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To help you find the best vacuum for the elderly, we analyzed thousands of reviews, both from experts and customers. Our work didn’t stop there. We also included an array of popular subcategories, ensuring we found the best vacuum cleaner for you and your home. We were sure to favor vacuum cleaners with high-grade motors that excelled on a wide variety of surface types and those with long-lasting integrated batteries. We also thoroughly researched a multitude of top-rated vacs, ensuring that they were light and compact enough to suit elderly consumers. When buying a vacuum for the elderly, always look for a powerful motor, suction capability, and a light and compact form factor that can easily be operated with one hand.
The best vacuum for the elderly you can buy today is the Shark Rocket HV301. This high-quality cleaner is light and compact, weighing under seven pounds, and can excel across a wide variety of surface types, including both carpeting and hardwood floors. Keep reading to learn more about the best vacuum cleaners for aged consumers that are available for purchase.
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: Extremely light and compact stick vacuum cleaner design with a motor that excels across surface types and swivel steering for easy maneuverability and to reach underneath furniture. Plus, it could be the perfect, high-end vacuum for dust mites.
The Shark Rocket HV301 is the best lightweight stick vacuum for seniors, as it weighs under seven pounds and features an ergonomically designed handle that is comfortable for long use sessions. The swivel steering mechanism makes this vacuum easy to control, allowing it to be the best vacuum for a bad shoulder or a related ailment. We loved the motor, which offers plenty of suction power and the ability to adjust to suit different flooring types, including carpeting and hardwood floors.
Related: Do you often experience allergic reactions? Check the best vacuum for allergies.
Though this is indeed a light and compact stick vacuum cleaner, it is a corded design, so there is no built-in battery to make this a truly portable cleaner, though the power cord is lengthy. Additionally, this vacuum does ship with a crevice tool and related attachments, but it does not feature a true HEPA filter. For cordless options, you’ll want to consider the best cordless vacuums.
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: Great for whole-home cleaning, thanks to a lengthy power cable, integration with extra-large-sized bags, and an ergonomically designed handle that lays flat to reach under furniture.
The Oreck Commercial XL2100RHS is the best lightweight corded vacuum cleaner for seniors, thanks to a lengthy power cable that allows for easy room-to-room cleaning and a lightweight and relatively compact form factor, as it weighs around eight pounds. This vacuum cleaner integrates with extra-large bags, so you’ll be able to perform multiple floor cleaning sessions without needing to replace it, and the ergonomically designed handle lays completely flat, for reaching underneath furniture.
Related: Take a quick look at the best vacuum for hardwood floors.
This vacuum cleaner does not ship with too many useful attachments, so you won’t be getting a lengthy hose or a crevice tool. Also, the embedded rotating brush can become tangled when vacuuming up a lot of hair or pet fur, making it a leading vacuum for pet hair, so take that into consideration. Still, it’s one of the best bagged vacuums on our list and well worth your consideration.
Award: BEST AUTOMATED DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: Best vacuum for the handicapped, thanks to a completely automated and self-cleaning design, with an edge-sweeping brush, for corners and edges.
The iRobot Roomba 675 is the best vacuum for people with shoulder problems, or related ailments, as the automated design allows for consumers to relax as the robot goes about the cleaning process. This Roomba robot vacuum cleaner can self-charge via an integrated charging station, when necessary, and features embedded sensors that provide an extra-thorough cleaning to highly trafficked areas of the home. We also loved the edge-sweeping brush on this Roomba, which does a great job at cleaning edges and corners. If you’re concerned about picking up long strands of hair, the best robot vacuum for long hair can take care of that too.
These Roomba robot vacuums have come a long way since their inception, but the automated design may still not be for everyone, despite the battery featuring a robust run time. Additionally, this Roomba robot vac can operate without wi-fi but truly does need a stable Internet connection to access many of its advanced features, including integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Smart Assistant. It’s one of the best robot vacuum options on our list.
Award: BEST QUALITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: High-quality vacuum cleaner with a robust feature set that includes a cordless design that can get over an hour of use per charge and an advanced whole-machine filtration system. All you’ll have to select now is a top carpet cleaner solution.
The Dyson Cyclone V10 is the best vacuum for arthritis sufferers, thanks to a lightweight design that easily converts into a handheld vacuum for one-handed use. We loved the advanced whole-machine filtration system, which traps and eliminates up to 99.97 percent of potentially harmful allergens and bacteria. This vacuum cleaner is also fully cordless, with no power cord, and features a fantastic battery that can get around an hour of use on a single charge.
Though the lithium battery is indeed high-grade, it does require around four hours of charging before your first use, out of the box. Also, this is a high-end vacuum with some robust features, so it comes in at a higher price than most competitors. Combined with the best air purifier for allergies and dust, you’ll have an allergen-free home.
Award: BEST BATTERY
WHY WE LIKE IT: Ships with a dual-battery system that allows for 100 minutes of use per charge, in addition to smart sensor technology that detects deeply embedded dirt and pet-related debris hidden in carpeting.
The Tineco Pure ONE S12 is great for seniors who live in large homes, as this vacuum comes with two integrated lithium batteries that combine to allow for over 100 minutes of use per charge. We loved the powerful 500-watt motor, which boasts plenty of suction ability, and the fact that it can easily convert into a handheld vacuum for one-handed use. This vacuum cleaner also ships with a multitude of useful attachments and accessories, including a dusting brush, a crevice tool, and a genuine HEPA filter.
This is a high-grade vacuum cleaner with a durably made and highly effective motor and, as such, it is on the pricier side compared to many other vacs on the market. Additionally, many of this vacuum’s settings are accessed via a proprietary app, which may be confusing for some consumers, particularly seniors. For the technologically inclined, it is a great choice if you’re looking for one of the best kitchen vacuums.
