I got a Nitro - best one ever! Has a seat pocket and heavy duty. Had a 40% off coupon from CVS so it cost about $120.00 after the coupon. My daddy loved it because it was red. I love it because it heavy duty. My daughter used it and she is 38. Its also adjustable because we are tall 5'10" to 6'1". Hopefully this helps.
I have a Drive Rollator (European Style) Iove it because it doesn't look like something medicare gives out. I had a stroke the end of February and I had to learn to walk again. The light walkers scared me because I would fall over backwards, and they were not sturdy enough to keep me from falling. I already had my rollator bcause of back problems, so I had family bring it to rehab. The seat is perfect for carrying things from a dish of food to laundry. When I am out and I get tired, I have a place to sit down. When I first got it, before stroke, small grandchildren loved to be pushed in it. The wheels are larger than walkers and go over cracks in asphalt and concrete much better. They come in pretty colors. I have a red one and I just bought a different brand for my sister-in-law in a beautiful sea foam green.
smellycat: Ask your friend's physician this question especially since the individual is young at 24 years of age. When I purchased a Rollator for my elderly mother, I made the mistake of not going through her doctor. Ergo, it was not covered by Medicare.
I paid for both mine and my sister-in-laws. I love it so much I would do it and did it again. Who wants one of those ugly things that medicare provides?
Look at the breaks. If the brake is a metal bar that sticks out, it may be best to avoid. My grandmother bumped into this metal bar so after she had a huge gouge in her shin. She finally let me replace the walker with on the had the break covered.
My son bought my mother a Healthsmart Walker Rollator from Amazon and her physical therapist told us it was the “Cadillac” of walkers. Mom loves the purple color and the fact that it rolls so smoothly and is easy for her to handle. I love that it folds up pretty compact, is so much sturdier then others and is rather light to lift in and out of the car. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006W7049M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
We got a Drive Medical RTL Nitro Euro-Style Light Weight Aluminum Walker Rollator for mom. She loves it. Has been using it for 3 years now...inside and outside (daily walks). We got it because it had dimensions that fit through the doors of her house, can easily traverse carpet, hardwood floors, lawns, and sidewalks. The only thing is that while you can use it to sit and rest, you cannot use it to push someone in the rollator. It's not covered by insurance. More on the expensive side, but it's smart looking. Well worth the cost.
Any assist devices such as walkers, canes etc etc need to be prescribed for the individual after assessment by PCP and / or physical therapy or other medical professional referrals. Trying to " decide" on one without proper professional assessment of needs and direction on devices , can actually make a situation worse or even be dangerous.
Way back before my mom was permanently placed in a SNF/long term care facility, we got both. The rollator/walker combo was a Health Line 2 in 1 Rollator-Transport Chair w/Paded Seatrest, Reversible Backrest and Detachable Footrests, Titanium and it gave her the option to decide to walk behind or sit in it. It was light weight enough for me to easily fold it up and put it into the back of our small SUV and it was a god send if/when taking her anywhere as she could only walk (even with a walker) about 5 feet. But the rollator gave her "mentally" the choice to walk behind or sit, less arguments. She always said, "I'll just sit this time....," gave her a choice or some control, if you know what I mean.
We had a smaller, fold-up walker for in the house mostly for her to get from the bed to the bathroom (about 8 feet) and it fit nicely through the bathroom door. This is one thing to check out, the width of your doors inside if the rollator is to be used inside; some are too wide and will not fit through doors inside a home. Also, measure the turn around space for the rollator as there is not sufficient "turn around" space in many small bathrooms, ergo the smaller fold up walker is the only thing that really fits. Lastly, examine the height and weight limits on the rollator as if someone is really tall it may be too "short" for them sitting or standing behind and further, the seat may not be able to handle really heavy or obese individuals.
Once placed in the nursing home, they (given liability concerns) ONLY wanted to order and use the Medicare/Medicaid approved wheel chairs and walkers for their residents. As others have said, if your LO is already in any type of "senior facility" you need to discuss with them as they may have rules/limits on what can be used in their facility OR if/when taking out a resident. My mom's facility requires anyone taking my mom out (only happens a few times a year) that they use their facility-approved transport devices (again, their concern re: liability).
The Up Walker Lite is fabulous. It gave my mother freedom. She has Lewy Body Dementia. You can fold it up and put it in the trunk. But, the great part is the walker has adjustable arms so you can adjust it to your height.
Some doctors will prescribe this style especially since the gray aluminum style causes the person to walk all hunched over, eyes downward.
The Up Walker Lite is better for breathing, builds a strong inner core and posture. I bought it 2-3 years ago for $495. After 9 months of appeals, emails and begging the insurance company, I was reimbursed 80%. If I would have waited and not bought out-of-pocket, I think my mother would have declined.
