How to Set Up a Home for a Person With a Walker

Homes can be made safe for people that use walkers.

People use walkers when they need help maintaining their balance or walking from place to place. Some people only rely on walkers when they have to walk some distance, such as traveling outside of their homes; but others need their walkers inside their homes as well. Just as you'd need to make a home wheelchair-accessible for someone that uses a wheelchair to get around, you would need to make a home accessible and comfortable for someone that uses a walker.

Instructions

1. Rearrange any furniture necessary to allow your loved one to maneuver easily between pieces of furniture with a walker. For instance, make sure the coffee table is far enough away from the couch that he can get between them with his walker in order to sit on the couch.

2. Provide chairs with arms if you can, because someone with a walker can use the chair arms to help push himself up to a standing position. He should not hold on to the walker and try to pull himself up that way, because walkers usually aren't sturdy or stable enough for that, and he may fall and injure himself.

3. Remove all throw rugs from the floor. The wheels or legs of a walker can become caught on the edges of throw rugs, which can make maneuvering difficult or even cause a person to fall. You do not need to remove any wall-to-wall carpeting, though those using walkers should use caution on shag carpets.

4. Provide a bedroom for an individual with a walker on the first floor of the house. Some families turn a seldom-used dining area, formal living room or parlor, family room, den or home office into a bedroom if they have no bedrooms on the first floor. Trying to navigate stairs with a walker can be dangerous.

5. Install a handicapped ramp at the front door if you have steps going up to the front door. Your loved one will need to be able to enter and exit the house safely.

Tips & Warnings

• An alternative to setting up a bedroom on the first floor is to install a lift on the stairs. A lift is a seat that carries someone up and down the stairs. Many people find it hard to afford such equipment, though.

References

• American Physical Therapy Association: Walker Safety in Your Home