What Kinds of Mistakes Could Be Keeping Your Loved One from Using Her Cane Properly?

By Marlene Diaz | February 2, 2017 |

Home Health Care Bellevue WA

If your elderly loved one’s cane isn’t helping her the way that it should, chances are that one of these mistakes could be contributing to the problem.

The Cane Isn’t the Right Height

If the cane is too tall or too short, it’s going to dramatically impact how well your loved one is able to use it. The cane should be high enough that your loved one’s elbow bends only slightly. If the height is off, then her elbow will be bent at an uncomfortable angle and the cane itself will be what throws your loved one off balance.

Using the Cane on the Wrong Side

Holding the cane on the wrong side of her body is a tremendous problem for a loved one attempting to use a cane. To use the cane properly, it should be on the opposite side of her body from the injured or affected side. This doesn’t always seem to make sense, but it is the best way for your loved one to gain extra support for the injured part of her body.

Improper Cane Placement

When your loved one moves the cane, where she places it on the floor and in relation to her own body makes a big difference in how much it does or does not help her. If she’s placing it too far away from her body, your loved one will have to lean toward the cane in order to use it, which keeps her off balance. Placing it too closely to her body also decreases her stability. It’s important to help her find that sweet spot that allows her to keep her balance.

Using an Unstable Cane

For some elderly loved ones, a traditional cane with a single tip just isn’t stable enough. In that case, using a cane that has a four-footed tip is a much better option. Some of these types of canes also have a rotating joint in the four-tipped base that allows it to tilt toward the floor as soon as the cane is lifted.

As you’re troubleshooting your loved one’s cane usage, get help from her doctors, home health care services providers, and even occupational therapists, if possible.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Health Care Services in Bellevue WA, contact the caring staff at Hospitality Home Care today. Call us at (206) 966-6552.

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Marlene Diaz

Care Supervisor at Hospitality Home Care

Marlene brings to Hospitality Home Care's Care Supervisor Team an unprecedented level of passion for caring for others and a wealth of knowledge and understanding in the care services field. Marlene has worked in the healthcare field for more than 15 years in a variety of settings including, adult family home administration, home care HR supervising and working with specialty populations including dementia, mental health and developmental disabilities. Throughout this time Marlene has also maintained her caregiver credentials that she obtained as a teenager because, while her knowledge is best served helping to train caregivers and assist families to get the care they need, her heart is most fulfilled when she is providing care to others. When she is not in the office, you will most likely find Marlene caring for her family, or spending time with her friends.