How to Make Using a Walker Safer for Seniors

Despite the fact that walkers are meant to assist seniors who may have trouble on their feet, walkers could use some safety improvements. For many, walkers are hard to grasp; require the use of two hands, thus preventing a seniors from carrying items; and have a tendency to "catch," often quite dangerously, on carpeting and other surfaces that are not perfectly smooth (or ironically, don't slide well on smooth surfaces). Walkers can, however, be made safer with a little help from a few new products.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A Standard Walker
Special Safety Accessories
Determination to find what works the best for you!!

1
Identify ways to make holding on to your walker more comfortable. Standard walker grips are smooth, hard, and unfriendly to the human hand. Not to mention, slippery when one's hand is wet. And don't you just love the feeling of cold steel on your hand in the dead of winter? Walker hand grips come in terrycloth or fleece, slip on in a snap, and help you to "keep your grip."
2
Find walker accessories to help you carry the items you need with no adverse impact on safety. Manufacturers have been responsive to seniors in recent years by providing a wide range of carrying accessories for walkers. The classic "big front bag" for walkers has been improved upon, and other bags, boxes, and cases have been added for more specialized purposes.
3
Look for ways to help your walker glide more easily across the floor, thereby avoiding accidents. Deal with uncooperative surfaces with neat walker accessories that help you glide along. While they won't help you slalom down the slopes, walker skis pop easily onto the walker legs and help you slide, rather than snag, on carpeting. Skiing not your sport? How about tennis? Ball glides ingeniously use tennis balls to help the walker slide along over smooth surfaces like wood, tile, and vinyl flooring---and never leave a mark.

Monday, January 10, 2011