5 Ideas to Decorate an Elderly Person’s Wheelchair

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July is National Wheelchair Beautification Month and many cities and towns across the United States are encouraging people to participate. Often they hold parades or theme contests so that people who are confined to wheelchairs can have some fun and express themselves creatively. Seniors are usually excited to participate in the activities but will need some help from family caregivers and home care providers to make the dream a reality.

Home Care Essex County NJ - 5 Ideas to Decorate an Elderly Person’s Wheelchair

Home Care Essex County NJ – 5 Ideas to Decorate an Elderly Person’s Wheelchair

The internet is full of inspirational ideas for decorating a wheelchair, whether it’s manually operated or electric. Some decoration ideas are elegant in their simplicity while others require lightweight frames to change the look of the wheelchair. Family caregivers and home care providers should work closely with the elderly person to allow their personality to shine.

Here are 5 ideas to decorate an elderly person’s wheelchair, with the help of family members, friends and home care providers:

Royal Throne

Make the wheelchair into a regal seat fit for a king or queen. Using cardboard, build up the back so that it is quite tall. Gold paint, faux jewels, and lush fabrics can transform the wheelchair into a proper throne. To complete the look, give the elderly person a crown, cape and scepter to symbolize their power.

Superhero Vehicle

From Batman and Wonder Woman to Captain America and Superman, superheroes have never been so popular. With a little ingenuity, family caregivers and home care providers can help seniors change their wheelchair into the Batmobile, for example. Similarly, the wheelchair can take on the colors and logo of their favorite crime-fighter for a true transformation.

Fairy Tale Creatures

A wheelchair doesn’t usually figure into classic fairy tales, but that shouldn’t stop an elderly person from picking a fairy tale theme. With help from family members and home care providers, a wheelchair can become a pumpkin carriage, scaly green dragon, unicorn, flying carpet, chariot or a ship. There are lots of examples online where people have turned fairy tale themed wheelchairs into some amazing works of art.

Space Ships and UFOs

The mysteries of space intrigue and inspire, but an elderly person can master all the mystery by changing their wheelchair into a rocket ship. Using cardboard and a lightweight wire frame, seniors can make it look like they are piloting a rocket, space shuttle or futuristic space ship. In a similar style, the wheelchair can turn into a funny UFO, complete with rope lighting and an alien pilot.

Nature and Flowers

While the wheelchair is a modern technical marvel, seniors can bring in elements of nature to their decorating theme. Using faux greenery and flowers, the wheelchair can become a jungle or a meadow. Tropical flowers, faux palm trees, sea shells and a beach towel embrace a beach theme. From snowy mountains to an underwater theme, nature can inspire some pretty clever decoration ideas.

National Wheelchair Beautification Month is a wonderful way for seniors to have a little fun, take pride in their assistive device and work together with family caregivers and home care providers to exercise their creativity. Even if they don’t win the local wheelchair decorating contest, they’ve already won so much more.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Home Care Services in Essex County NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

Susan Myer, RN, BSN, CCRN, CDP