Why using smart mobility devices is empowering rather than humiliating.

My worst enemy for many years was a lie. I told myself repeatedly that I couldn’t ask for help and that I needed to suffer through my struggles alone. There were countless mornings when I woke up and got out of a very deep couch, bracing myself for the pain. Many nights I suffered lying in a sagging mattress that offered little to no support, believing that my discomfort was just another sign of growing older. As I aged physically, I pushed myself beyond what my body was capable of doing each day. Finally, I understood the most basic, liberating idea: Machines have buttons; joints don't.

When I decided to stop trying to do everything manually and began to let technology take over some of the work, everything changed. This isn’t about losing; this is about upgrading. This is about protecting your valuable physical resources for the good things in life, such as walking in the park, spending time with your grandkids, or waking up without a knot in your back.

The Underlying Cost of “Pressing On”

What happens when being tough becomes a liability?

Each time you strain to get out of a low chair, you’re not creating strength. You may be compressing your spine, causing inflammation in arthritic joints, and risking serious injury from falling. While there is certainly value in taking risks and pushing limits, the concept of “No Pain, No Gain” applies poorly to our everyday movements. These are some examples of the underlying costs of manual movement:

• Risk of Injury From Falling: A single loss of balance and/or a push off a weak arm rest can result in broken bones, head injuries, or extended stays in a skilled nursing facility.

• Burnout of Family/Caregivers: If you require someone else to help you rise from a seated position, you are also placing a great burden on their backs. They too risk burnout and injury from assisting you.

• Depleting Energy: The adrenaline used to pull yourself upright drains the reserves you need for cooking, interacting with others, or completing physical therapy exercises.

• Accelerated Joint Degradation: Using your cartilage to grind against your bones each time you move increases your chances of developing arthritis sooner rather than later. This increased wear and tear may cause you to have surgery earlier than otherwise necessary.

This was when I realized that pressing a button was an act of self-worth and not laziness.

The Power of the Button: How One Click Helped Save My Spine

Using lift technologies to elevate your seat and your standards.

The first "button" device I purchased was a power lift chair. Do not confuse this with the hospital-style, clunky looking recliner that comes to mind when hearing about lift chairs. Modern lift chairs resemble comfortable leather or plush fabric recliners; however, inside each chair is a powerful dual motor mechanism which slowly elevates you forward and upward to a nearly vertical position.

In the past I lunged forward and hoped for the best after sitting down. Now I simply sit down comfortably, push a button on a pendant remote, and the chair takes care of the rest. The chair moves me gently to a near-vertical angle without straining my knees, hips, or lower back. If you're interested in purchasing one of these solutions, try renting one locally before making a $2000 investment. Enter the phrase "lift chair rental near me," and find a reputable local medical supply store. Try out an upscale lift chair (such as a Pride or Golden Technologies) for one month to ensure you're satisfied with the seat size, upholstery quality, and lifting capacity.

From the Chair to Bed: Beating Back the Battle of the Mattress

Why your sleeping surface may be working against your daytime mobility.

The second "button" I found helpful was located on my hospital bed frame at home. For months I struggled to push myself off a sagging standard mattress in the morning, utilizing my upper body to help me pull my torso upward against gravity. Each twisting motion strained muscles in my neck and prolonged my morning stiffness.

• After much contemplation I chose to purchase a hospital bed online. And although it took several weeks to arrive, it was definitely one of the better health decisions I’ve made. Here’s why buying hospital bed online is a "game-changer" for mobility:

• Adjustable Angle of Head and Feet: You push a button to adjust the head portion of your bed to almost a sitting position allowing you to easily slide out of bed laterally with minimal straining/ouchie.

• Trendelenburg Positioning: Some beds tip your feet above your head improving circulation and thus decreasing the amount of blood flow required by your heart to circulate oxygen throughout your body.

• Low Setting Options: Most modern hospital beds can be lowered close enough to the ground to eliminate slipping hazards and provide ample space for caregivers to assist you safely exiting. Then they can raise the bed back up to normal chair height allowing safe exit.

Important Note Regarding Mattresses Designed Specifically for Adjustable Hospital Beds: Use Only Foam or Air-Alternating Mattresses: Always use either a foam mattress or an air-alternating mattress when using an adjustable bed frame. A standard pillow top mattress will flex with the bed and will greatly limit its functionality. I replaced my pillow top mattress with a new foam mattress designed for homecare which completely removed the feeling of "pushing myself out of a hole" each morning. The mattress worked harmoniously with the buttons.

Steps to Create Your Own “Button-Pushing” Home

Practical Steps to Upgrade Your Home for Effortless Living.

You don’t need to renovate your whole house overnight or spend all of your money at once. Simply switch from “I Should Struggle” to “How Can I Use Technology to Make This Task Easier?” Here is how I did it:

Step 1: The Rental Test Run: Before you buy anything, enter the phrase "lift chair rental near me" to locate a local medical supply store. Look for stores that rent high-quality heavy duty lift recliners for one month. See if renting eliminates your standing pain.

Step 2: Redoing Your Bedroom: Once you decide to buy a hospital bed online, look for a supplier that provides White-Glove Delivery (Assembly & Removal of Old Bed). Also check that the remote control has big clear buttons that light up at night.

Step 3: Finding Your Perfect Mattress Mate: Find a high-density medical-grade mattress especially made for an adjustable bed frame. Typically, 6-8 inches thick gives adequate pressure relief.

Step 4: Talking With Your Family Members About Using Equipment: Teach your family members how to use the equipment. Let them know that you want to stop exhausting yourself helping you stand up because you both will have more energy to spend together. By calling this equipment tools instead of something associated with hospitals, it changes how everyone views it.

Final Opinion: Buttons Are Good Indicators of Smarts

It Is Time To Stop Measuring Yourself Based Upon Your Pain Tolerance.

Prior to investing in my lift chair and hospital bed frame, I thought using these products indicated I was “giving up.” Today I understand that resisting pushing those buttons indicated I was performing slow self-harm. Each time I push the button to stand up again I regain 15 minutes of energy per hour spent in the morning. Each time I push the button to elevate my head I am saving my spine from further twisting.

The game has been altered. We live in an age where we can engineer our world to give us assistance in accomplishing tasks that we cannot accomplish due to lack of strength. Using buttons doesn’t make you lazy, it makes you intelligent. Therefore feel free to rent that lift chair, purchase that hospital bed online and select a suitable mattress. Allow yourself permission to press a button once in awhile and permit the machine to do the hard work for you.