How to Choose the Best Walker for You

Why let a little thing like when you were born bother you? After all, it happened a long time ago. But age can sneak up on us and surprise us with weaker legs so we can’t walk as quickly or as long as we used to, or weaker arms so we can’t lift and carry as much as we used to, or weaker hands so we can’t grasp and twist as easily as we used to.

As a “Boomer” (those born 1946-1964) it seemed we could do anything: Dash out the door, run to the store, grab something for dinner, rush home to make it, and serve it to a beaming family. Now, as a senior, we can’t move as fast or as steadily. It surprises and irks us to realize we need a little assistance.

As Bette Davis once said, “Old age ain’t no place for sissies”!

Well, I was starting to feel like a real sissy – and I didn’t like it. I knew why I was feeling this way: I couldn’t do many of the things I loved to do or I had to rely on others to help me. I really didn’t like being dependent on other people.

To feel independent again I needed some independent assistance. I realized I could use a walker to help me get around my home (especially at night) and to help me get back out walking again. If I was going to look seriously at walkers it was important for me to do this in style! So, just like a Boomer turned Zoomer (I do not call myself a senior – that is for older people), I did a lot of online research to see if I could find the best walker for me.

Why Use a Walker
The main reasons a person may want to use a walker is they have leg or ankle injuries or have recently had hip or leg surgery; they have imbalance issues due to stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy; or they are generally frail due to natural aging, arthritis or lack of exercise.

It is amazing to see what a good selection of walkers there are today.
To help me focus my search, I looked for walkers that were not only safe to use but had the look and qualities that suited my lifestyle. I wanted to use a walker in my home, especially at night, so I looked at standard walkers first. We will look at 4-wheeled walkers (or Rollators) in the next article.

Standard Walker
A standard walker is made of lightweight but sturdy metal. It has rubber tips on the ends of all legs. It must be picked up and moved as you walk. If you need good support while you are recovering from an injury, a standard walker may be your best and least expensive choice.

Standard Folding Walker
You can also get a standard walker that folds up to only 4”. This lightweight walker is easy to transport in a car or fold away in a closet. The Hugo® Folding Walker weighs only 6 lbs and adjusts to fit most people between 5’1” – 6’4” in height. Maximum weight capacity: 300 lbs.

2-Wheeled Walker
Two-wheeled walkers have 5 “wheels on the front legs and rubber tips or walker glides on the rear legs. This makes the walker easier to move while maintaining the stability of a standard walker.

What Kind of Walker is Right for You

1. Before you choose a walker, ask your doctor or physical therapist for recommendations based on your needs. It was my doctor who had recommended a walker rather than a cane. She said that a walker would help me stay balanced by giving me a wide base of support and would allow me to walk more and thereby, increase my endurance level.

2. Whether you will use your walker primarily indoors, outdoors, or both may influence your purchase decisions. My doctor suggested I look at a fairly standard walker for use in my home and a rolling walker (or rollator) for outdoor use. I use my walker inside my home to get from room to room when I want to carry something. I always use it at night when going from bedroom to bathroom – it is much safer than navigating alone.

3. Choose a walker appropriate for your height and weight. Almost all walkers come with the ability to adjust their height and most walkers can bear a weight of up to 300 pounds. If you are taller or heavier you should look for a walker that accommodates these two important variables. Proper fit is vital to ensure you are walking correctly. This promotes faster healing and improved endurance.

4. Choose grips that are comfortable; larger grips may be a good choice if you have arthritis. I do not suffer from arthritis but still like using a softer hand grip – I find it much more comfortable.

5. Attachments such as a tote bag or tray may make using your walker more enjoyable. I like to place my morning coffee on the tray of my in-home walker along with my newspaper. I keep a flashlight, tissues and my cell phone in my tote bag just in case I need either.

6. Do you have limited space for storing your walker? If you have a small home you should look at walkers that fold up so they can easily be stored in a closet or hallway. You also need to know if the basket needs to be removed and stored separately or if it folds with the walker. If you want to take your walker with you on a trip, you need to know it will fit easily in a car.

7. Walkers may be covered by health insurance if they are prescribed by a health-care provider. This benefit may be available to you depending on where you live, country and state/province, so always ask.

8. Do you need financial assistance to pay for a walker or rollator?
In the US and Canada many states, provinces, and territories have programs to help seniors or people with disabilities buy the assistive devices they need. Other possible sources of financial help include:

• community and non-profit organizations (e.g. Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions Club, or the Royal Canadian Legion); and
• Veterans Affairs Canada, which helps eligible clients with the purchase of prosthetic and orthotic devices, as well as walkers, canes, and wheelchairs.

Special Tip: – Toss the Tennis Balls
You see them everywhere but they are not safe when on the rear legs of a standard walker or two-wheeled walker. Tennis balls are for playing tennis and for playing with dogs. To more easily glide over floor surfaces, try the “walker skis” or “walker glides”.

Next article: How to Properly Fit Your Walker