My antennae are twitching - Beth, are you by any chance asking this on behalf of an elder who says she is absolutely fine walking around supermarkets because she always has her trusty old grocery cart with her?
She wouldn't be the first to hold this view.
She also wouldn't be the first to land in ER because she held this view long past its being a realistic view.
Having said that, my great aunt used to enjoy toddling round Safeway (when we still had them in the UK, and much missed they are too) holding on to their in-store trolleys well into her nineties. But then she was always accompanied either by us, or by the friendly cab driver whose customer she had been through thick and thin for two decades.
I suppose the question is: is this walking aide chiefly for walking, or chiefly for shopping for groceries? And what are the physical needs of the user? It may be that either way the person is going to need an accompanist, not just a device.
Absolutely not, they are not designed for stability. You can often find rollators for sale in thrift stores or online, even new entry level walkers are fairly inexpensive and usually have a basket of some kind to carry things, why would you even consider this?
Those carts are not high enough to give any support for most people. A roleator or walker with bags or a basket are far safer. Using a store cart is much safer or use one of their electric carts. I gave up any thoughts of dignity a long time ago. Anyway a cane or walker gets you much more help from kind people.
No. Only devices designed to be mobility aids are suitable as mobility aids.
A shopping cart is not designed to be stable and support the full weight of a person. It would also lack a lot of the features that a rollator has that make those aids so useful, the ones that have a little padded seat on top especially. With those you can take a break whenever you need a breather and it's so much better than standing in line.
A cart is a poor substitute at best and a fall risk at worst.
If dignity is the issue; consider how it would feel to fall in the middle of a supermarket and be unable to get up. That's a lot less dignified than going about your shopping with a roller!
Oh, boy, I think this is so common. My mother's friend at 87 would have a shopping cart like that. My 99 year old aunt always has a big umbrella (ie cane) in case it rains. It's the dignity thing.
No. However if your loved one needs a walker you can have the doctor refer her to a physical therapist for a mobility assessment. They can determine what is safest (rollator vs. traditional walker) and then if it’s approved get a Medicare form so they can pay for it. I read the other day of an organization which collects donated mobility aids for persons in needs. I’m so sorry but the name escapes me right now.
A rollator positions a person's hands and arms in such a way that gives that person good and safe stability not only while walking but also while turning and just standing. And it has brakes! SO important going up or down handicap ramps or curbs.
My dad couldn't use a cane when he began needing something to help with balance due to years of shoulder abuse as a farmer (throwing hay bales, jerking cattle, setting fence posts, etc.). No shoulder cartilage left, so it's painful. But he can use the rollator with minimal pain.
Yes, it was a pride thing when he first balked at the idea of a rollator. "I can just hold onto your arm," he'd say. I explained to him that holding onto my arm provided him with only one point of contact and that if he lost his balance, we both might go down and both possibly be injured and then we would have to get outside help, blah, blah, blah. Now he actually enjoys the freedom he has with the rollatour. And the seat actually comes in handy for me as well when there's only one chair available in an office or waiting room. 😊
I am not sure if you have FREECYCLE or TRASH FOR NOTHING sites where you are?
They are re-cycle sites for give a ways. It works both ways. You can have stuff from there also. Just do not give out too many details on line. The site forwards emails to you - if you are giving and someone is interested in collecting. You usually go to collect if you are accepting from them.
Any ways lol, if you do have something like that, look on there for a walker. I am putting my non-folding one on ours soon (if my circle of people have no need for it). I have saved and we got a fold-able one. :)
Trolleys run away with you and are not safe to sit on.
She wouldn't be the first to hold this view.
She also wouldn't be the first to land in ER because she held this view long past its being a realistic view.
Having said that, my great aunt used to enjoy toddling round Safeway (when we still had them in the UK, and much missed they are too) holding on to their in-store trolleys well into her nineties. But then she was always accompanied either by us, or by the friendly cab driver whose customer she had been through thick and thin for two decades.
I suppose the question is: is this walking aide chiefly for walking, or chiefly for shopping for groceries? And what are the physical needs of the user? It may be that either way the person is going to need an accompanist, not just a device.
I gave up any thoughts of dignity a long time ago. Anyway a cane or walker gets you much more help from kind people.
A shopping cart is not designed to be stable and support the full weight of a person. It would also lack a lot of the features that a rollator has that make those aids so useful, the ones that have a little padded seat on top especially. With those you can take a break whenever you need a breather and it's so much better than standing in line.
A cart is a poor substitute at best and a fall risk at worst.
If dignity is the issue; consider how it would feel to fall in the middle of a supermarket and be unable to get up. That's a lot less dignified than going about your shopping with a roller!
My dad couldn't use a cane when he began needing something to help with balance due to years of shoulder abuse as a farmer (throwing hay bales, jerking cattle, setting fence posts, etc.). No shoulder cartilage left, so it's painful. But he can use the rollator with minimal pain.
Yes, it was a pride thing when he first balked at the idea of a rollator. "I can just hold onto your arm," he'd say. I explained to him that holding onto my arm provided him with only one point of contact and that if he lost his balance, we both might go down and both possibly be injured and then we would have to get outside help, blah, blah, blah. Now he actually enjoys the freedom he has with the rollatour. And the seat actually comes in handy for me as well when there's only one chair available in an office or waiting room. 😊
They are re-cycle sites for give a ways.
It works both ways. You can have stuff from there also.
Just do not give out too many details on line. The site forwards emails to you - if you are giving and someone is interested in collecting. You usually go to collect if you are accepting from them.
Any ways lol, if you do have something like that, look on there for a walker. I am putting my non-folding one on ours soon (if my circle of people have no need for it). I have saved and we got a fold-able one. :)
Trolleys run away with you and are not safe to sit on.
Good luck
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