No one in the world likes to be dependent on others. More so, when you have lived your entire life with your head held high, and are on the cusp of your golden years, ready to reap the fruits of your lifelong labor.
Old age, however, plays a cruel joke on us by taking away the very faculties that would help us enjoy our retirement, and makes us dependent on others for the most menial of tasks- such as getting up from our beds or our seats.
Thankfully stand assist devices or standing aids are here to help.
Standing aids are devices that can be used to transfer a person from their bed to a standing position, or to help them stand up from a seating position.
Whether it be illness, injury or merely old age catching up with us, standing aids help a person maintain their independence.
Standing aids today come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be both mechanized and manual.
In this article, we look at the best stand assist devices for seniors. If you are in a hurry, you can use the snapshot below. Or you can scroll down for detailed reviews.
Contents
What are the types of standing aids?
Standing aids comes in two varieties: mechanized and manual. For a long time, mechanized standing aids were only available in physiotherapist clinics and hospitals. However, today mechanized aids are being produced for residential use at affordable prices as well.
Mechanized Standing Aids
Mechanized stand aids are used when your loved one is capable of bearing their weight for a short period, but do not have the strength to pull themselves up to stand.
Mechanized aids for bed-to-stand position transfer are used in conjunction with slings, which are used to lift your loved one from the bed and place them onto the chair/commode/any other point where they need to be seated. For seat-to-stand devices, no slings are required.
Manual Standing Aids
As the name suggests, manual standing aids require manual effort on the part of your loved one to pull themselves up from a sitting position to stand. These are usually in the form of a balancing/supporting device that can be used by your loved one to lift themselves.
Manual standing aids may, additionally, also have straps to hold them in place and/or paddles that can be used by your loved one to sit while being transferred. They can broadly be classified into two categories:
Under the mattress aids: These typically go underneath the mattress and have a strap connected to them which then goes underneath the box spring below the mattress to secure the aid in place. One problem with these kinds of aids is that if you are immobile, you will not be able to check the strap if it has gone loose, and neither would you be able to correct it yourself.
Tension mounted poles: These are versatile devices, that can be configured anywhere (not just on the bed) and can be used to aid lifting from any position, including in the bathroom and even the living room. Tension mounted poles are mounted using a pressure-based system to wedge themselves between the floor and the ceiling.
Canes: Specialized canes can also be used as stand assist devices, to be used to move from a seating position to a standing one.
The video below shows a great demonstration of how to use and install bed rails.
What to look for in a standing assist device?
Stability Straps: Some bed assist devices are only supported by the weight of the mattress, and it becomes tricky if your loved one is lightweight and tends to put a lot of force on the standing aid. It is preferable to have a device that is also tied to the box spring for additional safety.
Height adjustability: The Stand assist device must be height adjustable to ensure different bed and mattress sizes, not to mention the height of your loved one.
Handle grip: The handle used to lift oneself on the gadget must have a good grip, perhaps textured or contoured to ensure that your loved one does not slip off or have to use additional force on the handle.
In the next section, we discuss our top picks for the best stand assist devices available in the market.
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Drive Medical Home Bed Assist Handle
These adjustable home bed rails are one of the best bed rails available. The bed rail is easy to assemble (comes as 3 pieces to be joined together without any tools) and can be inserted under the mattress to provide for a safe and convenient grip for pulling oneself up.
No products found.The bed rail has a non-slip foam grip on the handles for better grip. The frame is constructed from all steel, and coated with chrome for a durable and rust-proof exterior.
The device can be used on either side of the bed so that you can choose which side is stronger for your loved on to pull themselves up. It holds a maximum weight of 250 pounds and has an adjustable height between 13.5 to 16.5 inches.
Pros
- It can be used on either side of the bed
- Non-slip foam grips on the handles to avoid injury due to slipping
- The product is easy to assemble with only 3 components
- Steel with Chrom finish makes the product very durable
Cons
- Some users have complained that the product is too tall for a bed suitable for seniors.
