Community Chat

[glb613]

How can a walker fall over?

[Linders Back]

If this is something for a temporary condition, contact your local city government Elder Services department or local Senior Center. They often have walkers and bath chairs, bedside pottys, etc. available for loan as long as they are needed. They also provide transportation to doctors appts.

These resources are often overlooked or thought of as "just for the poor" but are available to all tax payers.

[LilacTree]

On 1/3/2014 glb613 said:

How can a walker fall over?

Obviously you've never used one. The walkers one gets at the hospital are very light aluminum except for the front part which is heavier. So they are unbalanced to begin with. They fall over very easily.

[RINGER]

Yes and think they are called rollators. I had a wheelchair, cane, and regular walker, and all was covered.

[lulu2]

On 1/3/2014 Ford1224 said:

Whoever pays for it, get a sturdy walker. The one I received at the hospital falls over all the time. Almost three weeks ago, it fell on the top of my right foot. The x-ray showed no broken bones, but a hematoma developed as big as a golf ball and it's still there. I understand they take a long time to heal. I haven't been able to wear anything but a sock on that foot. I am going to call the doctor Monday to tell her it is still not healed and see if she wants me to come in. Sometimes it has to be surgically removed.

It has fallen over twice since then, but fortunately not on any of my body parts. As soon as I can afford it, I am going to get a sturdier walker. My walker is not safe.

Your walker sounds more like a detriment than a help. One mishap would have been more than enough for me to return it.

[biancardi]

On 1/3/2014 CouponQueen said:

I see them in Walgreens for $89 on sale often..they have the seat and basket with brakes on the handle bars..

Without the right diagnosis they won't cover it. I'd go pick her up one and surprise her!

that is what we did - we got her two of them.

She also has her canes for walking around indoors.

[LilacTree]

On 1/3/2014 lulu2 said:

On 1/3/2014 Ford1224 said:

Whoever pays for it, get a sturdy walker. The one I received at the hospital falls over all the time. Almost three weeks ago, it fell on the top of my right foot. The x-ray showed no broken bones, but a hematoma developed as big as a golf ball and it's still there. I understand they take a long time to heal. I haven't been able to wear anything but a sock on that foot. I am going to call the doctor Monday to tell her it is still not healed and see if she wants me to come in. Sometimes it has to be surgically removed.

It has fallen over twice since then, but fortunately not on any of my body parts. As soon as I can afford it, I am going to get a sturdier walker. My walker is not safe.

Your walker sounds more like a detriment than a help. One mishap would have been more than enough for me to return it.

There is nowhere to return it to. It was given to me at the hospital, I don't know who paid for it, except it was free to me.

You are correct. I am now afraid of this walker, and since I can't put my right foot down without considerable pain, and can't "hop" (my back would break if I tried that), I am up the proverbial creek. My kids know I'm not using the walker and my birthday is coming up, so I am hoping that I will get a better walker in a couple of weeks. Right now I am using a broom. I look like Hashimoto. Actually sometimes I start laughing, because how debilitated can one get? It truly gets comical after a while.

[sophiamarie]

I have a walker that the hospital had delivered to my house the day I was discharged, along with a shower seat. Medicare paid for both. The walker is aluminum with wheels in the front and not really too light-weight, it is pretty sturdy for me. The brand is "Guardian".... I don't put all my weight on it. I don't understand how a walker can fall over "twice".....

Ford: If you need a new walker and are using a broom (which really is hazardous to your health) why don't your daughter/s get together and buy you one? Why would they wait for your birthday? I wouldn't consider that a gift but rather a necessity. How is a broom keeping you steady anyway??? It wouldn't even be the right height.

[tansy]

Ford, the walker tipped over while you were using it? That would make me think you are standing too far back from the frame.

[pinkskates4]

On 1/4/2014 sophiamarie said:

I have a walker that the hospital had delivered to my house the day I was discharged, along with a shower seat. Medicare paid for both. The walker is aluminum with wheels in the front and not really too light-weight, it is pretty sturdy for me. The brand is "Guardian".... I don't put all my weight on it. I don't understand how a walker can fall over "twice".....

Ford: If you need a new walker and are using a broom (which really is hazardous to your health) why don't your daughter/s get together and buy you one? Why would they wait for your birthday? I wouldn't consider that a gift but rather a necessity. How is a broom keeping you steady anyway??? It wouldn't even be the right height.

I agree this is not making sense. If the walker is that dangerous, why not contact the hospital about it. If Medicare has paid for it, there should be a procedure to replace it. If not, Medicare will pay for one for her with the right doctor's justification - which should be no problem. There is no need to wait - altho actually walkers are not all that expensive anyway, but still - Medicare will cover it.

With all the physical problems she mentions, I can't imagine trying to lean on a broom for stability.

Good grief.