Years ago I had the opportunity to interview 4 executive directors and one physical therapist of assisted senior living facilities about what they wanted in a step stool to assist their residents when stepping onto or off of their transportation bus.You see the first step up onto their buses is about a 12-14″ step up from the ground and quite a few of their residents were having a hard time getting on & off their buses because of this challenge.

The first feature the directors wanted was a safe & sturdy step stool that could cut the distance in half stepping up to or out of their bus. The directors had all bought one of those cheap flimsy step stools from a big box store and seen that their residents were very uncomfortable using it. The residents didn’t like those steps stools because the step flexed and felt like it wouldn’t hold their weight very well, they could feel the step bending when they stood on it.

So the directors all agreed that having a step stool that is rated for 500 pounds was a must! Some of the residents were 300+ pounds and the cheap flimsy steps stools were giving way under the 300 pound load.

The directors also wanted a step stool that did not have legs because they had seen residents get their foot caught under a step stool with legs. The resident would be stepping up to get on the bus thinking that their foot was on top of the step (when in reality it was under the step) and set their weight down, only to fall down. The directors had seen that a perimeter wall allows the senior to move their shoe towards the step until the toe of the shoe made contact with the side of the step stool. Then the senior would know to raise their foot up until they felt their foot get to the top of the step and then set their weight down on top of the step. The resident was much more confident when they used a step stool with a perimeter wall instead of legs.

Speaking of not being able to see the step stool, the directors wanted a step stool that was made in bight contrasting colors so the seniors would be able to see the edges of the step better. This way they could place their foot closer to the center instead of on the edge where they would be more likely to fall.

The step stool they wanted for their residents also needed some texture on top to keep the senior’s feet from slipping on the top and they wanted to make sure the step stool itself wouldn’t slip or slide when someone was stepping on it.

We listened!
The Senior Step Stool is 6 inches tall to cut the distance in half when stepping up to a mini-bus. This step stool also works great for physical therapy after knee or hip replacement. The physical therapy director at the retirement communities said that the first exercise after one of these surgeries is to stair step up & down 6 inches.

The Senior Step Stool is load rated for 500 pounds, even though it can hold a lot more. It also has a perimeter wall instead of legs so your senior cannot get their foot caught under it. The Senior Step Stool is yellow with a black sandpaper pad on top. The sandpaper pad keeps your senior’s feet from shifting or slipping. The black color of the sandpaper pad contrasts with the yellow of the plastic step stool to make it easy to see.

The Senior Step Stool also has 6 large rubber pads on the bottom of the step that keep the step from moving, even if it is set on a wet, slick concrete floor. So now your senior can safely and easily step up into buses, trucks, airplanes, trains & SUV’s.

The Senior Step Stool only weighs 10 pounds, so it ‘s light enough to be easily portable. It measures 24′”W x 13.5″D x 6″H so it’s big enough for your senior to turn around on if they are trying to get into a truck or SUV.

If you’re looking for the perfect step stool for your senior I hope you’ll agree that the Senior Step Stool is about as good as they get!