Walkers and rollators make excellent mobility solutions. They can be used both indoors and outdoors to help both elderly individuals and those with mobility issues to safely walk from one point to another. It should go without saying that preventing slips and falls is a huge benefit to using a walker. While a walker is meant to keep you safe, it’s still important to take safety precautions when using it.
What is the safest way to get to a seated position when using a walker?
While still using your walker, back up to the chair you wish to be seated in. When you can feel the chair on your legs, place your affected leg slightly forward. Release one hand from your walker and use it to reach back to the chair’s arm rest. Once you feel the arm rest, reach back with your other hand to lower yourself into the seat.
What is the safest way to get up from a seated position?
Firstly, scoot forward to the edge of your seat. Then, place your weakest leg forward and have your other foot back underneath you. Lean your shoulders forward and push up from your chair placing both of your hands on the chair’s armrests. This will help to maximize your ability to balance yourself. Grab hold of your walker, one hand at a time and lift yourself to a full standing position.
What is the safest way to climb stairs with a walker?
It’s important to point out that not all walker users should attempt to climb the stairs. Depending on the extent of your mobility issues, it may be much safer to opt for a stair lift to ensure safe journeys up and down flights of steps. However, if you are confident with your strength and balance, there are safety measures to take when going upstairs.
Using your walker, step towards the bottom step and turn your walker sideways with the opening of the walker away from you. Place two walker legs on the step you wish to climb and two walker legs on the step that you are on. Grab hold of the upper corner of the walker with one hand and hold the railing with the other.
Push down on the walker to ensure your stability and then step up with your strongest leg first. Then lift your weaker leg up and ensure that you still have good balance. Repeat these steps until you’ve completed the staircase.
What is the safest way to walk downstairs with a walker?
Just as you would when you’re climbing up the stairs, position your walker sideways at the top of the flight of steps. Grab the upper corner of the walker with one hand and the railing with the other. Push down on your walker to ensure you’re stable and then step down with your weaker leg. Follow with your stronger leg and be sure that you are maintaining your balance before moving your walker down to the next step. Repeat these steps until you’ve reached the bottom of the stairs.
Allow us to help keep you safe! For more information about the walkers and rollators offered by Advantage Home Health Solutions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 403-460-5438. You may also email us by filling out the form on our Contact page!
