Best Step Stools for the Elderly

Did you know that every 15 seconds, a senior is admitted to the emergency room for a fall?

Falls become a serious health risk for elderly seniors as their balance becomes compromised. But with the help of step stools, many seniors find it easier to access certain things that were initially beyond reach.

In this article, we’ll review some of the best step stools for the elderly, covering their features, specifications, pros and cons, and more to help you find the right step stool for your elderly loved ones. 

Best Step Stools for Elderly Seniors: Our Top Picks

Let’s jump into our top picks for the best step stools for seniors!

1. Drive Medical Heavy Duty Bariatric Footstool 

The Drive Medical Heavy Duty Bariatric Footstool accommodates heavier weight thanks to its handrail, along with its durable one-inch steel tubing and a cross brace for extra stability. The Drive Medical step stool also comes with non slip rubber feet and an rubber platform as important safety features for your senior.

Since it comes fully assembled, you don’t have to endure the stress of trying to put this step stool together by yourself. With its darker metal, it’s also more attractive than standard white medical equipment.

This heavy duty step stool features welded parts to enhance stability, giving it a 500 lb weight limit.

After unpacking, you only need to insert the handle into the lower base, and you’re good to go! Given that it is easy to assemble (and relatively lightweight), you can carry this step stool with you from room to room or when traveling, and it won’t feel heavy or inconvenient. 

This is a sturdy, no-nonsense step stool that will provide a bit of extra reach whether you’re grabbing a box of cereal or clearing out boxes from the top of a closet.

Product Specifications

• Color: Silver Vein
• Brand: Drive Medical
• Handle Height: 34 inches
• Step Height: 9 inches
• Surface Dimensions: 10 inches x 14 inches
• Weight: 2.37 lbs 
• Weight Capacity: 500 lbs

2. Vive Heavy Duty Step Stool with Handle

The Vive Heavy Duty Step Stool with Handle comes with important features to enhance stability for its older users.

We’re big fans of how it includes wide-angled legs, which allow it to cover a wider surface area on the floor. On top of that, this step stool boasts a handrail for improved strength and a non slip surface. 

Made of reliable sturdy material, this heavy-duty Vive medical-grade footstool measures 9 inches tall, making it the ideal step stool for elderly seniors needing to reach high areas. You can use it on titles, hardwood floors, or just about any other flooring without worrying about slipping or falling.

For a boost of additional stability and security, each step stool leg features reinforced rubber tips that grip the floor to prevent unwanted movements.

The 35-inch handrail leans inward for improved stability while providing the perfect balance for the elderly. The length and inward angling also increase accessibility, especially for shorter individuals.

Not all users need the handrail, though, and that’s why it is detachable. If you don’t need it and want to save space, you can simply remove it from the step stool without much hassle. 

Product Specifications

• Color: Black 
• Brand: Vive Health 
• Handle Height: 33 inches
• Step Height: 9 inches
• Surface Dimensions: 14 inches x 11 inches
• Weight: 7 lbs 
• Weight Capacity: 300 lbs

3. Evelots Mobility Half Step Stool

The Evelots Mobility Half Step Stool is best step stool for elderly seniors if you’re looking for a combination of stability and mobility.

Because of its slim size, it’s easily portable and fits anywhere — you can use it as a bed step stool, a bathroom step stool, a kitchen stool, or even to get across a doorway. Because it’s made from plastic and is small, you can carry this step platform practically anywhere with you.

It can also easily fit into tight spaces, making it a convenient travel item and suitable even for seniors with very small living quarters.

Measuring 3.5 inches high, this step stool is perfect for individuals with knee problems who just need a small boost here and there. The shorter height and wider legs also contribute to this step stool’s great stability. 

Great for indoor and outdoor use, this step stool comes with drainage holes to prevent water accumulation when used outdoors – the reinforced rubber feet also keep it stable on slippery surfaces, like tile.

It also features non-slip treads, each measuring 1MM, for better friction. 

Lightweight yet stable, it’s an effective sturdy stool for individuals recovering from an injury or those with limited mobility. 

Product Specifications

• Color: Black 
• Brand: Evelots 
• Handle Height: NA
• Step Height: 3.5 inches
• Surface Dimensions: 19.75 inches x 15.75 inches
• Weight: 3.3 lbs
• Weight Capacity: 400 lbs

4. DoubleSafe Deluxe Step Stool/Footstool

The AdjustaStep(TM) DoubleSafe Deluxe Step Stool is a height adjustable step stool with two handles, making it easier for seniors with balance problems to access items in higher places. 

You don’t need any special tools to assemble this modern step stool; you can put it together in minutes!

Despite being bigger and having more features than the ordinary step stool, AdjustaStep DoubleSafe Deluxe is one of our recommended lightweight step stools, making it easy to move it from one place to another.  

This heavy duty step stool’s customizable handrails are 17.5 inches apart, offering enough standing room while also allowing you to adjust the height to suit your range of motion and physical capability. 

This step stool consists of sturdy material, made with all-metal parts and no plastic for durability and improved safety. Additionally, the powder-coated finish makes it easier to clean and disinfect the step stool before being used by older adults. 

