Laundry pedestals: What device will help my father get laundry into and out of his new washing machine and dryer?

Laundry is not only physically intensive, but it can also involve many awkward angles. If your father is having difficulty bending down in order to get laundry into and out of his front-loading washing machine and dryer, he may want to consider purchasing a small seat or rollator that will bring him down to the same level as the machines so that they can be loaded more easily. Below are direct links to some products you may wish to explore:

• Four Wheel Walker Rollator with Fold Up Removable Back Support by Drive Medical (at Walton Medical) comes with a durable, padded seat and offers a backrest, providing additional security. This rollator, which has easy-to-use deluxe loop locks, can be used to sit on while doing laundry, making the loading and unloading process much less strenuous. This product, which costs about $100 to $200 (CDN) plus a shipping fee, can also be purchased at a number of other retailers, including Walmart Canada. 
• Winsome Wood Round Cushion Swivel Stool  (at Amazon Canada) is a seat stool with adjustable height set on five casters for easy mobility. It should be noted that this stool does not have a backrest, so it should only be used by someone who has enough core strength and balance to sit confidently and securely on a standard stool. This product, which has a weight capacity of 220 pounds, costs about $130 (CDN).

You may also be interested in knowing about laundry pedestals, which raise front-load washers and dryers to a more comfortable and ergonomic height. There are many laundry pedestals for purchase on the market, so you must make sure that you purchase one that is suitable for your specific machine. A good place to start is by making sure that the brand of pedestal you buy is consistent with the brand of your washer and dryer. Laundry pedestals typically range in price from about $200 to $400 (CDN), plus a shipping fee. Below are some direct links to a few Canadian retailers that offer a wide variety of laundry pedestals:

• The Home Depot Canada 
• Lowe’s Canada
• Best Buy Canada

If your father has difficulty transporting his laundry from the hamper to the machine, he may also benefit from using a laundry cart. Below are direct links to a couple of examples of such products:

• GoCart Rolling Laundry Cart (at Amazon Canada) offers a telescopic handle that reduces stress on the joints. This product, which is great for carrying laundry, cleaning supplies and for going grocery shopping, costs about $80 to $100 (CDN).
• Household Essentials Rolling Laundry Cart with Hanging Bar (at Amazon Canada) allows you to store laundry in a raised basket or on a hanging bar. This product comes with four three-inch wheels that swivel for easy handling and that lock in order to anchor it in place. This laundry cart costs about $200 to $300 (CDN). 
• Collapsible Laundry Cart (at wayfair.ca) is a raised laundry basket that can be easily moved throughout the home. This product costs about $380 (CDN). 

A long-handled reacher may also be useful for reaching laundry at the back of the laundry machine or dryer. Below are some direct links to a few examples of such products:

• Ezee Life Folding Reacher (at Hudson's Day) is a folding reacher with moulded jaw and a rotating head. This product costs about $25 to $35 (CDN), plus a shipping fee.
• The Super Arm Reacher (at agecomfort.com) has a lightweight frame that can be conveniently stored away when it is not being used. This product costs about $15 (CDN), plus a shipping fee.
• The Grip n’ Grab Reach Tool by Ettore (at Amazon Canada) can be used both indoors and outdoors. This product costs about $33 (CDN), plus a shipping fee.