Wheeled walking aids for the elderly are essential to many individuals’ quality of life, especially for older people. Without such a device, many people would be unable to move freely about their own home, much less go anywhere outside of their home. For decades, the walker has been a go-to mobility aid for senior citizens. And while these devices are undoubtedly useful, manufacturers developed a better version of walking aids with wheels and brakes or rollators. If you have mobility issues, you better acquire one of those. So if you want to know how such walking aid can benefit you, read below.
Built solely for walking
Wheeled walking aids for the elderly with a seat double as a resting station whenever you’ve taken too many steps for your liking. A standard walker gives you no seat, so locating a nearby bench is necessary if you find yourself needing a break. The built-in seats of rollators make it easy for their users to put on the brakes, turn around and sit down. They can offer you utmost convenience so that’s why you should choose them over ordinary walkers.
Used indoors and outdoors
Rollators are designed to function both indoors and outdoors. For starters, the wheels eliminate the need for tennis balls. Many people put them on the legs of traditional walkers in order avoid getting scuff marks on their floors. In addition, rollator wheels make walking along trails and dirt paths so much simpler. With that being said, users of wheeled walking aids for elderly can take a stroll in the park with their loved ones.
Meets your specific requirements
Standard walkers don’t usually vary all that much when it comes to sizes, weights and styles. Rollators, on the other hand, do not fit in the “one size fits all” category. You can indeed find one that will match your needs because walking aids vary.
May include hand brakes
Wheeled walking aids for elderly may typically feature hand brakes. The user can squeeze these hand brakes to lock the wheels in place, or release them to continue walking. There are special rollators made by various companies that work the handles whereby, when squeezing, the walker is released and when the handles are released the unit will stop. This is especially useful for Parkinson’s patients whereby the unit needs to be ‘parked’ when standing in position and before proceeding to walk. You can benefit from carrying a walking aid because you can fold it and put it in your car.
Accessibility
Some wheeled mobility aids for the elderly have baskets where you can put some of your things, and canvas seat and back between the handles. Some models often have larger and more stable than the wire basket of other standard rollators. The handle frame on some models also serves as the back for relaxing. This seat and back allows users to take short rest breaks when desired.
Clean, compact, and portable design
Rollators are designed to move around with you, so the cords and wires that connect the brake to the wheels are often hidden inside the frame to avoid getting caught on anything. You can fit light and small wheeled mobility aids for the elderly into narrower spaces. The easily manoeuvrable design offers increased portability over the standard walker.
Ultimate options in portability
Using wheeled portable walking aids is much better than having a traditional walker. Using a rollator walker can help you maintain an active and independent lifestyle by providing support when you want it, a chance to rest when you need it, and the ultimate options in portability. No longer are you restricted to dragging around a clunky walker when you just aren’t at the level of needing it yet. A rollator walker offers an easy transition into a mobility assisted lifestyle.
The sizes of standard walkers don’t vary much, and, though most are relatively lightweight, they can be a bit huge, making them difficult to manoeuvre in small spaces. Wheeled walking aids for the elderly such as a rollator walker come in various sizes, weights, and styles so that you can find one to fit your needs. Additionally, if you have issues manoeuvring your standard walker in your home, a three-wheel rollator walker could help with that. These walkers are lighter, narrower, and shaped similarly to a tricycle. The single front wheel helps the walker make tighter turns, making it more manoeuvrable in tight spaces. So if the benefits mentioned encouraged you to buy such a walking aid, make sure you get it from a reliable provider.