The non-slip pad allows for enhanced grip even with wet feet, which means you can use this step stool anywhere at home, including stepping out of the bathtub to minimize falling or slipping risks. 

Product Specifications

• Color: Black 
• Brand: Evelots 
• Handle Height: 31.5 – 33.5 inches (adjustable)
• Step Height: 8.5 – 10.5 inches (adjustable)
• Surface Dimensions: 11 inches x 14 inches
• Weight: 13 lbs
• Weight Capacity: 300 lbs

5. Strong Tek One Step Stool

The StrongTek step stool consists of two primary materials; a wooden base and anti slip rubber surface and feet for better grip to provide a stable step structure.

Given its small size, this step stool is highly portable and lightweight with slats for drainage enabling outdoor and bathroom use. It’s a great step stool to help you get in and out of the car or bathtub. 

This wood step stool boasts being more durable than similar products made of plastic, and as an extra bonus no assembly is required. We love the classic look of and sturdy construction of this wood step stool!

Product Specifications

• Color options: natural, expresso and white
• Brand: StrongTek
• Handle Height: NA
• Step Height: 3.5 inches
• Surface Dimensions: 15.75 inches x 12.6 inches
• Weight: 4.41 lbs
• Weight Capacity: 400 lbs

6. Drive Medical Footstool with Non-Skid Rubber Platform

The Drive Medical Footstool does not come with complex designs or features, opting for a simple, functional design that makes it a great step stool for the elderly. 

The step stool consists of a steel frame for impressive durability and a non-skid ribbed rubber platform surface and non slip feet to prevent slipping. Each of its four feet has reinforced rubber tips to make the stool even more sturdy on tile or hard flooring. 

While the lack of handrails may be a problem for some, this allows this stool to be highly portable and ideal for storage in smaller spaces, despite not being a folding step stool. 

Assembling equipment is such a daunting task – so it’s a good thing that this durable step stool comes fully assembled! You do not need any technical knowledge or to read through countless pages of user manuals to install this simple stool. 

Product Specifications

• Color: Black/Silver 
• Brand: Drive Medical
• Handle Height: NA
• Step Height: 9 inches
• Surface Dimensions: 11 inches x 14 inches
• Weight: 5lbs 
• Weight Capacity: 300 lbs

7. North American Healthcare 4” Portable Folding Step Stool 

The 4” Portable Folding Step Stool is one of the best options in terms of portability and folding for on-the-go use.

We love that it can easily fold flat to be stored in the car when traveling to appointments, vacations, or any other trip, allowing for fantastic portability. It can also be used to help an older individual get in and out of the vehicle without slipping. 

Outdoor activities aside, you can also use this foldable step stool in the bathroom, doorway, kitchen, and other areas around the house. 

The large platform for stepping also comes with small, horizontal non-slip grips for more stability. The stepping area is spacious enough to accommodate different foot sizes while also providing room to turn in different angles.

The bottom of this step stool also has anti-slip rubber feet for improved stability, allowing it to be used on a variety of flat surfaces.

This folding step stool even has a handle that allows you to easily carry it from place to place. The only drawback is that the folding design does result in a less stable structure compared to a one-piece step stool.

Some users have reported this step stool breaking, although most don’t seem to have this issue. If portability is extremely important, this stool is a solid pick, but some seniors may feel more comfortable and safe with a one-piece step stool that is not foldable.

Product Specifications

• Color: Black/Silver 
• Brand: Jobar International, Inc.
• Handle Height: NA
• Step Height: 2.5 inches
• Surface Dimensions: 16 inches x 10.5 inches
• Weight: 3.1 lbs 
• Weight Capacity: 300 lbs

How Does a Step Stool Help Elderly Seniors?

Step stools can provide significant benefits to older seniors in that they provide a higher ground for individuals seeking access to items beyond their reach under normal positioning.

In this context, ‘normal positioning’ means the natural human standing position before stepping on this stool. 

A few examples of when a senior might benefit from step stools that include:

• Reaching a kitchen appliance stored on a high shelf
• Getting in and out of a car (especially with a raised seat)
• Getting over a bathtub or door with a raised edge
• Switching a ceiling fan on or off
• Accessing built-in stove microwave

Traditionally, many able-bodied adults may climb up a chair, jump onto a counter, or stand on their tip-toes to access these kinds of hard-to-reach spaces.

These options aren’t realistic for older seniors who have compromised mobility. Step stools can be a huge help for seniors who need an extra lift to access higher shelving or storage spaces.

However, step stools have risks associated with them as well.

Because so many seniors have poor balance, it can be easy for an older individual to lose balance and fall when using a stool. Falling from a raised height can cause even more damage than tripping and falling from standing height.

Seniors struggling with balance should avoid using step stools. This applies even for handled, slip-proof step stools. It’s simply not worth the risk!

Whenever such seniors need to reach high-placed items, they should always seek a family member or caregiver’s assistance. If neither of them is available, a reacher or grabber tool comes in handy. 

However, for those who don’t have especially poor balance, step stools can be a handy tool for maintaining independent living.

