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What are the best walkers for seniors? Please Help me to choose the right one
I am in the market for the best walker for seniors and would appreciate some advice before making a purchase. My main priorities are stability, comfort, and ease of use, especially for indoor and outdoor activities. I’m looking for something that provides good support while being lightweight and easy to maneuver.
After reviewing expert opinions from trusted sources like Consumer Reports, AARP, and Health.com, two models consistently stand out:
Drive Medical 10257-1 4-Wheel Rollator Walker
Medline Premium Empower Rollator Walker
I am having trouble deciding which one would best suit my needs. I mostly use a walker for both indoor and outdoor activities, and my budget is flexible, but the quality and durability are the most important factors.
So, which one would you recommend? Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
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4 Replies
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If you are just looking for a general walker for a senior citizen, I’m sure either of those would be fine. Just be sure you can maneuver it in the home and that you can lift it in your vehicle. If you are looking for a walker for a patient with Parkinson’s you might want to consider the foldable walking stabilizer by In-Step Mobility. You can see it on Amazon. When I obtained one for my husband, it was the only walker for patients with neurological disease that Medicare would cover. The one he has came with an attached laser light and an audio cuing system. The Neuromovement disorder MD placed an order for it. I had to pay for it in advance. Medicare paid for approximately $600 of the cost and the laser/audio cuing attachment was approximately $400. I had to cover that cost. My husband’s Parkinson’s is progressing and he often doesn’t have the stamina to keep walking when we are out for a walk or other activities. To encourage activity for him, and to make it easier on me, I purchased a Rollz Motion rollator walker/transport chair (also available on Amazon). This way when he goes to an exercise class he can use the walker, but if he is too tired to walk out I can easily switch it to the transport chair and he can ride out. I purchased this one after purchasing a cheaper version with wheels that left me very frustrated. The rollz motion I can push through an automatic opening door and not have to go through backwards. I purchased just the regular one as I had a NextStride unit that I planned to use for the laser cue. I found my husband wasn’t looking at it so I took it off, but they do have a Parkinson’s specific one if you are interested. My husband has found the laser line helpful with freezing episodes.
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Carefully consider the weight of the walker that you want to purchase. I wound up buying two of them for my husband–a DRIVE for around the house and outside walking which weighs about 17 1/2 pounds and then a less expensive one that looks eerily similar to the DRIVE walker (purchased on Amazon), which we leave in the car and weighs only 14 pounds. The 3 1/2 pound weight difference doesn’t sound like much but it is huge when you are the person lifting it to get into the truck of a car or SUV. The DRIVE is an excellent walker and the lighter Amazon one definitely serves a purpose and it has been quite easy to use when going out to visit friends or to restaurants etc. I’ve heard that DRIVE is actually coming out with a lighter weight model that you might want to check out.
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I will second the recommendation of the U-Step for someone with PD. It is heavier than standard walkers, but it is better in every way.
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It depends on the condition. My wife has Parkinson’s disease and suffered a lacunar stroke. The U-Step Neuro walker with laser beam and sounds works great.
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