- The item is non-returnable, so please make the purchase carefully
No products found.
Medline Bed Assist bar With Storage Pocket
The Medline Bed Assist bar is another good product to consider. It has a curved handle for gripping from all sides, as opposed to the normal handle-bar configuration. The gripping bar is padded for extra comfort and grip. The steel rail slides under your mattress and has a strap to secure the bed rail in place.
No products found.The device can be installed on either side of the bed and is easy to configure, without using any tools. It has a latex-free construction and is sturdy and durable.
The height is adjustable from two points – the legs and the grip bar. The adjustment can take place between 36 inches to 44 inches. The device weighs 6 pounds and is easy to carry.
Pros
- Soft-grip curved handle for comfort
- Convenient 13 x 9 inches nylon pocket for bedside items.
- Tool-free installation
- Height adjustable between 36 to 44 inches
- Strap to secure the bed rail around the box spring
Cons
- Some users have complained that the bed rail is not sturdy
- The strap which holds the bed rail in place tends to break if tied too tightly
No products found.
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Stander Security Pole and Curve Grab Bar
The Stander Security Pole is a good example of the second type of manual stand assist devices – a tension-mounted pole. The tension pole is a versatile device that can be used in almost every room as a grab and lift bar – be it bed assist, bathtub assist or living room sit-to-stand assist.
The pole’s height can be adjusted anywhere between 7 to 10 feet, which makes it suitable for most rooms. It has rubber padding on both ends to protect your floor and ceiling from damage.
There is a multi-step, curved grab bar installed on the pole, which locks into position on every 45-degree angle, thus providing extra protection for a person getting out of bed or stepping over a bathtub.
The multi-step is useful for a natural, hand-over-hand way of getting up. The grab bar can support weights of up to 300 pounds.
The pole is made from rust-resistant, zinc-plated steel and is easy to assemble at home without tools that come as part of the kit. For more grab bar options, read best floor to ceiling grab bar poles.
Pros
- Easy to install and use, versatile enough to use in any room
- Curved, multi-step grab bar supports the natural, hand-over-hand motion of getting up
- Height adjustable from 7 to 10 feet, weight capacity of 300 pounds
Cons
- Does not work on slanted ceilings, and heights outside the range specified
- The grab bar stops locking into position after few months, as per few complainants
Able Life Able Tray Table
The Able Life Able Tray Table is a revolving tray table that is mounted on a standing handle. The handle can be fixed to the base of your couch or seat and can be used as support while sitting down or standing up.
A handy tray table is part of the assembly and can be used to support your laptop, books, meal tray etc..There is a handy cup holder included as well.
The Standing Handle has a weight capacity of 250 pounds and the tray table can be used for objects weighing 30 pounds. There is a 360-degree turning radius on the tray table so that it can be easily moved out of the way when not in use.
The product needs to be attached to seats that have feet apart by 20 to 36 inches. The height can be adjusted between 34-40 inches and the base length between 20 to 36 inches.
There are safety pads for a comfortable grip on the floor and a safety grip on the handle as well. The product is easy to assemble with no additional tools required.
Pros
- Can easily be used with almost any 4 legged chairs or sofa
- Height adjustable to almost any length
- The tray table is extremely useful for carrying small objects
Cons
- Most recliners have square rails for feet which can’t be used to hold down the table
- Putting it together requires more than 1 person since it has to be placed under chair legs.
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Conclusion
Stand Assist Aids are wonderful devices that give independence to your loved one and reduce work for the caregiver.
They reduce the mental stress of having to complete the most basic of tasks – getting out of bed and standing up from a chair.
They come in various shapes, sizes, and varying degrees of adjustability, so before buying one make sure to check out all the features and get a good understanding of how to use the one that you are purchasing.
Most importantly, consider the view of your loved ones and try to discern which aid they would be most comfortable with.
