The months of winter don’t just demand your old man to have warm clothing. These months have other requirements like clearing snow from walkways or driveways.
So, what is the best snow shovel for seniors?
There is no one “best” snow shovel for seniors, but there are some features to look for when purchasing a shovel that can make the job a little easier.
For example, a curved or bent handle can help reduce the amount of bending needed to scoop up snow. A large head on the shovel can also help move more snow with each scoop.
Find a shovel that is lightweight and easy to handle. This will help reduce the risk of strain or injury while shoveling.
And finally, consider whether you want an ergonomic or traditional metal shovel – both have their pros and cons.
In this article, we’ve carefully selected the 5 best snow shovels for the elderly, along with a handy guide that will help you make the right choice.
Best Snow Shovel for the Elderly Reviews
Snow Shovel for Driveway
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If you want to clean snow faster and easier after a snowfall, go for the Snow Shovel for Driveway. This tool is designed to allow you to clear snow from driveways and sidewalks without putting stress on your back and arms. It comes with a retractable handle that makes it easy to store and can be used by everyone with utmost comfort. This snow shovel has a lightweight aluminum handle that’s strong and reliable yet lightweight to prevent fatigue.
Features
- Aluminum handle
- D-shaped handle
- Aluminum strip
- Soft foam
Pros
- Comfortable grip
- Durable design
- Adjustable handle
- Easy to clean
Cons
- The overall length is short
- Only for light-duty work
Snow Joe Shovelution SJ-SHLV02
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The Snow Joe Shovelution SJ-SHLV02 comes with an ergonomic design that requires less bending. It’s specially designed to enhance better posture for the user and is made of a sturdy and impact-resistant blade that guarantees durability. It has lifting leverage in the lower hand that allows you to lift more snow without straining your upper body muscles. It comes complete with a shatter-resistant polycarbonate blade that’s durable and translucent so you can view what you want to clear.
Features
- 18-inch polycarbonate blade
- D-ring handle grip
- Spring-loaded handle
Pros
- Impact-resistant blade
- Comfortable and ergonomic handle
- Lifts loads with ease
Cons
- It’s not ideal for heavy-duty snow shoveling
Snow Shovel with Wheels for Driveway
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Clear your way more efficiently with the Snow Shovel with Wheels for Driveway. This snow shovel comes as an easy-to-use tool, thanks to its amazing design. It comes with an adjustable design and a shoveling angle combined with easily adjustable handles. The blades are adjustable up to 45 degrees, while the adjustable handle reduces bending. With this snow shovel, you can easily push snow faster and quicker.
Features
- 2 extra-large wheels
- T-shape handle
- Iron blade
Pros
- Durable design
- Anti-skid blades
- Efficient and fast
- Solid construction
Cons
- Installation is quite challenging
IPSXP Snow Shovel
The IPSXP Snow Shovel is built of high-density plastic, making it lightweight and easy to transport. The blade is made up of thick alloy and has a steel handle. The D-shaped handle is efficient and comfortable to use. The handshake part comes with an EVA foam material that prevents slipping.
Features
- 2 color options
- Thickened aluminum alloy
- 31.8×10.6 inches
- EVA foam handshake
Pros
- User-friendly design
- High-quality material
- Easy to transport
- Affordable
Cons
- Not ideal for heavy-duty tasks
- Too small compared to other models
MD Sales Force Premium Snow Shovel
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If you’re looking for the best way to save time and energy while shoveling, this is a great choice. The MD Sales Force Premium Snow Shovel is a great winter tool to clear snow from your walkways, pathways, driveway, and patio. With this shovel, you don’t need to manually shovel the snow forward, thanks to its two large wheels that make snow clearing fast and effortless.
Features
- 2 large wheels
- T-shape handle
- Black paint overcoat
- Large concave blade
Pros
- Adjustable blade
- Heavy-duty design
- Easy to install
- Efficient
Cons
- A bit heavy
How Shoveling Snow Can Cause Injuries
Winter shoveling is a tedious task and can lead to major injuries to your body. Although falling or getting hit by a shovel is the most common of all the injuries, lower back injury is also very common. Other injuries include heart attacks, cuts, and broken bones. So, how can a simple tool cause such injuries?
You’re likely standing on an icy and slippery surface while shoveling. During winter, most people do not perform warm-up exercises before shoveling, and this is how you end up with overworked muscles. You can easily hurt a ligament or tendon, pull a muscle, or damage some soft tissue while shoveling.
