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Additional Products

Solutions to help you thrive

More ways to help you Adapt at home.

Durable Medical Equipment

Hospital Beds

Manual Wheelchairs

Walkers

Canes

Crutches

Bedside Commodes

Wound Care

EB Advocate

Enteral Nutrition

Ostomy

Safety Tips

Your safety and well-being are a priority at AdaptHealth.

Guidelines to prevent falls at home

Bathroom

  • Use a shower seat
  • Install grab bars
  • Use non-skid strips on tub
  • Beware of wet floors

Steps

  • Use rails on steps
  • Secure rugs on steps
  • Repair broken steps
  • Keep stairs clutter-free

Lighting

  • Ensure adequate lighting
  • Use nightlights
  • Remove clusters of wires
  • Keep a charged flashlight ready

Floors

  • Remove torn or curled rugs
  • Remove throw rugs and runners
  • Repair weakened floors
  • Make sure all paths are clutter free

Additional Guidelines

  • Use firm chair with armrests and good back support
  • Beware of polished floors
  • Beware of pets underfoot
  • Clean up spills immediately
  • Place regularly used items within reach
  • Wear non-skid shoes with treads
  • Avoid reaching too far forward
  • Hold objects close to your body
  • Consider an alarm or carrying a cell phone to get help in case of a fall
  • Consider wearing a medical alert device (talk to your doctor)

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Enteral Nutrition

Setting up your equipment

In Home Use

  • Fill bag and hang on IV Pole
  • Attach tubing to pump
  • Pump should be set to “Off” before plugging into electrical outlet
  • Plug in Input 120V, 60Hz, 200mA

Ambulatory

  • Check for battery charge
  • Fill bag
  • Attach to pump
  • Place into ambulatory bag

Alarm Sounding Safety Tips

  • Check for kink(s) in the tubing
  • Check for empty bag (do not operate pump with empty bag)
  • Check for low battery
  • Check for clogging in the line, slide the clamp to assure it is completely open
  • Check drip chamber to be sure it is not more than full or coated with product
  • Be sure all bags and tubing are compatible with the pump you are using

Bedside Commodes

Over toilet: Lift toilet seat and lid. Remove pail and lid from commode and adjust commode legs (as described previously when adjusting walker legs) to a height that allows commode to fit just over toilet. Place commode over open toilet and it is ready to use.

At bedside: Adjust commode legs (as described previously when adjusting walker legs). Place pail onto pail supports directly below.

Commode Opening: Place commode against a wall or other secure object and it is ready for use. When finished using commode, place lid over pail to contain odors and to insure against spills.

In Shower: Adjust commode legs (as described previously when adjusting walker legs). Remove pail and lid from commode. Make sure legs of commode are even and commode does not wobble. When finished showering, towel dry the commode.

Crutches

When climbing stairs with railing

  • Both crutches under one arm or one crutch under the arm and the other hand on armrest to help push off
  • When ascending, push on crutches and step upwith the “strong leg”. Bring the “weaker leg” up
  • Bring crutches up last

When climbing stairs with no railing, use directions above.

When descending stairs

  • Bring both crutches and feet to the edge of step
  • Lower crutches to middle of next step
  • Lower weaker leg
  • Step down with stronger leg

Setting up your equipment

  • Make sure crutches fit properly
  • When standing straight, 2-3 fingers should fit between your armpit and the top of the crutch pad
  • The bend in your elbow should be 20-30° when your hand is on the grip

Safety Tips

  • Crutches should be 2-3” to the outside of feet
  • Weight goes on the hands, NOT armpits; keeping elbows in will help stabilize crutches

Canes

Stand with the tip of the cane 4 inches to the outside of your foot. The cane should extend from the floor to your hip joint. When holding the cane, your elbow should be flexed at a 30-degree angle. If the cane is made of aluminum, adjust it by pushing in the metal button on the shaft and raising or lowering the shaft to the appropriate height. If the cane is made of wood, the length can be adjusted shorter by removing the rubber tip and sawing off any excess wood, then replacing the rubber tip. Setting up your equipment

When properly adjusted, your cane should allow the elbow to bend slightly. A 30° angle is preferable.