Make sure the paper work (prescription) is filled out prior to purchase. In my case, I couldn't wait I bought it outright to get mother on her feet. Doctors have even asked me about this walker. They have taken photos of it and bought one for their loved ones. The physical therapist and nurse at the one morning a week respite where my mother used to attend recommended this style to another person who attended the same facility.
It would make my mother feel bad when other's would say, I wish I had one of those walkers.
I believe the walker is now $595. Contact info: (877) 488-0822 or info@lifewalkermobility.com
website: TryUPWalker.com
It comes already "assembled". There are a lot of copies out there that are NOT a good fit for a man with a wide waist and they don't fold up in the trunk in a compact car and the copies do NOT come assembled. I think now Amazon is selling it but make sure you get the "exact" model and not a replica.
It's the best money we've spent and it looks more like a piece of exercise equipment/bike as opposed to medical durable equipment. A good pair of shoes that fit properly are also important for gait/balance issues.
I hope I was of some help to you. I do hope the insurance companies will one day cover this style of walker for everyone who needs it as it will give them better quality of life.
JoAnn makes some good points about walkers vs rollators, we preferred using the two wheel walker at home and saved the rollator for trips where travelling outdoors was unavoidable.
I would recommend, too, a Physical Therapist evaluate your friend. Rollators are not for everyone. It tends to get away from some people. If your friend is on Social Security disability, Medicare may cover the cost but they also may only have certain models they will cover. A therapist can tell you what one is best.
I have found that those who use a standard walker are using them wrong. First they are not high enough so they are leaning over them. The are being pushed way ahead. They should only be pushed a few inches and walked into. The use of tennis balls and gliders can be used to maneuver rugs and hard flooring. I think a set of wheels can be put on the back.
If Parkinson's is involved there are special made walkers. Because people with Parkinson's tend to fall backwards, the walker is special weighted to help with not falling backwards.
My husband was tall and walked outdoors a lot so we got a European-style rollator that TopsailJanet mentioned. He had Parkinson's so it was important he walk upright as much as possible and have something to help his balance (which was terrible). It was great--had large wheels, a seat, but no under seat storage, and had extra options such as a tray to put on the seat for transporting things (which we bought), a seat back, storage basket, etc. It was light weight enough for me to easily get in the car and it folded very easily. He'd started with the more traditional style of rollator but he couldn't walk as naturally with that as it was too low and wheels didn't work well over uneven surfaces. The brand is Volaris, and it's made in Sweden. It was expensive and we paid out of pocket but it was worth every penny. They have models for kids and shorter people too. https://xlentcare.com/ If cost is no option, I've heard of people having more than one rollator--one for indoors and another more rugged one with bigger wheels if they are gong to be outdoors on irregular surfaces a lot.
This is true. It is nice to have two walkers if possible. Some people do the same thing with wheelchairs. A travel sized one is considerably lighter to place in a car.
There are hundreds of them available and no doubt each one has their pros and cons, I suggest you scroll through a few sites with ratings to get an idea of what people are saying and then work with a PT or OT to pick something that fits your needs and budget. Things you might want to consider are if using it outdoors you will need bigger, sturdy wheels how easily it folds and how heavy it is if you will need to put it in the car whether it's designed to be used as a transport chair (most are not and it can be dangerous to do so) whether you want a seat that is more than a temporary perch
If your LO is in an eldercare facility it is a good idea to take a look around at the ones used by the residents and see what you like.
I like the European style rollators, the ones that have a flexible seat and back. You fold them up by pulling up on the seat which pulls the two sides together. It can then stand upright and takes up very little space against a wall or next your seat. Another advantage is that you can pull up on the seat to pull the sides together partway to roll through a narrow doorway or passage. We live in a seaside town and my mom used her walker outdoors, so the original steel one we had got so rusted that it looked awful and we didn't want to take it anywhere. Since then I got her a carbon fiber one (very expensive) that sits under the house to use outside and an aluminum one that we keep in the car trunk for appointments and visits.
