Mom is okay inside the house..but if ever we go out, mom will hold my hand for support and I walk at her pace, right next to her. This was how she walked in summer in a nearby park. But the way she struggled to walk outside scared me and I thought maybe a walker will help
She has private insurance, no medicare/medicaid yet since she just came to America and has not worked here. So the cost of the walker will be an issue, I guess? ?Do I ask her Dr for walker recommendations?
She's 85, has moderate dementia and will not know how to use brakes/features on a walker. It should be very simple..as simple as a walking stick....so then what should I look for?
Anyway, now with colder weather, we are not going out unless visiting family members houses which has no steps or has elevators.
What I did was walk with my mom so that I could control her speed and direction (she was visually impaired) and apply the brakes as well as help her to turn and sit if she needed to. For outside I think I would opt for a rollator with wheels that are big enough to handle rough terrain and a sturdy seat - some are designed to function as a makeshift wheelchair too and that could come in handy if she tires easily.
For indoor use we preferred using a smaller, "old fashioned" light weight walker with only two wheels, it was much more manoeuvrable and fit into smaller spaces. (rather than the tennis balls I bought skis for the back legs so she could glide over carpet)
Try to make sure Mom uses it correctly. I know this will be hard but I see people using them wrong. Hunched over with the walker in front of them. It should be at the right height for standing straight. You push it ahead and walk into it. I agree, see if Moms insurance covers a therapist to show her how do use. Also, see if her insurance covers durable equipment.
I actually rarely see someone who ISN'T 'pushing' their walker, and it leads to back problems, hip problems, etc. AND can actually CAUSE falls rather than prevent them. 80% of mom's 'bad falls'--her walker was right there!
Mother has both the aluminum frame one and the rollator, which has a seat and IMHO a much better option for everything, except trying to stand to cook. But when the person suddenly gets lightheaded or too tired to stand, they can simply sit down. Also they often have a little basket under the seat and all their 'stuff' can be stowed there. Mother doesn't like the rollator, so she uses the aluminum one and hangs her heavy purse on one side and an equally large 'catchall' bag on the other side, PLUS a
front pack on the front rails. The whole thing weighs about 10 lbs with all this junk. Plus, if it's not 'loaded' properly, the weight of either bag will tip the walker over.
Aluminum frame ones are really cheap. Rollators are more, but still not expensive.
But really, using whatever device you settle on--she needs to learn how to walk with it. Mom was taught, but never uses hers properly.
You have to ask at the front desk, they keep them in the back storeroom.
I got one for my 86 year old father when he was having a hard time getting around.
Also, dad lives in an older home. The doorway to the bathroom is more narrow than the bedroom doorways.
I measured the bathroom doorway and even a narrow walker was still too wide to fit thru. So, I turned the back wheels on the walker to the INSIDE of the walker and now it fits thru perfect.
He also has a wide walker for when he is outside for a little extra stability.
I had no idea that there were so many types of walkers, but we get by with a simple narrow walker inside the house. 2 wheels and 2 tennis balls.
Also buy the tennis ball that are not precut and cut them yourself, it saves a couple of dollars.
Best wishes to you.
we got one for a family member and just cleaned it with Lysol. Big difference in price .
The other big benefit is they will properly fit one for your size. I highly advise against going to a large box store and buying one off the shelf. Remember that getting properly fitted is the key for your safety.
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