Walkers are the best mobility aid that is commonly used by the elderly. Sometimes they are also used by disabled persons. Some types are designed to help babies learn to walk. Walkers are an amazing invention, with much-needed flexibility and variation in models that are designed to address the different needs of individuals. A plus factor for considering walkers as a useful mobility aid is that they ensure that a person isn’t inhibited by their difficulty with walking, allowing a person to still achieve their desired daily movement goals that are required to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The various types of walkers will be discussed to help you understand them better in case you or your loved one needs the assistance of a walker to move around.
To find the right walker to fit your needs and lifestyle could take some trial and error, however, if you know the key features of what you want and where to look for the best walkers could save you a lot of time and possibly money. It is always advisable for customers to research before purchasing walkers to make the process a lot easier. First things first, walkers for the elderly and at times disabled persons come in different types.
Making the Right Walker Choice
The most common walkers are:
- Standard walkers that have four no skid rubber-tipped legs to provide stability. It only needs the user to pick it up to move around.
- Two-wheeled rolling walkers have wheels on two front legs which is useful for a person who may require weight-bearing help
- Four-wheeled walkers that are popularly known as a “rollator” is the perfect solution for persons who cannot lean on the walker for balance
There are more options to choose from, so it is always a great idea to talk to your doctor or physiotherapist before committing to purchase a walker. With the advancement in technology, it is also a favorable decision to get an assistive technology specialist to find out what improvements can be found or included in walkers nowadays.
What The Experts Say
Experts suggest a few key points consider when researching walkers. The first important aspect to look out for is the adjustability in the height of the handles to see if it is an appropriate fit for support. Suitable stability for both your weight and movement needs is also ideal, for instance, if you need a rollator and you will spend most of your time on it, then you need to ensure that you choose the most comfortable seating for it. Lastly, there is a limit for the weight size that most walkers can support, currently, the limit is 300 pounds but if you are above the ideal weight you need not worry because you can still consider a bariatric model. The Bariatric model is just a fancy term to describe walkers that are specifically designed to acclimate bigger individuals to provide extra support and stability.
A Walking Tip
It is worth noting that if you are on health insurance coverage such as Medicare you should know that walkers are generally covered as part of durable medical equipment however, you may need to get supplementary cover to get the most out of the available options.
Whatever your needs may be or your loved one’s, the only thing that matters is finding the best type of walker to give new meaning to what a healthy lifestyle is all about.