LAST UPDATED: 04 Nov 2020
10 Best Vacuum Cleaners for the Elderly – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide


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This product guide is written by Paul Hardwick
Most seniors suffer from back pain, arthritis, and general body weakness. As such, they cannot pull, push, or lift the heavy vacuum cleaners that millennials use. Vacuuming doesn’t have to be a tedious activity as long as you choose the best lightweight vacuum cleaners for elderly parents.
Besides the vacuum cleaner being light, you might need to consider other convenience features the vacuum might have. If you can afford a robotic or smart vacuum, it will be more suited for the elderly than these other vacuums as it doesn’t need much input from them. If the price of that is not within affordability, there are hosts of other affordable vacuums.
Below, we have created a list of the best vacuums you can for seniors, people suffering back pain, shoulder pain, and people with arthritis. You can find all of these at most online stores like Amazon, BestBuy and others.
About The Author


Welcome to Vacuum Picker!
My name is Paul Hardwick. I am passionate about all things vacuum. From very early on I was fascinated with them and after earning an engineering degree in electro-mechanical systems, I have been able to appreciate them even more. Here I will share with you my insights on the options available in the market & help you pick the best for all your vacuum needs! Read more.
10 Best Vacuums for the Elderly
1
Hoover T-Series UH70120 WindTunnel Rewind Plus
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At first glance, this vacuum looks huge and bulky, but it only weighs 16.5 pounds. It is an upright vacuum, which makes its weight relatively light. Besides the reduced weight, the vacuum comes with a few convenient features that make it easy to use.
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2
Eureka PowerSpeed Bagless Vacuum
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If you need an easy to use vacuum for senior citizens, the Eureka PowerSpeed will meet your needs. It is a bagless vacuum that is lightweight, powerful, and adjustable. It allows you to clean different surfaces from hard floors to carpets and upholstery. At only 10 pounds, seniors can lift, push, and pull the vacuum with so much ease.
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3
Sharp Rocket HV301 Bagless Vacuum
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Sharp Rocket is a stick vacuum that weighs only eight pounds. It is slim, easy to push, and takes only a small space in storage. You can convert this vacuum into a handheld unit and use it to spot clean surfaces above the floor. When used as a handheld unit, it weighs much less.
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4
Hikeren 12000 PA Vacuum Cleaner
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This vacuum is even lighter than the ones above at only 5.1 pounds. It is a stick vacuum, which means handling is also easier for the elderly. The suction is strong at 12000PA powered by a 120W two-mode motorhead. You can switch between low power, which suctions enough for most homes, or the high power, which works for embedded dirt and other heavy mess.
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5
MOOSOO XL-618A Cordless Vacuum
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The MOOSOO XL-618A is both cordless and bagless, and this reduces its weight to 3.3 pounds. Seniors can carry it, push it, or pull it anywhere they want. The unit runs on a battery that can give you between 20 and 35 minutes of runtime on standard suction mode. Switch to more powerful mode and the runtime reduces, but you get better and faster cleaning.
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6
Dyson Cyclone V10 Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner
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This is an upright cordless and stick vacuum for seniors. It has a powerful battery that can run for 60 minutes on low-power mode. The unit has three operations modes, depending on where you need to clean. When on high-power mode, the battery only runs for 20 minutes. Still, the battery charges in less than three and a half hours.
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7
Shark Rocket ZS351 Corded Vacuum on Amazon
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Shark vacuum is a corded vacuum that sports a zero-M self-cleaning brush roll. This brush roll picks up embedded dirt and hair with ease. It is ideal for thick and plush carpets and can extract thick and stubborn dirt with much ease. It also works perfectly on hard floors, making it great for combined cleaning.
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8
Bissell Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner on Amazon
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Bissell sports a powerful battery that runs for up to 40 minutes on strong suction. It is a lightweight upright vacuum at only 7.75 pounds. Its handle collapses when you need to store the unit. You can use it to clean different surfaces, thanks to its innovative foot design. It has multi-surface brush rolls that offer high-performance to clean hard floors and area rugs.
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9
Dirt-Devil Simpli-Stik SD20000RED Vacuum Cleaner
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This is a simple 3-in-1 vacuum cleaner that works as a stick vacuum, extended hand, and handheld vacuum. It is a bagless unit with a 0.35 liter dust cup that you can empty with ease. This unit is corded and sports a 16-foot power cord. The vacuum feels simple to use irrespective of whether you are cleaning hard floor or carpets.
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10
iRobot Roomba Wi-Fi Connected Vacuum Cleaner
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This is an affordable smart vac for seniors. Instead of worrying of the weight of the unit, iRobot Roomba allows you to clean different spaces without lifting anything. It offers powerful performance that offers up to five times more suction than the ordinary robot cleaner.
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Vacuums for the Elderly - Buying Guide
Considerations When Choosing the Best Vacuum for the Elderly