You may also have the following accessories:

1 Hand/Wrist strap
2 Cane Parker
3 Snow boot or ice pick cane tip

Safety Tips

  • Be aware of rough or uneven terrain
  • Watch for throw rugs and wood floors in your home
  • The change in terrain may cause you to slip and/or lose your balance
  • Make sure your walking aid is on stable ground before use
  • Avoid wet or slippery surfaces if possible

Walkers

Put on the shoes you will be wearing when you use the walker. Stand up straight with your feet close together, relax your shoulders, and put the walker in front and partially around you. Place your hands at your sides. The tops of the hand grips should be at the crease of your wrists, if not, adjust the height of the walker by pushing in the buttons on each of the legs and sliding the tube up or down, as appropriate. Make certain the buttons lock back into place and all the legs are adjusted to the same height. Take a few practice steps with the walker to ensure that you can move the walker without bending over.

Setting up your equipment

  • Check your equipment to make sure you have all accessories that were ordered for you. If you are missing anything, contact your equipment provider immediately.
  • Adjust telescoping legs to fit your height. A 30° bend in the elbow is desirable, which will place the handgrips slightly above your wrists (if the arm was straight at your side).

Safety Tips

  • Before each use, always check to make your walker is in open locked position. Wear shoes that fit well and avoid shoes that slide off your feet (flip flops, slippers, etc.)
  • Avoid shoes with high heels or slippery soles
  • Make sure the surface you are walking on is clear, flat, dry, and well lit
  • Do not step completely into the walker, rather keep it slightly in front of you at all times
  • Safely carry small items in a basket or bag attached to the frame of the walker
  • Look ahead when walking rather than at your feet
  • Do not use walker on steps and keep a safe distance from stairs

Manual Wheelchairs

To open wheelchair – place hands on the seat rails and push down with both hands.

To close wheelchair - grab the upholstery at center, front, and back of seat and pull up.

To adjust length of leg rests - loosen the nut by the foot plate, adjust, and retighten. Always make this adjustment with the patient’s leg in the elevated position.

To clean wheelchair – wipe with clean damp cloth.

To transport wheelchair – lock wheels, remove foot/leg rests, grab front of frame and rear wheels, and lift carefully.

Safety Tips

  • Never use wheelchair without foot/leg rests, it may cause circulation problems for the patient
  • Never stand on foot/leg rests
  • Always lock wheels when getting in or out of wheelchair
  • Put wheelchair against wall or have someone steady it from behind whenever possible
  • Wheel locks are not designed to be used as brakes
  • Avoid or use caution on wet, slippery, or uneven surfaces
  • Do not reach beyond the seat area because you could lose your balance, and your wheelchair could tip over
  • Never hold onto removable parts when lifting a wheelchair. Injury could occur if removable parts separate from the chair during lifting

Hospital Beds

Be sure to place the bed clear of anything that might hinder its movement when being raised or lowered. This may include, but is not limited to, walls, curtains, tables, chairs, trash cans, etc. Also, keep the wheels of the bed locked at all times when not specifically moving the bed. After moving the bed, make sure power cord is still secure in wall outlet.

Your hospital bed has an electric control pad with controls to raise both the head and knees of the bed. It will also raise the entire bed height to allow for easier patient access for the caregiver. Some hospital bed controls have a “lock” feature. If your hospital bed has this feature, you can lock it so the patient cannot change the bed positions themselves or unlock it to give the patient full access to the control. Keep electric control pad dry to avoid malfunction and/or fire.

The side rails should be in the UP position if there is any danger of the patient falling from the bed. The side rails come in two lengths (full and half rails). To raise or lower the side rails, pull out release pin located at bottom of rail while holding rail with opposite hand and then move to desired position. Make sure release pin is secured in new position before leaving patient unattended. In case of a power outage, use the emergency crank that is placed into the bedsprings, under the mattress, at the foot of the bed. Place crank into base of motor and manually turn to raise or lower bed until your electricity has been restored.