Written by Megan Smith, PT
Active older adults, seniors, and people living with disabilities have as much get-up-and-go as anyone else. Continuing to have new experiences and finding new ways to spend leisure time has been associated with myriad positive effects for senior citizens. Truly, the adventures and new experiences of daily life are important no matter who you are.
Fortunately, there is a medical care and home goods manufacturer who has understood this since day one. Their mission and motto are “Making Life’s Experiences Possible.” While some manufacturers are more focused on the needs of the hospital or long-term care settings, Invacare designs products specifically so that you can enjoy your day-to-day life at home with zero interruptions.
Based out of Elyria, Ohio, and with origins as far back as 1885, Invacare is no newcomer to the world of durable medical goods and adaptive equipment. They are a global leader in the industry, employing well over 3,000 people and with products for sale in more than 100 countries.
A customer-first approach has been central to Invacare’s style since the very start. Now boasting a more comprehensive range of homecare and mobility products than any of its competitors, Invacare truly has something to offer for anyone. If you’re seeking safe and comfortable solutions to help maintain an active lifestyle despite living with mobility limitations or disabilities, Invacare has something for you.
It’s hard to overstate how important regular, healthy sleep can be. Especially for people trying to maintain an active lifestyle. If you or the person you’re caring for are having a difficult time getting into or out of bed, it may be time to consider the many benefits provided by a home hospital bed.
Having an adjustable hospital bed can greatly improve the quality of life for people with functional or cognitive impairment. Consider adjustable safety rails to prevent a fall, custom adjustable angles for optimal position support, and even the addition of a trapeze crane for ease of transition are all factors that can make help you to relax about bedtime and focus on getting your beauty rest.
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For people who are confined to bed for longer periods of time, a quiet and power-adjustable bed can greatly enhance your sense of freedom and comfort. A full electric hospital bed has many advantages over a traditional manual bed, mainly that with a pendant controller, the user can actually adjust the bed by themselves. Basic repositioning and adjusting activities that used to require assistance can be managed with the touch of a button.
For institutional or clinical settings, a manual hospital bed might be preferable. This is because manual beds tend to take up less space and can be easily folded for storage purposes. Another worthwhile use for a manual bed would possibly be for travel. In the home, however, having a motorized bed will almost always be superior.
 | Invacare Bariatric Hospital Bed View Product |
Larger individuals or bariatric patients can benefit from having increased space and support in a home hospital bed. Invacare’s bariatric bed is weight rated up to 600lbs. The heavy-duty frame provides safety for the user, and dynamic user positioning allows for extra comfort for the caregiver and user alike. Even for people who are not bariatric patients, having extra space and top-of-the-line durability can be beneficial.
This particular bariatric bed has a surface area 17% larger than a standard hospital bed. It’s made with robotically welded steel, comes with an emergency crank adjustment mechanism, and boasts a surprisingly simple at-home setup.
 | Invacare Full-Electric Low Hospital Bed Package View Product |
For people who are especially prone to tossing-and-turning or rolling out of bed, a ‘low’ hospital bed offers a simple solution for accidental falls. Simply by designing the bed to be lower to the ground, you or your loved ones are kept from suffering any major trauma in the event of a fall.
Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing and the Joint Commission both advise hospital managers to keep patient beds at low heights to reduce fall risk in clinical settings. While sleeping lower to the ground may take a little getting used to, there are actually studies that show it can improve overall blood circulation and lower your risk of scoliosis.
 | Invacare Tracer EX2 Manual Wheelchair View Product |
If you or your loved one is starting to have more difficulty with mobility limitations, it might be time to consider a wheelchair for occasional use. At least having a basic manual wheelchair at home offers some peace of mind in case of a short-term recovery from injury. Having a wheelchair as an option can also be beneficial if you’re traveling or on an outing-- any occasion that might require longer periods of mobility.
If you have a more regular need for the support offered by a medical wheelchair, there are great options beyond just a basic manual chair. While the basic chairs are great in certain situations if the manual chair is not a fit for the specific needs of the user it can actually contribute to decreased mobility and poorer quality of life.
