5 Little Safety Checks You'll Be Glad You Did on Your Elderly Loved One's Walker

Elderly Care in Edison NJ

Keeping your elderly loved one safe involves constantly making a variety of safety checks, both large and small, every day. If your loved one uses a walker, these tips might help you to keep her safer while she’s in her walker.

Clear the Path

When your elderly loved one is ready to start moving along in her walker, take a quick look at her pathway. If there are any obstacles, make sure that you clear them. Clear tripping hazards and obstacles from her pathways regularly, especially at home to keep that space free for her.

Make Sure it’s Locked Open

Some walkers can fold up to help your loved one to save space or to fit in a car more easily. It’s easy to forget, but when you or your loved one open the walker again, make sure that the lock is secured. This helps to keep the walker from folding up again while your loved one is trying to use it.

Check the Handles and Grips

Give your loved one’s walker a test run and make sure that the handles are easy to grip. Ask her if she’s having trouble holding onto the handles at all. Also, if there are grips or covers over the handles, make sure that those are secure. Some can turn, creating a potential slipping hazard for your loved one.

Properly Secure any Add-ons

If your elderly loved one has any extras or add-ons attached to her walker, such as a basket or a seat, make sure that they’re secured properly to the walker. Improperly secured extras may fall off or otherwise impede your loved one’s progress with her walker.

What’s Your Loved One Wearing?

You might not think that your loved one’s clothing can be a big deal when it comes to her walker, but you’d be mistaken. Make sure that your loved one’s clothing isn’t too restrictive for her to move easily, but also not so loose or flowing that it tangles in her walker. Your loved one should also be wearing solid shoes with non-skid soles.
Ask your loved one’s elder care providers to help you develop a walker safety checklist that works for her specific needs.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Edison, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Care Street Home Care of New Brunswick today. Call (732) 607-8870.