Hello, everyone. Welcome back to another daily
Senior Safety Advice podcast. I'm Esther Kane,
a retired occupational therapist and a certified
aging in place specialist. And in honor of March
being Mobility and Independence Month, today
we're going to talk about when to consider a
Rolator Walker. Now, in case you don't know,
a Rolator Walker is a mobility aid, it's a walker,
but it has wheels, it has hand brakes, and it
usually has a built -in seat. It helps people
walk safely while maintaining balance and independence.
And unlike a traditional walker that you must
lift with each step, or even a traditional walker
with wheels in the front or the back, the Rollator
rolls very smoothly on wheels, which makes it
very easy to move around. And if you have that
at that seat, then you can put on the brakes
and you can use it also to just sit and relax.
My mom -in -law had a Rollator walker and she
loved it. She used it all the time. um, while
she was doing her one to two mile walk every
single day. And I honestly, as an OT, and even
now that I am in my late sixties and I have friends
now in the same age group and older, you know,
I can see some of them getting to the point and
even myself a little bit sometimes getting to
the point where I need a little more help with
my balance. But I hear All the time people saying
things like yeah i don't need a walker yet i
don't need a cane yet i'm not that bad and honestly
most people tend to wait longer than they really
should. What i've noticed over the years is that
most individuals don't usually wake up one day
and suddenly need a walker or roll later of any
kind it's actually more subtle than that. You
may notice someone start holding on to the furniture.
You may notice someone or yourself, you know,
leaning on the shopping carts, avoiding taking
longer walks, getting tired faster. Sometimes
you or they don't even connect those changes
to being safe. And here's where this really matters.
A rollator walker is not about weakness. It's
about stability. It's about energy and it's about
your confidence. I've seen people become way
more independent after starting to use a rollator,
not less. And isn't that what it's all about?
You want to be independent, but as safe as possible.
So let's talk through some of the signs, just
like we would, you know, if we're face to face.
One big sign that indicates that you may be in
need of a rollator walker, or you may decide
this may be a good choice, is that your balance
is off. If you feel unsteady when walking, especially
on uneven ground, that really matters. If you
feel fine standing still, but shaky once you
start moving, well, that's important too. Balance
issues don't always mean you're going to fall
today, but balance issues do tend to get worse
over time. So unless, of course, you're working
with a physical therapist or trainer to help
improve that. Another sign to look out for is
fatigue. If your legs get tired quickly when
you walk, if you feel like you need to sit down
often, If you cut your outings short because
your body gives out before your interest does,
then those are all huge clues. A rollator gives
you built -in rest, you know, because it has
the chair. And you don't have to look for a chair
or keep walking until you get to a chair. You
don't have to rush. You can stop, sit, breathe,
and keep going at your own pace. And I've seen
that simple change, you know, really make it
much easier for anyone to leave the house. That's
how my mom -in -law, you know, in her late 90s
continued doing her lengthy walks around her
neighborhood was with that rollator walker. Now,
let's talk about posture. If you notice yourself
leaning forward when you walk or hunching to
feel more stable, that can throw your balance
off even more. A properly adjusted rollator can
help you walk more upright, which helps with
your breathing, your endurance, and overall,
your safety. And besides, you don't look like
walking down the sidewalk or wherever you are
all hunched over. And here's something that a
lot of families don't notice. Using the walls,
countertops, or other people for support is absolutely
a sign that you need an assistive device to help
you like a rollator. If you're reaching out constantly
to steady yourself, your body is already asking
for more support. Another big indicator is fear.
If you're afraid of falling, if you hesitate
before walking, if you avoid certain places or
activities because you don't feel steady, all
of those things are basically fear of falling.
That fear changes how you move. Your steps get
smaller, your muscles get more tense, and the
risk of you falling actually goes up. So a rollator
can lower that fear. And when fear goes down,
your movement improves and you do more movement.
Now let's clear up a common misunderstanding.
A rollator is not the same as a standard walker.
Rollators have the wheels, they roll smoothly.
They usually have hand brakes and most have a
seat. Now there are walkers that have wheels
as well. but they're not the same as a Rolator.
A Rolator has the handbrakes and the seat. They're
mostly designed for people who can walk but need
a little bit of support and rest. That makes
them great for longer distances, outdoor walking,
stores, community outings. And choosing the right
time to use one can actually help to prevent
falls, not just respond to them. And that's a
big shift in thinking, being proactive versus
reactive. I've also seen rollators help with
confidence in social situations. People feel
less rushed. They're less embarrassed about needing
to sit. Now, independence grows when you stop
fighting your body and start supporting it. All
right, now let's talk about safety for a minute
because this part... is really what it's all
about when it comes to aging in place. A rollator
should be adjusted to the right height. You should
be able to stand upright with your hands resting
comfortably on the handles. The brakes should
be easy to squeeze and you should always lock
them before sitting down. If someone hasn't been
shown how to use one properly, that's very important
to address. And if your senior loved one is using
a Rolator but has any cognitive decline issues
such as dementia or Alzheimer's or anything else
and you fear that they may not remember to put
on the brakes or are not able to use the equipment
properly, then a rollator may not be the right
thing for them. This is where you would need
the assessment of a physical or occupational
therapist to help assess whether the person can
use the equipment safely. Because let's face
it, any piece of equipment can help us, but if
we don't know how to use it properly, it can
also hurt us. Okay, using a rollator doesn't
mean you'll use it forever. Sometimes it's just
temporary. Sometimes it's just situational, depending
on what your situation is. You might use it outside,
like my mom -in -law did, but not inside. Or
on longer outings, but not on shorter ones. That
flexibility is really part of your independence.
And if you're a family caregiver, encouraging
a rollator can be tricky, I know. It helps to
focus on what it allows. not what it replaces.
More walking, more outings, more safety, not
less. I've seen people go from isolated to engaged
just by having the right support. I used to do
that, see that all the time as an occupational
therapist. So if you're noticing changes in your
balance or seeing your loved one's balance, stamina,
posture, confidence, A row later may be worth
considering, not as a last resort, but as a tool,
a tool that helps you keep doing the things that
matter to you. Well, that's all that I have for
you today. I want to thank you again for being
here with me. If today's episode gave you some
useful insights or new ideas on this great little
product, then please share it with someone who
you think might find it helpful too. And you
can discover even more expert tips and helpful
guides for seniors and caregivers at SeniorSafetyAdvice
.com. And hey, if you're searching for an aging
in place specialist or any services to modify
your home so you can age safely in your home,
visit our website at aging in place directory
dot com and come back tomorrow for even more
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