When shopping for a vacuum for arthritis sufferers, you need one that is lightweight; preferably one that does not exceed 15 pounds. If a unit exceeds 15 pounds, it needs to have the best convenience features to make the work easier for you.
Features to Look for in the Best Vacuum Cleaner for the Elderly
Type of Vacuum
Vacuum cleaners come in different types. The most popular include:
• Upright Vacuum – These are the most common types of vacuums that can clean carpets and hard floors. They are so named based on how you use them – you use them while standing. Another variation of these vacuums is a stick vacuum that comes without a bag to further make them light vacuum cleaners. These are the most common for the elderly.
• Backpack Vacuum – Avoid the hassle of these vacuums for the elderly. These vacuums have to be carried around when you are cleaning, and this is not ideal for seniors.
• Self-Propelled Vacuums – They are lightweight and easy to use. Unlike the units you push, these only need to be guided on a path, and they will clean the whole area.
• Handheld Vacuum – These are ideal for cleaning surfaces off the floor. Today, instead of a handheld vacuum, manufacturers offer upright vacuums that disconnect to form a handheld vacuum.
• Canister Vacuum cleaners – These are bagless units that contains a dust canister that empties with ease. They do not allow you to vacuum a large area as the canister has a smaller volume than a bag, but they are lightweight and great for seniors.
• Robotic vacuums – Also known as smart vacuums, these are the best vacuum cleaner for people with shoulder problems. If you cannot bend, or you do not have the energy to pull or push a vacuum, you need to set this unit to automatically clean bare floors or area rugs. However, these units are relatively expensive.
Power
Vacuum cleaners are either corded or cordless. Corded vacuum cleaners run when connected to a power outlet, and they have a long cord. These do not need to charge, and they will never go off when you are working. Again, these tend to offer more suction than the cordless units. When shopping for these units, go for one with a cord that is at least 20 feet to cover large rooms.
Cordless units come with a rechargeable battery. You can use it in and out of the house as they do not have a cord attached to them. Their portability, however, can be limited by their batteries. If the battery is weak, the unit will run less than 20 minutes. Before you get these units, ensure you check reviews to see how the battery performs.
Suction Power
A good vacuum cleaner for bad back and seniors should be one that cleans effectively in one pass per cleaning path with its powerful suction. Seniors may not have the energy to push the vacuum to attain multiple passes for efficient cleaning. Some vacuum cleaners come with different modes of operation where you can set it on low-power mode, medium-power, and high power mode.
Corded vacuums are more powerful than cordless vacuums. When a cordless vacuum offers as much power as a corded vacuum, it may not last as long as the rated battery runtime.
Handle Controls
Seniors do not have the spine to bend every time they need to operate a vacuum machine. As such, controls located on the handle are better than those on the head of the vacuum. A handle on/off switch that locks in position is better than one that has to be pressed every time during operation.
Bagged or Bagless Vacuum
A vacuum cleaner can either be bagged or bagless. A bagged vacuum sports a disposal bag that collects dirt and then you have to replace it after the cleaning session. These units are lightweight for use by seniors, but they are inconvenient when you have to replace the bag every day, or you need to buy the bag separately.
Bagless models are the best for seniors as they come with a canister that holds dirt during the cleaning session and then all you need is to empty the canister and continue cleaning. For seniors with allergic reactions to dirt, a bagless model is not ideal as they will come in contact with the dirt a lot. When shopping, ensure that the canister is easy to remove and empty.
Type of Floor to Vacuum and Versatility
Most vacuums are versatile to clean different floors and surfaces. Some, however, are engineered for specific types of floors, dirt, and surfaces. You need a device that gets the job done regardless of the type of floor, including hardwood floors, you are cleaning.
Units such as pet vacuums are great at removing pet hair from your carpet, but they are less effective for cleaning other areas. A versatile vacuum offers you value for money when you are using it. If you do not need a specialized vacuum, pick one you can use as a handheld vacuum too and one that cleans hard floors and carpets with the same effectiveness.
Full Indicator
An indicator comes in handy for cordless vacuums. It shows the level of the battery and warns you when you need to charge the unit. Without the indicator, the unit will be annoying as it might switch off when you are using it. Again, without the indicator you may never know when the battery is charged, and you may leave the unit charging for long periods, which is a waste of electricity, and it shortens the life of your battery.
Storage
Some vacuums come with a retractable cord. This makes them easier to store as you deal with the cord separately. Cords can be as large as 30 feet, and, so, dealing with one away from the vacuum is a great way to store your unit. Some more advanced units allow you to press a button and the cord retracts to its storage compartment. In some units, the cord is not retractable and does not disconnect, so you have to wrap it around the unit’s head manually.
Others come with a quick-release handle so that you can store the handle separately from the head. Others still come with a handle that lays flat so that you can store the unit in a small space. Better yet, these units are great for cleaning under furniture and reach tight spaces.
Attachments
Seniors might need to do more than clean a floor with the vacuum cleaner. The right vacuum cleaner for elderly should come with attachments such as:
• Upholstery tool to clean furniture surfaces and curtains
• Sweep feet to clean hard surfaces
• Dust brush to remove dust on surfaces
• Crevice tool to remove dirt and dust on areas that the vacuum head cannot reach
• Rubber bristle brush to remove loose hair from the pet’s coat
• Turbo brush to clean the stairs
Conclusion
The vacuum you choose should meet the needs of the house you need to clean and be easy to use for the senior. For starters, you need the best lightweight vacuum cleaners with low profile construction. The weight should be as low as possible so that the senior can lift it when they need to store it, push, or pull. Besides, the unit might come with some convenient features such as self-propelling unit, easy to push wheels, and much more.
Your budget also determines the unit you go for. A robot vacuum, for instance, would work the best for seniors as they only need to talk to it or set it on their mobile device, and it is good to go. However, such a unit might be off the budget. As a rule of thumb, buy the best vacuum that is affordable. Compare suction power for vacuum cleaners on Amazon.
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