Vacuuming can be a painful job for a senior who has arthritis. However, with the right vacuum cleaner, you can maintain your independence and keep your home clean for you and your family. The main problem is that most vacuum cleaners are heavy and just not designed for seniors, especially those suffering from arthritis and similar conditions.
Generally speaking, the best vacuum cleaners for seniors with arthritis will be lightweight, portable, and easy to maneuver. Furthermore, they will be designed or integrated with features that avoid making the situation worse. This way, you can clean your carpet and floors easily without worsening your condition.
In this post, we’ll share everything you need to know when looking for a vacuum cleaner for a senior with arthritis and give you a rundown of our top 4 models for 2022.
The 4 Best Vacuums for Seniors with Arthritis
Here are my recommended vacuums for people with arthritis. Keep reading to learn which features are important to look for when shopping for yourself.
Hoover T-Series UH71250 WindTunnel Rewind Plus
Arthritis-Friendly Features:
If you are looking for a powerful vacuum that is excellent at sucking dirt and debris, you will have little to complain about with the Hoover T-Series UH70120. It is an upright vacuum that doesn’t need a lot of effort to push around.
It weighs 16.5 pounds and can easily be misunderstood as a regular vacuum cleaner. One thing that sets it apart is its efficiency – it has 5 different height adjustment levels, allowing you to clean surfaces without needing to lift it up. Its 25-foot cord allows it to reach farther, and it’s easy to retract. Also included are an 8-foot-long hose, dusting brush, and crevice tool.
In case of any issue, the UH70120 is the easiest to fix and is easy to clean compared to most of its competitors. Aside from the HEPA filter, which doesn’t need to be cleaned frequently, the other parts open easily so that you can clean it easily.
Pros:
- WindTunnel technology allows for it to clean even the most stubborn build-ups and heaviest messes
- Adjustable vacuum height for up to 5 different levels
- Comes with a check system indicator
- Comes included with a crevice and upholstery tool
- Its hose is detachable, making it easy to clean the ceiling, drapes, etc.
- HEPA filter – cleans up to 99.7% of the dirt
Cons:
- The power cord could be a bit longer
- The hand tools aren’t suitable for high-pile carpets (the hand tools might burn them)
- Relatively small dirt canister
Dyson V11 Vacuum Cleaner
Arthritis-Friendly Features
The Dyson V11 has become a game-changer of sorts since its introduction to the market, largely due to its top-notch efficiency in cleaning. This is mainly because it can easily switch from one floor to another as a result of its high torque cleaner head. It’s also lightweight and cordless.
The V11 also offers multiple cleaning options owing to the presence of a mini motor, hard brushes, and a crevice tool. Plus, it’s effective at cleaning carpets and floors due to its 99.9% efficiency rate. Besides this, it is the best cleaner for seniors with arthritis mainly because of its lightweight and compact design.
Pros:
- Quiet operation
- Easy mode switching to hand-held
- Can be used on all floor types
- Convenient cleaning
- Non-stop cleaning sessions
- Very powerful suction
Cons:
- Quite a high price range (at the time of writing)
- The on/off trigger might not be comfortable for some users
BLACK+DECKER Convertible Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Arthritis-Friendly Features:
This is another great option for seniors with arthritis. It works great on all types of floors, including hardwood, laminates, vinyl, low pile carpets, or tiles. The fact that it also doubles up as a handheld and a stick vacuum makes it a great overall package.
The suction is great, and the unit comes with sufficient accessories for cleaning all surfaces. There is a hose, a crevice tool, and an effective dusting brush. Without these, cleaning the above-ground areas could be a nightmare for seniors.
Another good thing about this Black+Decker vacuum is that you could use it at a wide range of lengths. Plus, it’s a bagless vacuum with an easy to empty 1.3-liter capacity, which is best suited for domestic use. This is why it’s my top budget pick for people under arthritis, with its under $50 pricing.
Pros:
- Comes with ample attachments
- Lightweight, versatile design
- Integrated HEPA technology for hygienic filtration
- Convenient storage
- Works effectively as a handheld or stick vacuum
Cons:
- Relatively loud
- Rather short power cord that can limit its use in larger rooms
Eufy 11S by Anker Vacuum Cleaner
Arthritis-Friendly Features:
This is the best vacuum cleaner for seniors with arthritis and or a bad back. The Eufy vacuum is a robotic vacuum cleaner that doesn’t require active participation from the user. It also comes with lots of features and a reasonable price range.
If you require powerful suction as a high traffic area, this robot vacuum features BoostIQ technology that allows it to work at a 1.5 times higher suction rate. It’s also very useful for bare floors and ones with a medium pile of carpet on them. That’s why it is increasingly becoming popular in households as a practical and easy utility.
Pros:
- Easy access to tight spaces
- High suction force
- Doesn’t make any noises
- Package comes with an extra filter
- Long battery life
- 1-year warranty
Cons:
- Not ideal for high pile carpets
- Will require frequent filter cleaning and emptying of the collection chamber
What Types of Vacuum Cleaners are Best for People With Arthritis?
The first thing you want to do is to establish why you need to purchase a vacuum cleaner, and then decide the type that will be suitable for the use case. A good vacuum for seniors with arthritis is simple to use, light, and easy to maneuver.
