Gerontology 130 Unit 16 "Proper Techniques for Using a Walker" Transcript

"Proper Techniques for Using a Walker" Transcript

Proper Techniques for Using a Walker

What we are going to demonstrate for you now is how you would assist someone who is walking with a walker. The things that we have talked about in previous sections again apply here.

When you are getting someone to a standing position, you move the person forward. You position their feet appropriately so their feet are below their knees. You have the person keep their back straight but lean forward. Assist you as much as they can by pushing down on the arms of the chair if there are arms on the chair.

You're going to assist them to standing by using the walker. It's best to put one hand in the middle of the walker and one on the arm of the chair. If you put your hands on the edges of the walker or the walker handles, it can tip to one side or the other.

So you want them to reach forward. Push down on the center of the walker. Push down with their arm that is on the armrest leaning forward and you're going to assist them to stand by assisting at the hip.

Once they are standing again, give them a moment to adjust to that position. Put their hands on the walker. Once they have adjusted to being upright and standing, they can move the walker ahead about six inches; this is a rolling walker--some you have to lift up. And then they will move their feet forward to meet the walker.

Something that is important to know when using an assistive device is that it must be fitted appropriately to the person. When using a walker or a cane, you want to have a little bit of bend at the elbow. So that the person can push down to lift their weight off their legs so if they are in pain or there's a problem. The way to test that is to just a little bend at the elbow or if their wrist hits the handle bar of the walker when their arms are extended. You know that you have the walker fitted appropriately to them. If it's too short, they will lean on it. And if it is too tall, they will have difficulty moving forward. So a slight bend in the elbow, wrists at the handle of the walker.

To walk, they're going to move that walker a little bit forward. And, depending on what disability that they have, they will press down on the handles of the walker and then move their feet forward to meet the walker. And repeat those steps moving forward slightly.