How to Choose Medical Walkers / Rollators - Home Health Equipment

Choosing the best walker to meet your needs will make a great difference in your day to day life. I have included a checklist for choosing your walker / rollator home health equipment.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Determine Your Needs and Desires for your mobility walker: How will you use your walker.
   1. Daily Use Or Occasional Use
   2. What type of Seat would you like (Note that a cushioned seat is beneficial if you may need to sit for more than a few minutes.)
   3. Will you use your walker outdoors?
   4. How much weight capacity does your walker need to handle?
   5. Are you extra tall or short?
   6. Will your walker need to be folded and to be able to fit in a truck?
   7. Are you able to work the hand brakes?
   8. Will you be using your walker to transport items such as laundry baskets or large packages.
   9. Wheels? No Wheels? Glides? Four Wheels? Three Wheels? Many Choices.
   10. Do you need to carry an oxygen tank on your walker?
   11. Will your walker be used on carpeting or hard floors?

2. 
   Burgundy Walker Rollator

   Color Choices: Blue, Burgundy, Green, Pink (Breast Cancer Awareness)

3. Go out and tests drive mobility walkers.
   Visit area medical supply stores to see the varieties and get a feel for the different kinds. If your friends have a walker try it out to see how it feels and ask them what they like and don’t like about their walker rollator.

4. Shop for your walker.
   1. Local home medical equipment stores will often have several varieties for you to try out.
   2. Shop Online

5. Financing for your medical equipment.
   1. Pricing ranges from $60 to $250 plus.
   2. Get a prescription from your doctor and check if your medicare or insurance company will pay for part or all of it.
   3. Another option is to put the walker / rollator on your Christmas or Birthday wish list.

6. Accessorize your walker. Yes, walkers have many accessories to choose from.
   Such as cloth bags that are attached to the front.
   Pillow cushions to sit on.
   Baskets.
   Seniors are quite creative when it comes to customizing their walkers. I have seen bike horns, Teddy Bears, Flags, Ribbons, Holiday flashing lights and stickers decorating walkers.

7. 

   Schedule regular maintenance of your walker. Assign someone who visits regularly to check the nuts & bolts, wheels, brakes and the overall safety of your walker. The main reason to have a walker is to assist with walking and to help prevent falls.

Tips & Warnings

• It is always a good idea to put your name and phone number on your walker. They are often left behind or mistaken for someone else’s. When young children come to visit they enjoy sitting on and being pushed around on the walker. If needed the walker with a seat can be used as a temporary wheelchair for short distances. A special bonus for those you do not have a wheelchair. Editors Note: I prefer to see people using walkers that have a basket and a seat. Many times seniors need to transport items (laundry, packages) and the walker is a perfect solution to carry these objects. Also, a good cushioned seat for sitting for longer periods will come in handy when needed . Be sure to ask your Dr. or Physical Therapist if a walker with wheels is appropriate for you. Enjoy your walker / rollator.
• Always check with your doctor to see if there is a medical reason that one type of walker may be better for you than another. Ask your doctor to refer you to a physical therapist who can help you determine the best walker for you. Keep area rugs out of your way. Often a walker will catch on the edge of a rug and can be a hazard.

Resources

• More Articles by Sharon Meier
• Emergency Alert Devices - Lifeline
• Keeping Seniors Safe at Home
• Senior Living Tips
• Seniors Birthday Greeting from President Barack Obama

[Marique-Ideas]

on 9/23/2008 Great article! It is always about accessories for me and my ride. I guess that never changes as we age. Thanks for the info.