Rollers are necessary for many people not only in the outdoor area but also in their own home. Here, however, the special requirements f...
Rollers are necessary for many people not only in the outdoor area but also in their own home. Here, however, the special requirements for the optimal walking car differ.
Rollers give a great deal of freedom to the elderly and people with limited mobility. You can travel independently, go shopping or meet with friends in the park.
A walker does not only offer more freedom but also security. Because with age, running becomes more difficult, the risk of stumbling becomes ever greater. It is precisely in one's own home that unimaginable tripping lurks, which can lead to serious injuries.
Many people still think that walkers are only intended for outdoor use. On the contrary, there are even space-saving walkers for the interior, but their requirements are clearly different from the outdoor models. For this reason, the most important criteria at a glance.
7 Purchase criteria for a walker for the apartment
1. Observe the overall width
If you are looking for a walker that is only intended for your home, then you should pay attention to the total width of the walker. Especially in very small dwellings the turning circle and the freedom of movement is quite restricted. A normal rollator can be a problem.
So be sure to measure all door widths, but also remember the often narrow passages in the corridor. In many corridors is still a small telephone or shoe cabinet, which makes the crossing of course a bit more difficult.
As a result, residential rotators are generally made narrower. Many of these models have a total width of approximately 55 centimeters, but they also have widths of 60 or 62 centimeters. Narrow enough for the walker to be used in spite of the narrow space conditions.
2. Foldable rollator for easier storage
However, a foldable walker is also very advantageous for particularly small dwellings, which thanks to its low weight and the optimum folding mechanism can be folded without great effort. This way, you can fold the car when the visit is announced and let it disappear behind the wardrobe.
3. Prefer light weight
Door thresholds in the home are not only an unpleasant source of stumbling-up, they also make driving with the walker unnecessarily heavy. In these moments the rollator has to be raised.
When buying, make sure that the weight is as low as possible. Most indoor models are made of aluminum, this material has little weight but still provides optimum stability.
As a guideline, you can memorize 7 kilos here. Much more should not be a residential rollator.
4. Less accessories saves weight
In contrast to external models, you can largely dispense with accessories for indoor models. This saves additional weight.
You will probably not need a seat, umbrella stand or shopping basket in your own home. Much better is instead a tray on which you can transport your food, for example. There are even models, which have an exchange attachment in the accessories, so that also the laundry basket can be transported or a basket can be attached.
5. Higher safety with single-handed brake
Another very important criterion is the one-hand brake on rollators, which is often available as a continuous brake pad. This is particularly suitable for stroke patients with half-sided paralysis. But even if you wear something in one hand and still do not want to miss the safety of your walker, this one-hand brake is very beneficial.
6. Adjustable handle heights important
Rollers are often offered in different sizes, so that the correct walker can be found for every body size.
To determine this value, you should measure the distance between the floor and the wrist (in upright position). The adjustable handle height must be adjustable to this value. If this is not possible, always select a different or larger model.
7. Observe the maximum total load
A permissible total weight is given for all rollators. Also this should not be neglected if you want to buy a walker.
The total weight, however, is not the pure body weight, but the total weight of body weight, clothing and luggage. If the total weight is exceeded, security can no longer be guaranteed.
Rollers on prescription
Anyone who wants to become a walker does not have to do it alone. There is even the possibility to have the car on prescription prescription. This must be clarified beforehand with the family doctor. The rollators taken over by the health insurance company are, however, relatively simple, often not necessarily light and narrow. They meet medical standards but do not go beyond them. In addition, these rollators serve only as a loan and must be returned later.
If you want something more comfort, you have to grab your own pockets. This can be as a supplement to the health insurance package or you can invest from the start into a model of your choice.
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