23
Sep

Top Tips When Purchasing a Walking Aid / Rollator

ReplyMobility Equipment and ProductsSeptember 23rd, 2009Clive Taylor

How easy is the walker to fold or operate?

It is very useful if the walker can fold so that it does not take up unnecessary space. It is also useful to place in the back of your car or on public transport. The walking aid should help you get out and about or around the home as easily as possible.

How adjustable is the walker to your size?

People are all different shapes and sizes and it is important you can get a walker which will fit your size and height. Some walkers are very adjustable; the handles will adjust to suit your height; the seat will adjust to suit your height to make sure it is not too high or too low when you sit on the seat and ensure you are comfortable and safe.

Does the walker stand when folded?

A walker that does not stand up when folded means that it will need to be picked up off the floor and unfolded. If you are already having difficulties walking then this might make you more prone to falling over when you are trying to pick the walker up and unfold it.

How stable is the walker?

Four-wheel walkers are generally more stable than three-wheel walkers for the same reason you do not see many three-wheel cars around. They are a little more prone to tipping over than a four-wheel option.

How heavy is the walker?

Weight can be an important factor for the ease of use particularly when the user is weak. A heavy walker will make the walker more difficult to move around also make it more difficult to get into the back of a car, onto public transport, up a curb or just over a bump.

How large are the wheels?

The size of the wheels will determine to some degree how smooth the walker is when going over an uneven surface. Larger wheels will be smoother because it will not fall into smaller holes as easily as larger wheels. You could expect a more rough/bumpy experience from a walker with small wheels.

Does the walker have a seat?

A walking aid with a seat is useful if you have difficulty walking any distance. It allows you to stop as soon as you get tired and have a rest. This is important if you are feeling weak and need to stop quickly for a rest.

Are the brakes easy to apply?

If you have weak hands then the brakes need to be comfortable and easy to apply. The park brake is essential to hold the walking aid steady and stopping it from rolling away when you try to sit down, this is assuming the walker has a seat. If you try to sit down with no parking brake on then the walking aid may roll away and you could find yourselves flat on your back.

Can you carry things on your walker?

Being able to carry walking sticks, canes, drinks, oxygen cylinders, meal trays, baskets/ bags is useful when going outside or for use in the home. Some walkers come equipped with a range of accessories which will enable you to carry essential equipment you need for getting around safely. Trying to personally modify the walker with your own equipment can be dangerous and make the walking aid unstable. If accessories are available then these would be tested to ensure the safety of the walker is not compromised.

Has the walker been tested? Is it safe?

Walkers should be developed in accordance with the applicable standard for walking aids, the most common standard being ISO 11199-2.

What is the weight capacity of the walker?

It is important that the walker is able to hold your weight should you be sitting on it. Bariatric walkers will be more suitable for heavier users because they will have a higher weight capacity but also because the handles will be further apart. However, if the handles are further apart you will need to check that the walker will fit through normal doors.

Does the walker have warranty?

It is worth checking the warranty to make sure you can return it if there are any problems.

Can you get spare parts easily?

Parts may sometimes break or are faulty. It is worth checking how easy it is to get spare parts so you do not have to purchase a new walker to fix a minor problem.

How to find the right advice?

The Disabled Living Foundation has a website which offer probably the most up to date comprehensive list of products, see Living Made Easy. They aim to provide a similar service to Assist UK, who are a charity and are supported by professional therapists who provide free impartial advice to people looking for disability equipment in the UK.

Ricability is also a useful charity devoted to consumer testing products for older people and people with disabilities who are about to publish a guide on walking aids. See www.ricability.org.uk.

Enabled by Design is also a very good resource. They are a community of people passionate about well designed everyday products and provide independent reviews by their community members on the products they have tested.

From my experience retailers need to be treated with some degree of caution. There are some very good retailers who are there to serve their customers needs, however, there are others who are more interested supplying the products which give them the highest mark up or they may be committed to purchasing particular types of walkers. It is worth doing an internet search to see what other products are available and come in armed with this information to the retailer. The problem is that there are so many products available in the marketplace that it is impossible for the retailers to stock and know about all products that are available, so it is worth doing some research for yourself on which product you think is most suitable for you.

, , ,

This entry was posted on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 9:43 PM and is filed under Mobility Equipment and Products.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can Leave a response, or Trackback.

39 Responses to “Top Tips When Purchasing a Walking Aid / Rollator”

Add reply