Since it’s cold outside, your blood vessels restrict, which reduces blood flow to vital organs, leading to muscle strains. What’s more, you can easily lose balance which can cause back pains or strained muscle.
Ways You Can Protect Your Back While Shoveling
Naturally, you’ll want to prevent injury while shoveling snow. Here are a few things to help protect your back.
Stay Warm
Wear warm clothes before you head into the cold. The cold can ruin your attempts to clear the driveways. However, you should not restrict your movement, but layer up to stay warm.
Keep Clearing
If your area receives massive snowfall, then start clearing the material early before it piles up. It’s easier to clear a few inches of snow rather than a hard-packed material. Although this may seem repetitive, your back will always thank you.
Go Slowly
Don’t use excess pressure on your shovel. If you try to get rid of the snow quickly, you’re likely to injure yourself in the process. Go slow and shovel the snow carefully and methodically.
Stay Active
Adopt an active lifestyle, which will keep you healthy and in shape. Ensure you do light exercises before shoveling snow. A few exercises will keep you warm and keep your blood pumping. All these exercises will contribute to your safety.
Use the Right Shovel
Look for a shovel that’s right for your age, weight, and height. A poorly designed or heavy shovel can cause muscle strains. Therefore, it’s advisable to invest in an ergonomic snow shovel with a comfortable head, wide head, and slight bend.
FAQs
Should I Shovel Snow while it’s Still Snowing?
Most people remove snow after it stops snowing. However, you can still shovel snow while it’s still snowing and if it’s not windy. If you’re expecting heavy snowfall, it’s advisable to shovel during snowfall to avoid massive accumulation.
What is the Proper Way of Shoveling Snow?
You should always have gloves when shoveling snow to ensure that your hands don’t get numb. First, bend your knees and scoop the snow, lift your legs and dispose of it. You should change hands while shoveling to ensure you engage different muscles in the body. Try to keep the shovel close to the body to avoid unnecessary body strains.
Are ergonomic Snow Shovels Better?
If you have a heavy shovel, you’re likely to have back pains, especially in the elderly. For this reason, it’s advisable to invest in an ergonomic shovel. They are slightly bent, have wide heads and comfortable handles.
Snow Shovel for the Elderly Buying Guide
When looking for a snow shovel for seniors, there are some considerations you should keep in mind. Since seniors face several physical problems, it would be advisable to invest in one that meets their needs. Here are some factors that will help you choose the right shovel for the elderly.
Blade Quality
This is one of the most important features to look for in a snow shovel. The efficiency of the shovel depends on the blade, and if the blade is not made of high-quality material, it may break or bend. A quality blade should come with an angled rib structure for efficient use.
Weight and size
It is crucial to invest in a snow shovel that suits the weight and size requirements of the seniors. Some people may opt for a small, lightweight, and easy-to-carry shovel, while others may prefer a heavy-duty snow shovel to remove hardened snow with ease.
Shovel Width
The shovel width will directly affect the performance of your shovel. Generally, a shovel that has a wider or larger blade rating offers impressive performance. This is because it can move more snow than a smaller one.
Shovel Length
The shovel length shows you the overall dimensions of the snow shovel from the handle to the shovel blade tip. A larger or longer shovel length will help you to clear snow easily without bending down too much. Therefore, a higher shovel length is considered to be the best for seniors.
Design of the Shovel
A quality shovel should put a minimum load on your body and hands and should not be stressful. This is a crucial feature for safety and health, especially for the elderly.
Shoveling Needs
Although the snow shovels are placed under the same bracket as shoveling, they don’t function in similar ways. Some designs are meant to lift the snow, and others push while some can do both. Therefore, ensure you choose one that suits all your shoveling needs.
Durability
No one wants to buy a new snow shovel every winter. Investing in a long-lasting shovel will save you some dollars. Always check the handle make, wear strip material, and blade and ensure it is of high quality. Metal blades are larger but more robust compared to plastic blades. Fiberglass is durable and quite strong and is not susceptible to rusting.
Conclusion
Although there are more powerful tools for clearing snow from your compound, a quality snow shovel is equal to the task.
While the snow shovels for seniors are manual tools, they are effective tools, especially for seniors since they are easy to carry and move snow.