My mom likes walking outside. She likes having a seat to sit on, to rest during her walks. And the one with large wheels that I bought her, helps keep her walking smoothly on rough surfaces. Check with a therapist so they can advise you about the right one. I look for 1) sturdy construction (nothing lightweight), 2) strong locks & easy to engage and disengage, 3) easily folded up for transportation, 4)ample storage space under the seat, 5) positive reviews, 6) you see residents at ALF happy with that walker. I researched a lot but finally decided on a model that a few of the residents (at my mom’s ALF) had. I could see it was sturdy and had a lot of the things her walker didn’t have. I looked to make sure I could put it together fairly quickly. Mostly I liked the larger wheels for smooth rolling. My mom walks a lot, outside, to relieve stress. It wasn’t the cheapest model, but it was still affordable. My mom is very pleased with it.
would not change
We had a smaller, fold-up walker for in the house mostly for her to get from the bed to the bathroom (about 8 feet) and it fit nicely through the bathroom door. This is one thing to check out, the width of your doors inside if the rollator is to be used inside; some are too wide and will not fit through doors inside a home. Also, measure the turn around space for the rollator as there is not sufficient "turn around" space in many small bathrooms, ergo the smaller fold up walker is the only thing that really fits. Lastly, examine the height and weight limits on the rollator as if someone is really tall it may be too "short" for them sitting or standing behind and further, the seat may not be able to handle really heavy or obese individuals.
Once placed in the nursing home, they (given liability concerns) ONLY wanted to order and use the Medicare/Medicaid approved wheel chairs and walkers for their residents. As others have said, if your LO is already in any type of "senior facility" you need to discuss with them as they may have rules/limits on what can be used in their facility OR if/when taking out a resident. My mom's facility requires anyone taking my mom out (only happens a few times a year) that they use their facility-approved transport devices (again, their concern re: liability).
The Up Walker Lite is fabulous. It gave my mother freedom. She has Lewy Body Dementia. You can fold it up and put it in the trunk. But, the great part is the walker has adjustable arms so you can adjust it to your height.
Some doctors will prescribe this style especially since the gray aluminum style causes the person to walk all hunched over, eyes downward.
The Up Walker Lite is better for breathing, builds a strong inner core and posture. I bought it 2-3 years ago for $495. After 9 months of appeals, emails and begging the insurance company, I was reimbursed 80%. If I would have waited and not bought out-of-pocket, I think my mother would have declined.
Make sure the paper work (prescription) is filled out prior to purchase. In my case, I couldn't wait I bought it outright to get mother on her feet. Doctors have even asked me about this walker. They have taken photos of it and bought one for their loved ones. The physical therapist and nurse at the one morning a week respite where my mother used to attend recommended this style to another person who attended the same facility.
It would make my mother feel bad when other's would say, I wish I had one of those walkers.
I believe the walker is now $595. Contact info: (877) 488-0822 or
info@lifewalkermobility.com
website: TryUPWalker.com
It comes already "assembled". There are a lot of copies out there that are NOT a good fit for a man with a wide waist and they don't fold up in the trunk in a compact car and the copies do NOT come assembled. I think now Amazon is selling it but make sure you get the "exact" model and not a replica.
It's the best money we've spent and it looks more like a piece of exercise equipment/bike as opposed to medical durable equipment. A good pair of shoes that fit properly are also important for gait/balance issues.
I hope I was of some help to you. I do hope the insurance companies will one day cover this style of walker for everyone who needs it as it will give them better quality of life.
I have found that those who use a standard walker are using them wrong. First they are not high enough so they are leaning over them. The are being pushed way ahead. They should only be pushed a few inches and walked into. The use of tennis balls and gliders can be used to maneuver rugs and hard flooring. I think a set of wheels can be put on the back.
If Parkinson's is involved there are special made walkers. Because people with Parkinson's tend to fall backwards, the walker is special weighted to help with not falling backwards.
if using it outdoors you will need bigger, sturdy wheels
how easily it folds and how heavy it is if you will need to put it in the car
whether it's designed to be used as a transport chair (most are not and it can be dangerous to do so)
whether you want a seat that is more than a temporary perch
I like the European style rollators, the ones that have a flexible seat and back. You fold them up by pulling up on the seat which pulls the two sides together. It can then stand upright and takes up very little space against a wall or next your seat. Another advantage is that you can pull up on the seat to pull the sides together partway to roll through a narrow doorway or passage.
We live in a seaside town and my mom used her walker outdoors, so the original steel one we had got so rusted that it looked awful and we didn't want to take it anywhere. Since then I got her a carbon fiber one (very expensive) that sits under the house to use outside and an aluminum one that we keep in the car trunk for appointments and visits.
My mother’s insurance paid for hers. The physical therapist adjusted it to the height for her.
If you are paying for your own walker, you will be able to choose from a wider variety. Prices and styles vary.
Some people prefer lighter models so that it’s easier to move in and out of the car.
Some people like the upright models.
My mom loved having a model with a seat and storage. She placed her purse in it and used the seat to sit on when she needed a break.
I suggest that you look at YouTube videos to get an idea of what you think you might be interested in.
Good luck finding the best fit for you.
Get a referral from your doctor for PT.