Many seniors need a little help getting around. Thankfully, there are many different walking aids on the market today. There are all sorts of types of medical walkers for elderly that support all body types and health needs. The only thing you have to do is assess your requirements for a walker and pick one that you like. It is important that you’re honest about what your needs really are. This will allow you to make the best decision when you are choosing a walker. This choice can really change your quality of life, so make it carefully.

Tips for Choosing the Best Medical Walker for You

  • The most common types of walking aids are the basic walker, which doesn’t have wheels, and the wheeled walker. It may be tempting to automatically choose the wheeled walker for greater freedom of movement. However, wheeled walkers aren’t for everyone. Some people who need a little extra help go with basic walkers for more stability.
  • After you consider freedom of movement and stability, you should think about comfort. There are medical walkers specifically designed for people of different heights, weights, and strength levels. Most walking aids can be adjusted, which certainly makes things easier. However, it is vital that you remember to check the specifications of the specific model you’re looking at. The adjustable walkers still might not fit you.
  • You should also take a look at the features the walker has. Those that travel a great deal might want to look at foldable walking aids. This makes storing and transporting the walker much easier.
  • Many rolling walkers, also known as rollators, include seats. These seats can be essential to seniors that get tired easily and want to take a break.
  • Some more advanced medical walkers combine the features of a rollator and a wheelchair. These devices may be expensive, but the added functionality is worth it for some people.
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Different Types of Walking Aids    

Basic Walkers

Basic walkers are the most common type of walking aid, and are generally available in heavy duty and standard models. Heavy duty models have a higher weight capacity for seniors that are a little on the heavy side. They are best suited for indoor surfaces.

Wheeled Walkers

Wheeled walkers, obviously, are walkers with wheels. These walkers are best suited for outdoor use, where users need to cover more ground and aren’t in tight areas. They aren’t quite as stable as basic walkers. However, most wheeled walkers have fixed wheels, which makes them fairly stable.

outline-of-a-rollator
Outline of a Rollator

Rollators

Rollators have four wheeled legs, as opposed to wheeled walkers that only have two. They offer the greatest freedom of movement, along with a high degree of stability. Some even have swivel wheels and hand brakes. Many of them also have seats. Rollators are designed for the most mobile seniors, and seniors that have a little more trouble getting around may want to look elsewhere.

Canes

Seniors that only need a little assistance may want to think about getting a cane. Canes can make both walking and getting up easier. Most models of canes are quite similar to each other, with the most common differences being the handle and whether the cane can fold or not.