Knee walker advice

[mhawk4]

My grandmother who is 90 broke her foot about 4 weeks ago and needs to stay off it for another 4-6 weeks. She has been using a wheel chair around her apartment but does find it hard to get into the bathroom and a few other places. She wants to get a knee walker but I am afraid that she will fall. She is very active for her age and being in the wheel chair is making her crazy.

Help me convince her that it is not a good idea or convince that she will be okay!

 

[momhmmx2]

I had a knee walker and it was great to go to the grocery store, mall, around house (I have hard wood floors).

HOWEVER, there is absolutely no way I was using my knee walker at Disney. Her knee will be so sore from the distances needed to travel at Disney. I spent an afternoon at IKEA and my knee was so sore!

Please encourage her to use a scooter. I am very thankful that I did

 

[mhawk4]

I had a knee walker and it was great to go to the grocery store, mall, around house (I have hard wood floors).

HOWEVER, there is absolutely no way I was using my knee walker at Disney. Her knee will be so sore from the distances needed to travel at Disney. I spent an afternoon at IKEA and my knee was so sore!

Please encourage her to use a scooter. I am very thankful that I did

Thanks! That is what we want to get her but she wants to be more "independent". She is a fiesty 90 years old but that is a good thing because it helps to keep her going.

 

[Jullian]

If she is active then you must bring knee walker for her if she is willing to take then don't refuse and bring it now and be hopeful for this.

 

[Singledad]

Thanks! That is what we want to get her but she wants to be more "independent". She is a fiesty 90 years old but that is a good thing because it helps to keep her going.

What is more independent than an ECV? No one has to push you, or slow down for you, or help make sure you've not lost your balance with one. You power it, you drive it, you are in control. So what is the problem again? Seriously, I know people who want to be all independent, but when you broach an EVC/scooter the right way, they figure out that it really means much more independence and freedom than they thought!

 

[jmartinez1895]

If she is just wanting to use around the house then she should be OK. There was an older lady at our church that used one and she said it felt safer than chair because when she went to the bathroom she was already standing and did not have to try and get out of the chair and then to the potty and in the kitchen she did not have to try and pull herself out of the chair to get to the sink. If your grandmother has balance issues then I would continue to try and talk her out of it, but other wise she should be ok.

 

[lovetoscrap]

For around the house if she is usually fairly active then the knee walker shouldn't be a problem--especially if she has a lot of carpet. But choose one carefully, some are easier to turn than others. The ones that are less expensive to rent have the handle you hold on to fixed in place (the wheels may also be, I can't remember) so you have to basically pick the front up a little bit to change directions at all. NOT a good thing. The higher end ones have a handle that is like a bicycle, you turn it and the wheels turn, and usually have handbrakes which are also really helpful. I would absolutely recommend paying the extra to get the better one. It does make it much easier to get around and get into the bathroom and shower and do all those things that keep you independent.

I didn't see anything in your post about going to Disney, but any extended time of use will be tiring. You are putting most of your weight on the good leg and pressure on your knee so I would use a wheelchair for trips to the mall or anything over about an hour.

Your local medical supply place should have knee walkers to rent. I went in before my surgery and tried out the different models to find the one I was most comfortable with and get help adjusting it. If you can, take your grandmother with you so she can try them out.

 

[mhawk4]

What is more independent than an ECV? No one has to push you, or slow down for you, or help make sure you've not lost your balance with one. You power it, you drive it, you are in control. So what is the problem again? Seriously, I know people who want to be all independent, but when you broach an EVC/scooter the right way, they figure out that it really means much more independence and freedom than they thought!

Yes, that is my arguement with her. Having a scooter would actually make it easier for her to get out and do things by herself or with us. I think that she believes that once she gives in and gets a wheel chair or scooter she will have a hard time giving it up. She says she is not ready for one yet.

We have veto'd the knee walker because I am afraid she will loose her balance and we don't need her to hurt anything else.