Consideration When Choosing a Step Stool for Elderly Seniors

There are a number of elements to consider when choosing a step stool for an older senior.

How wide is the step stool’s surface area? 

Step stools with larger surface areas provide more room for a senior’s feet, allowing for a more natural stance that won’t put a senior’s balance at risk. This extra surface space is also essential to avoid slips and falls caused by the feet hanging over the edge of the surface. 

In physics, items with larger surface areas are usually sturdier than those with smaller surface areas. The same applies to step stools – a wide surface area and wider legs, coupled with the senior’s weight, provides extra sturdiness.  

A larger surface area also creates enough turning space, so that the user doesn’t have to step down and back up before turning safely in another direction.

Does the step have a non-slip surface? 

Step stools that have non-slip textured matting are usually safer than those without this feature. Non-slip surfaces may come in the form of treads, rubber ridges, etc. You’ll also want to pay attention to whether or not the step stool has anti skid foot pads as well, especially if the stool will be used on slippery surfaces.

Is the step stool portable?

Many seniors already struggle with lifting certain items, so heavy step stools can become quite the burden. If a step stool is too heavy for a senior to maneuver, they may simply not use it!

Because many seniors have issues with balance, step stools that are heavy could cause back-related problems, especially when lifted frequently. 

Furthermore, portable step stools are ideal for traveling, especially for seniors who need help getting in and out of the car. 

Does the bottom of the stool have rubber tips? 

Tips with rubber grip help secure the step stool to the floor when the user steps on it, preventing rocking or sliding motions. However, be sure to select rubber tips that do not leave markings on the floor when dragged.  

Does the senior need handrails or no handrails?

Handrails provide extra support when stepping on the stool. However, it is not advisable to rely too much on them for balance; this could increase the chances of slipping.  Plus, handrails can make a stool heavier and not quite as portable.

How tall is the step stool?

When the step stool is too high, it can be difficult for seniors to raise their leg and step onto the stool (particularly for seniors with knee problems). The ideal height depends on the user’s capabilities, but as a general rule, the higher the step stool, the more dangerous it becomes. 

When possible, opt for lower step stools; they are usually more stable because of their closeness to the ground.

In the end, choosing an appropriate step stool height requires keeping the height as low as possible while still allowing it to function as intended for the individual’s specific needs.

What is the maximum weight capacity of the stool?

Measure your weight, and then shop for a heavy duty step stool that has a weight limit at least 50 lbs more than your body weight. 

Where do you intend to use the step stool?

If you plan on using a step stool in the kitchen or around the house, there are many step stools to choose from. Those who want a step stool specifically for the bathroom will be made from water-resistant materials and are easy to clean and dry. 

Does the stool need to be foldable or not?

While foldability doesn’t necessarily determine the usefulness of a step stool, it comes in handy for users who travel a lot.

In that case, you’ll want a folding step stool that is collapsible, lightweight, and portable at the same time. However, for those who don’t need an ultra-mobile step stool, something that does not fold might feel a bit more secure.

Types of Step Stools for Seniors

Step stools come in different sizes, types, and designs, but the right one depends on your needs. Below are some good examples. 

• Foldable Step Stool. A collapsible, folding step stool is ideal for older people who travel a lot. Whether traveling for appointments, vacation, or visiting friends and family, a folding step stool is convenient because it folds into small sizers for better storage. However, the ability to fold and collapse a stool has the potential to make it less stable, so be sure to read reviews of each foldable step stool you’re considering to confirm their durability. 
• Step Stool With Handrails. Ideal for seniors struggling with balance, step stools with handles provides extra support through the use of raised handrails that can be grasped when stepping on or off the stool. Keep in mind though that the handrails can only accommodate a certain weight or pressure. Therefore, it is not advisable to rely entirely on them for support. 
• Outdoor Step Stool. These are usually used at entryways to provide additional foot support for accessing a raised room or to cover an elevated threshold step. They are generally shorter in height and wider than the typical step stool. Additionally, most of them consist of durable, water-resistant materials to accommodate harsh weather conditions outside. 
• Bathroom Step Stool. Bathroom-specific step stools consist of water-resistant materials. The ideal bathroom step stool should be easy to clean and quick-drying. 
• Bed Step Stool. A bed step stool is placed by the bedside to help a senior get in and out of bed safely, functioning basically as bed steps. Bed step stools are generally wider, and some may come with handles for better grip. 
• Bariatric Step Stool. Bariatric step stools consist of durable, heavy-duty materials to accommodate heavier people. Although some may be portable, most are usually heavy, so they don’t tend to be great for travel. 

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Because of age-related reasons, seniors may not be able to do things they used to do back when they were younger. A good example is reaching for items in higher places!

Also, because a senior may not want to bother someone else constantly, they may attempt to reach for these high items without assistance. That’s when accidents happen!

If you are concerned about your loved ones’ safety as they age gracefully, step stools are a mobility aid definitely worth considering!

What has your experience with step stools been like? Are you a fan or do you think it’s best for elderly seniors to simply ask for help reaching hard-to-access items? Let us know in the comments!

Last update on 2022-01-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API