The ability to stay mobile and independent is crucial for a senior, for both physical and emotional wellbeing. Though it may be hard to accept the need for mobility equipment at first, these assistive products can help keep seniors both get around on their own and feel safer by providing a better sense of security as they move. Walking canes are often the first walking aid to consider. A wide range of designs include canes with a variety of handles, depending on the grip needed, as well as those with multiple “feet” for greater stability. Some canes also double as a seat, and travel canes fold up easily when not in use. When more assistance is needed, seniors can choose from walkers that are lifted and moved a step ahead as well as rollators that glide along on wheels.
When walking is too stressful, a mobility scooter allows you to sit and zip along outdoors as well as in stores. For those who have lost most or all of their mobility, a wheelchair can restore a sense of independence. There are many types of wheelchairs available, from motorized models to transport chairs that are easier to lift in and out of a car when you need to travel away from home. Accessories like a lap throw and a clip-on light add to your comfort level.
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Mobility for seniors and the eldery is key to quality of life. We offer a wide range of walkers and rollators (rolling walkers) to fit your elder care needs.
61 Items : Starting at $27.99
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Advances in wheelchair design mean more options to choose from, including reclining models and models to accommodate bariatric patients.
49 Items : Starting at $37.00
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A walking cane helps steady those prone to falling. There are many canes to choose from including offset handle canes, aluminum & wooden canes, lighted canes, a folding travel cane & more. Read our Buyers Guide for help finding the right walking cane for your needs.
43 Items : Starting at $12.95
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A mobility scooter is an electrically-powered chair on wheels with a steering wheel or handle. Electric mobility scooters come in 3- & 4-wheel varieties and assist those with walking disabilities in getting around. Read our Buyers Guide for help finding the right scooter.
9 Items : Starting at $129.99
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Crutches assist those with leg injuries to stand and walk. The top of the crutch fits snugly into the arm pit and there is a handle at arms length for the user to hold onto. Read our Buyers Guide for help finding the right arm crutch.
18 Items : Starting at $19.95
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When mobility issues prevent movement from bed to bath for instance, a lifter can make the transfer. Read our Buyers Guide for help finding the right patient lift for your needs.
45 Items : Starting at $19.99
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Powered mobility products including powered scooters and powered wheelchairs.
14 Items : Starting at $779.99
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A transfer device such as a transfer board or transfer disc helps people get into and out of wheelchairs. Pivot discs help immobile people more easily pivot around. Read our Buyers Guide for help finding the right product.
38 Items : Starting at $14.99
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A variety of safety trapeze bars for easier transfer of less mobile people: over bed, ceiling & wall mounted.
8 Items : Starting at $114.99
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This 3-wheel electric scooter from Invacare has a 4-step quick assembly and 7-mile traveling capacity between charges. Speed range is 0-5 mph, indoors or outside. It comes in red or blue for a more stylish ride.
This small base quad cane by Drive Medical features the style and added support you need for everyday life. The four-point base provides additional stability and is ideal for active users who need additional assistance when climbing stairs. The triangular padded hand grip is ergonomically designed for comfort and to reduce stress to your hand.
Mobility in the elderly population is vital on many fronts, notably staying as physically fit as possible and staying socially connected to avoid the isolation that can lead seniors toward depression. Though some people feel embarrassed by needing a mobility aid, using a cane, walker or rollator for support can re-open the outside world as well as make it easier to move about safely at home, without the fear of falling just going to the sink for a glass of water.
There are different types of mobility products offering different levels of support for different needs. For instance, a pair of crutches is often necessary when you’re healing from a broken bone, whereas a cane or rollator typically provides a more permanent mobility aid. New designs and styles allow mobility equipment to do more and be more appealing looking—less institutional in feel.
For everyday mobility aid and support, a walking cane is usually the first piece of mobility equipment to consider. Some canes have a small attached seat that allows you to take a rest while you’re using in away from home. Others have a light attached to help illuminate your path. Folding canes are easy to store in a bag while you’re traveling to and from a destination. A cane can be outfitted with a base that enables it to provide much more support and better distribution of your weight. Offset handles also provide added stability because they help you center your grip over the shaft of the cane. Many canes can be adjusted to perfectly suit your height.
When you need more support from a mobility product, a walker might be the better choice. A walker requires a certain degree of upper body strength to maneuver it up and forward, moving it ahead of you as you walk. Some walkers have two wheels to make this easier. If you need support yet have leg strength, a 4- or 3-wheeled rollator, with a wheel at the end of each leg, makes it easier to move along smoothly. Some rollator models convert to a transport chair, a type of wheelchair that a caregiver pushes to move forward; others, including some walkers, have a seat that allows you to rest while you’re using it.
When walking for long stretches is tiresome and difficult, a electric scooter for seniors designed to handle sidewalks, parking lots and grocery stores can enable you to maintain your independence. Look for models that can be adjusted to your height for the greatest comfort and that are designed to go the typical distances you need to travel on each battery charge.
A wheelchair is the ultimate mobility aid, enabling you to maneuver when you are no longer ambulatory using other mobility devices. Choices range from very basic, economical models to state-of-the-art designs nearly rivaling a car. Ramps and other accessories increase a wheelchair’s ease of use and comfort.
Other types of mobility devices include products that help you perform every day maneuvers, like grab bars and rails for getting out of bed and transfer plates or disks that help you pivot from a standing position into a car. The most important thing to know is that there is a mobility product for virtually every need—identifying the tasks you need help with and taking careful measurements to choose the right product to suit your height and weight and the dimensions within your home (for wheeled mobility equipment) are the first steps to take as you shop.