrangler Transport Chair from Drive Medical. The low price includes all the features you find in more expensive models including swingaway legrests anda fold-down back.
Drive Medical Wrangler Transport Wheelchair
Sunrise / Quickie GTX – Fixed Front End Folding Wheelchair
The Quickie GTX with fixed front end is the latest addition to the legendary Quickie manual wheelchair line-up. This high-performance, ultralightweight folding manual wheelchair features the same open-frame design of the Quickie GT. This combined with a revolutionary folding frame creates an extremely low weight folding wheelchair with a rigid frame feel. For users looking to combine the convenience of a folding frame wheelchair with the performance of a rigid model, the Quickie GTX is the ticket.
Sunrise / Quickie GTX – Fixed Front End Folding Wheelchair
Invacare Top End Crossfire T6 Rigid Wheelchair
“The new Top End Crossfire T6 is as good as it gets…an ultralightweight rigid chair with a clean, minimalist open frame design, great looks, simple adjustments and super value…it is the total package!! The Crossfire T6 by design is one of the very lightest aluminum chairs on the market today. Just look at it. It’s clean lines and “”just where you need them”" adjustments keep this chair light. The Top End Crossfire T6′s total weight (that is qualified as) for a 16″” x 16″” chair with standard HP rear wheels/tires (24″”), adjustable tension upholstery, folding back, 4″” semi-pneumatic front wheels is only 19.43 lbs.!! And the transfer weight (without rear wheels) is 11.56 lbs. The new open frame makes getting it in and out of a vehicle easier than ever. But that is not all. The Crossfire T6 has some custom frame options not offered by anyone else in the USA. The tapered seat width option allows the front of the seat to be built narrower, like your body is, virtually making the chair disappear. Then there is the ergo seat option which offers improved posture, pressure distribution and propulsion by building a “”sweet spot”" into the frame for your pelvis to sit on. The key adjustments you need are easy and quick. We even provide the allen tools. The center of gravity adjustment has a range of 4.25″”. Let’s talk about value. What matters the most on a wheelchair besides the frame? The wheels and the upholstery. The Crossfire T6 comes standard with high performance rear wheels and high pressure clincher tires plus semi-pnuematic front wheels.The Crossfire T6 also comes standard with adjustable tension upholstery w/straps which is another added value.”
Invacare Top End Crossfire T6 Rigid Wheelchair
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“Luxury and style infused with performance for those with discriminating taste, the Fusion is with out a doubt the most versatile, high tech rigid vehicle on the market today. Ultra lightweight at 24 pounds complete, with hundreds of configuration possibilities it is custom ordered to driver specifications for a precision fit yet, its fully adjustable to adapt to any unforeseen change. A radical new frame design utilizes a carbon fiber knee to fuse together two uniquely different tube designs. This extremely rigid frame is a highly maneuverable and responsive and can be quickly adjusted to match all driver body types and wheeling styles. Kschall is designed for life!”"”
Drive Medical Pollywog Transport Wheelchair
“The Pollywogtransport wheelchair from Drive Medical can be used as both a transport wheelchair and a standard wheelchair. With a push of the quick-release axles ,the full-sized 24″” wheels can easily be removed to transform the chair into a transport chair with 8″” wheels. Dual brakes,desk length removablearmrests, a fold-down backrestand swing-away footrestsall combine to make for a portable and high-quality chair, with great flexibility for both user and caregiver.”
Drive Medical Pollywog Transport Wheelchair
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“Whatever the adventure, the Compact takes you there. Comfortable, durable and strong, its streamlined ultra lightweight construction folds conveniently to fit into very small spaces. With out a doubt at 25 pounds complete with footrest hangers, its the lightest, fully adjustable folding frame available, with removable footrest hangers. Cutting edge design and precision engineering with very tight tolerances delivers ride so responsive thatit challenges the ride of rigid frames. Ovalcross-brace tubes,a seat frame designed to lock onto the side frame and upholstery that can be adjusted to “”always be tight”",greatly reduces any movement between side frames.A fully adjustable rear axle and options like an angle adjustable footrest and backrest help create a personalized fit and high performance feel. Practical in design, it fits you and your lifestyle. Kschall is designed for life!”"”
Kuschall AirLite Pro Rigid Wheelchair
“The NEW AirLite Pro is made for driving, in or out of the car. Its high performance 18 pound complete, ultra lightweight design is easy to maneuver, easy to lift and easy to transport. Fully adjustable with front and rear seat height options, back height and angle options and center of gravity location options its everything you need for a personalized custom fit, every time you need it. High performance options include a Titanium Foot and Backrest, a Carbon Fiber Camber Tube, Kschall High Performance Rear Wheels, STAREC Front Casters and Aero Back Upholstery, all significant in reducing overall weight and enhancing driving performance. With Kschalls NEW AirLite Pro, youll have more energy for the important things in life, like fun. Kschall is designed for life!”"”
Kuschall AirLite Pro Rigid Wheelchair
Invacare ProSPIN X4 Folding Wheelchair
The Invacare ProSPIN X4 Ultralight Performance Wheelchair, takes folding chairs to a whole new level. Coupled with an extremely lightweight frame, its innovative design brings the look and feel of folding wheelchairs into the new century. Plus, the X4 has plenty of integrated design features that help make the X4 a true performance wheelchair. The ProSPIN X4 is 360 degrees of pure eXhilaration!!
Invacare ProSPIN X4 Folding Wheelchair
Invacare Heavy Duty Transport Wheelchair
“The Invacare Heavy-Duty Transport Wheelchair is designed for those individuals requiring a transport chair that can support up to 400 pounds. This Heavy-Duty Transport wheelchair has a 22″” wide seat and comes complete with removable desk arms and swingaway footrests.”
Invacare Heavy Duty Transport Wheelchair
