The elderly are prone to get walking difficulties due to joint pains. But this should not hamper their independence, right? Thus, to assist them while walking, you can provide them with one of the following walking aids. These aids promote balance and safety with independence. Let us have a look at a few walking aids you can opt for assisting your loved ones as per their mobility limitations.
1. Canes
Canes are the most standard and common type of walking aid you can choose for the elderly. Cane can help to promote stability and reduce strain on the legs. It is a portable equipment that comes in a standard size of 36 inches in length. However, users can adjust the height as per their requirements.
Cane supports you in the times when you feel the risk of falling. It supports the body’s weight by transferring some weight load from the legs to the upper body. But they do give extra pressure to wrists. In this case, wrist braces might help to support your wrist and lessen the load applied to it. There are total three types of canes available:
Quad canes
Forearm canes
Adjustable canes
2. Crutches
Like canes, crutches take the weight from the legs and transfer some of the load to the upper body. This equipment is better to use as a temporary walking device while having a temporary leg injury. There are total three types of crutches: Axilla crutches, Elbow crutches, and Gutter crutches.
3. Knee Scooters
The knee scooter/walker is designed to allow the user to rest their one knee on a padded cushion and move the walker with the other leg. These scooters are useful for people with only one injured leg. This also helps people to stay active. This equipment is similar to ankle support equipment which also provides cushion pads to provide rest to the ankles and eventually legs.
4. Walkers
Walkers are walking assistant equipment with four legs. They have two legs in the front and two in the back to assist the patient and promote balance. There are also walkers available, having wheels on each leg for easy walking.
Walkers provide more support and balance than crutches or canes as they have much wider contact with the ground. It also gives more space to a user because its legs are widely spread to give both comfort and safety at the same time. Though walkers are larger than crutches and canes, walkers are generally light in weight and foldable. However, if you are looking to assist the elderly with equipment outside the home, then walkers might not be the best option as they are quite tricky to carry.
5. Rollators
Rollators come with a frame with four wheels, handlebars on the sides, and often a seat where the user can rest. Rollators usually have hand brakes to promote additional safety. Rollators are useful for the elderly who need walking support but are not willing to shift to a wheelchair. This equipment provides both safety and stability for the user. However, their size and weight can be a concern while considering it to use outside the home.
6. Wheelchairs
As the name suggests, wheelchairs are chairs with wheels on both sides. It is useful for patients who cannot walk or whose legs are unable to move. Wheelchairs have handles at the back for the caretaker to give a push. And for patients who like to stay independent, wheelchairs have soft foam handles all around the wheels. So, they can rotate the wheels and move forward and backward. There are also foldable chairs available for easy portability while traveling.
Make sure you are not using any equipment improperly, otherwise it will worsen the situation. Additionally, we will advise you to consult your doctor once before starting to use any equipment. They can assist you better as per your walking limitations. Make sure you are wearing ankle support and wrist braces accessories as these joints are prone to damage.
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