.jpg&newwidth=365&maxheight=200 "Invacare 9000 Jymni Pediatric Wheelchair") | Invacare 9000 Jymni Pediatric Wheelchair View Product |
For wheelchair users who are still growing and developing, a pediatric wheelchair is the best choice to make. Kids grow quickly, and rather than swapping out for a new chair every several years, why not get a wheelchair that can grow with them? By having adjustable seat width and depth, Invacare’s pediatric wheelchair can accommodate the same child over years.
Physical impairment has a huge impact on so many elements of a young person’s life -- and that transcends the basic tasks of daily life to include social development and leisure activities. Having the right piece of adaptive technology can make a huge difference in the growth and development of a young person navigating mobility limitations -- the benefits are holistic.
A power wheelchair is appropriate for any users who need longer-term support and the ability to move wherever the day takes them. While manual wheelchairs require upper body strength or a caretaker for propulsion, power chairs come with an electric motor and rugged suspension. Not only will you or your loved one be able to go for longer, but they’ll also be able to traverse obstacles that are off-limits to a traditional wheelchair.
Some power chairs come with extremely adjustable position support. A power wheelchair with multi-powered seating will have an independent articulation of the backrest and leg rest. This allows for maximum comfort.
For heavier individuals and bariatric patients, attempting to regain mobility can be a major hurdle. A simple mobility device like a rollator can be a major help in navigating around the house and adding to independence. Bariatric rollators are made with extremely strong frames weight rated up to 500lbs. Equipped with a seat and handbrakes, these heavy-duty devices are built to last.
Larger individuals can clearly benefit from a mobility product designed to support their specific challenges. Additionally, these devices are typically easily foldable for storage and transport. That means that even outside of day-to-day activities, you or your loved one will be able to keep up with new experiences and adventures.
 | Deluxe 3-Position Medical Recliner by Invacare View Product |
A medical recliner, sometimes called a Geri Chair, is a multi-positional mobility device that puts comfort first. One of the primary benefits is that these chairs can recline fully for a resting position. This eliminates the need for frequent transfer between wheelchair and bed.
While you probably wouldn’t want to use a chair like this as a replacement for a good hospital bed, it can certainly be a good intermediary. With the addition of a fold-away lap tray for eating or other activities, and a fold-away footrest to facilitate standing up, a powered medical recliner is great for anyone who needs enhanced comfort throughout the day.
Simply put, an oxygen concentrator is a device that takes the oxygen in a given room and ‘concentrates’ it by filtering out the nitrogen. At the current time, you should only use this type of device if your doctor has prescribed oxygen therapy or given you a prescription to purchase a concentrator. People living with chronic lung conditions often have difficulty getting enough oxygen.
Prescriptions for oxygen are written in liters-per-minute (LPM) which is why it’s important to know the volume of your specific device. Other considerations like portability, comfort, noise, and cost can all come into consideration when choosing an oxygen concentrator for home use.
Invacare is a huge global corporation. And the truth of the matter is that they’re using their resources to commit to sustainable and inclusive business practices. They are partnered with the Free Wheelchair Mission and have provided the non-profit with one million wheelchairs as of 2020.
Their highly cross-compatible product lines feature interchangeable components. This enables control of stock easier and more sustainable for distributors and retailers. Invacare’s tagline is “Yes you can” which speaks volumes, not only about the way they want to empower their users and customers, but also about how they want to empower their employees and stakeholders to be a leading force in innovation.
It is important not to be held back by mobility or safety challenges in your life. With the wealth of adaptive technology and equipment available on the market today, there is definitely a product available to help you or your loved ones navigate today’s new experiences.
Invacare is committed to providing solid adaptive equipment so that you can focus on what’s really important: making life’s experiences possible.
See Rehabmart's full line of available Invacare Products.
Megan has been a part of Rehabmart since its inception nearly 20 years ago. For the past several years she has been enjoying her role as HR Director while maintaining her Physical Therapy license. When she isn't working on her next in-service or working to find a new team member, she enjoys her five children, helping those who have PT type ailments, baking, practicing yoga, and working out.
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