For those who also have back problems, the model should ideally have a long handle, so that the user doesn’t have to bend. Furthermore, you can opt for one that you set and forget, such as with robotic vacuum cleaners.
The following are some of the best types of vacuum cleaners for Seniors with Arthritis:
Stick Vacuum Cleaners
Stick vacuums tend to be light and slim, which makes them easier to operate. While it varies across brands, these also tend to be cordless, and can therefore offer a hassle-free cleaning experience.
This makes them ideal for the elderly as they can not only provide ample suction power and be pushed around easily but are also cordless, meaning the elderly person won’t be tripping over the cleaner’s cables or cords any time soon.
Canister Vacuums
Canister vacuums are slightly heavier and larger than stick cleaners. However, they usually pack a lot more power, which is great for seniors who live with pets in their homes. These units come equipped with a handheld nose, which lets you clean your upholstery and staircase with ease.
Robot Vacuum Cleaners
These are some of the best options for elderly people with limited movement, as the cleaners do all the cleaning for them. With or without using the app, these vacuums allow just about anyone to enjoy most of the benefits that the robot vacuums offer. Your elderly family or friends might be tired of doing the cleaning by themselves – why not let them just relax and enjoy their life with this solution.
Upright Vacuums Cleaners
When it comes to size and weight, upright vacuum cleaners are right in the middle between stick and canister cleaners. As such, they are powerful cleaners while still being lightweight enough to be used by a senior with arthritis.
What type of vacuum is best for people with arthritis?
Well, a stick vacuum or an upright vacuum will generally be best for most seniors, especially ones that have arthritis. Both come in a wide variety of choices to choose from, are easy to use and lightweight, and are available in both cordless and bagless options.
What Features Make Vacuuming Easier with Arthritis?
For people with mild arthritis or back pain, the pain will likely interfere with daily routines. For conditions like chronic arthritis, the patient is likely to experience continuously nagging pain, which could worsen as the day progresses.
For this reason, it’s essential to work with tools that help you avoid unnecessary strain and stress on your joints. As such, when looking for a vacuum cleaner for a senior with arthritis, there are some aspects you need to pay special attention to. They include the following:
Size and Weight
This is crucially important and should therefore have number one on your list. While some old folks are still quite strong, those suffering from arthritis might not necessarily be able to handle weights for long periods. Pulling and pushing a 20-pound vacuum might be a challenge for them.
The vacuum cleaner should be lightweight and ideally of medium size. The ideal weight is somewhere around 8 to 12 pounds.
Maneuverability
This is related to the weight of the model – a vacuum might be clean but still difficult to push or pull around as you clean. For instance, a unit with a swivel head is generally much easier to use than one without. Plus, if a vacuuming unit is a bit heavy, having self-propulsion in-built will be helpful – it makes the vacuum feel a bit lighter while you pull or push it over the floor or carpet.
Models with wheels at the bottom make it easy to move the units around the house and store them properly. Keep in mind that even a lightweight vacuum can be unwieldy to move around the house without wheels.
Reach
The vacuum should feature extra fitting nozzles that may extend the reach of the cleaner to ensure comfortable use when trying to reach some areas. Arthritic patients might find it difficult to stretch and bend and will be better served by longer and lighter nozzles.
Storage
A bulky vacuum might be a chore to store, especially if the space is limited. Some vacuums also come with wall mounts, where you only need to hook the unit to it after use. This makes storage easier in many cases.
It’s generally better if the vacuum cleaner doesn’t store debris in a dirtbag that requires emptying at regular intervals. It’s better if the cleaner has a transparent garbage storage compartment that can be unlocked with a click of a button and easily emptied when needed.
If you choose a corded vacuum, it’s generally better to get one with automatic cord rewind. A model with a retractable cord will help save you time and make storage a breeze.
Suction Power
Vacuums are means to pick up debris, dirt, hair, and dust effectively. Few people, if any, go to purchase a vacuum cleaner for aesthetic purposes only. As such, you shouldn’t compromise on the suction power. Even if the unit is small and light, it should have a strong enough suction power to get the job done.
On/Off Switch
For some vacuums, the switch will be located near the bottom. This can be a challenge to anyone struggling with arthritis and/or back pain. Ideally, the switch should be somewhere around the handle or near the top. Be sure to confirm this before you commit your money.
HEPA Filtration
For people who (or whose partners) struggle with asthma attacks and allergies, a vacuum that features HEPA filtration is preferred. These are known to capture particles as small as 0.3 microns, meaning they can capture 99.97% of allergens, including dust, pollen, and dust mites.
Pets and Floor Types
Always make sure that the vacuum you choose is suitable for your home. Some vacuums tend to do well on carpets, while others are more suited for hard floors. Few are capable of handling all floor types efficiently.
Bottom Line
For a senior with arthritis, vacuuming can be an irritating task. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean giving away your freedom of keeping your home clean by yourself. There are vacuum cleaners on the market that are ideal for your situation.
With the list we have provided above, you are now better placed to choose the best vacuum for your needs. Which of the models have you tried before? We’d like to hear in the comment section below.