Award: BEST FOR ANIMAL LOVERS
WHY WE LIKE IT: Fantastic for multi-pet households, thanks to the rubber squeegees that envelop the cleaning head, which picks up errant animal dander and related debris with ease.
The Bissell PowerEdge does a great job at eliminating pet dander and general cleanup, thanks to a rubber squeegee design that attracts and traps pet hair and other debris before it gets sucked up by the vacuum itself. We loved the cyclonic motor, which has plenty of suction power, and the V-shaped head, which is great for edges and corners as it directs debris to the center for efficient cleaning.
Though light and highly maneuverable, this Bissell is a corded vacuum cleaner, which cuts down on portability, and the integrated power cord is only 20 feet in length. Also, this vacuum is not designed for carpeting, though it can do a decent job with low pile carpets and rugs. It’s great for anyone looking for the best vacuums for laminate floors.
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Award: BEST ATTACHMENTS
WHY WE LIKE IT: Ships with a multitude of useful attachments, including a crevice nozzle and stretchable hose, with an extremely light form factor and an integrated HEPA filter.
This Moosoo cordless vacuum cleaner ships with a bevy of useful attachments and accessories, including a crevice nozzle, a lengthy hose, an electric LED floor head, and a wall charger, among others. This vacuum features a four-stage whole-seal filtration system, which does include a genuine HEPA filter, and comes in at an extremely light form factor, weighing just under three pounds. We also loved that the powerful motor can easily be adjusted to suit different surface types.
This is a cordless and portable design, much like many of the best backpack vacuum cleaners, though the integrated battery only features a runtime of thirty minutes before needing a recharge, though this runtime can fluctuate depending on motor speed and power. Additionally, this vacuum cleaner cannot stand upright of its own accord and will need to be leaned against something or placed in the wall-mounted charging cradle.
Award: BEST VALUE
WHY WE LIKE IT: Value-conscious vacuum cleaner with a serious feature set that includes an extra-large dustbin that does not need to be emptied after every cleaning session and dual-speed and power settings that excel on both hard and soft surfaces.
The Shark Navigator Freestyle comes in at a value-friendly price while still offering features in line with more expensive competitors, such as a powerful motor with plenty of suction and a pair of handy speed settings that allow this vacuum cleaner to excel across multiple flooring types. We loved the comfortable swivel steering and the lightweight form factor, both of which make this a great choice for seniors. The extra-large dust bin is also a plus, as it means you’ll rarely have to empty it.
This is a cordless design, which is handy, but the built-in battery only gets around 20 minutes of use per charge, which is on the lower end. Also, this is a great vacuum on its own, but it doesn’t ship with any useful attachments, such as a crevice tool or lengthy hose. Still, you’ll get more features than some of the best vacuums for tile floors so there are plenty of advantages.
Award: BEST MULTI-USE
WHY WE LIKE IT: Easily converts into a handheld vacuum cleaner, for one-handed use, in addition to boasting an extra-large dust cup and a self-cleaning brush roll that resists hair tangles.
The Shark ZS351 Rocket is the best all-in-one vacuum cleaner, as the stick design can easily convert into a handheld cleaner, for one-handed use. We loved the self-cleaning brush roll, which does a great job at resisting tangles from hair and pet dander, and the extra-large dust cup, which reduces the amount of maintenance you’ll have to perform after cleaning sessions. This vacuum cleaner also features an advanced swivel steering system, which offers fantastic maneuverability while in stick mode.
This a corded design, however, though the included power cable is long enough to allow for room-to-room cleaning from a single outlet. Additionally, this vacuum cleaner cannot stand up independently and must be leaned on something or placed in a cradle. Use along with the best carpet cleaner detergent, and you’ll have the best-kept floors in the neighborhood.
Award: BEST ON A BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: Budget-friendly vacuum cleaner with some nifty features, such as an on-board crevice tool and a supremely light and compact form factor, as it weighs just over three pounds.
The Dirt Devil SD20000RED comes in at a budget-conscious price while offering a seriously robust feature set that includes a lightweight and compact form factor that is perfect for seniors, weighing just three pounds. We loved the integrated crevice tool, for reaching out-of-the-way areas of the home, and the fact that this stick vacuum can easily convert into a handheld design and an extended design, the latter being perfect for cleaning ceilings and stairs.
Though this is an extremely light Dirt Devil vacuum cleaner, it is not fully portable as it must be plugged in in order for it to operate. Also, there is a filter included with this Dirt Devil, which can be rinsed and reused, but it is not a true HEPA filter, which may not suit all consumers. No need for the best duster. This model gets the job done.
To help narrow down to the above list, we took great care to choose vacuum cleaners with features that were perfect for elderly consumers and those with slight physical handicaps. To that end, we liked lightweight and highly maneuverable vacuums that could be easily operated by one hand and, in certain cases, actually transformed into a handheld model for added convenience. Generally speaking, the lightest vacuums on the market are best in this regard.
If cordless, we liked vacuum cleaners with plenty of battery life so as to allow for one-pass cleaning jobs without the need for a mid-clean recharge. The motor was equally important and we made sure that it was designed to excel across a wide variety of surface types, such as hardwood flooring, carpeting, linoleum, tile, and more. We also liked vacuums with slim form factors, for the purposes of reaching underneath furniture.
Vacuum cleaners with high-grade filtration systems also scored high on our criteria list, as these filters help trap and eliminate potentially harmful particles, such as allergens, bacteria, and germs. Finally, we liked vacuum cleaners that shipped with all manner of useful accessories and attachments, including crevice nozzles, lengthy hoses, dust brushes, and much more.
