GC_Over_50s_October_2024_No_113

19 So, maybe it’s time for you to consider a walker? Our clients tell us a similar story when they look at purchasing a Walker to assist them when they go shopping or mixing in the community. Do you use the Shopping Centre’s shopping carts to support yourself so you can mobilise up and down the aisles to make your purchases? If so you should consider the time has come for this aid. This is but one of the many tales we hear, along with reaching for support within the home so you don’t have a fall. This brings us to why should I have one? If you had a fall what would be the repercussions to you? If you were unfortunate to fracture a hip as a result of a fall, the outcome as we age is not good, and you could possibly lose your independence and ability to take care of yourself. So, what type of Walker do you select that suits your needs and is right for you? Walkers come in a huge variety of makes and models, but they all achieve the same result for you the end user. If you are looking at your first Walker, it is hard for someone to know which one is right. Issues to consider are, where am I going to be using the Walker the greatest percentage of time, inside or outside, who is going to be lifting it to put into a car, are you going to use it for walking exercise, when walking how far can you go before you need to have a sit down to recharge your battery? These are just some of the considerations you need to think about A walker that someone gave you that belonged to someone else is not a good thing to consider. Why? Is the seat too low, do the brakes work properly, are the wheels wobbling, are the brake cables flopping around? These are all trip/ fall hazards. Walkers come with different seat heights, seat widths, handlebar height and most importantly weight. A basic walker will weigh around 7.5kg, be of Zimmer design with either 6inch or larger wheels. The larger the wheel the easier it is to push. Weights of walkers range from around 4.5kg up to 10kg for a larger walker for specific needs. A lot of people have the misconception that a carbon fibre walker is the lightest you can buy and the best. Not so I’m afraid. Most carbon fibre walkers come in around 6kg+ and can cost $600-800. One of the lightest Walkers available weighs 4.5kg and sells for around $450, a marked difference. At Scooters & Mobility we have an extensive range of Walkers suitable for all, so drop in and see our trained staff to identify what Walker best suits your needs. We will set the walker up so it is adjusted correctly for your needs. You are purchasing a medical device so there should be no GST and the item needs to be Therapeutic Goods Approved (TGA). Scooters & Mobility “Keeping your Independence” RUNAWAY BAY HAS MOVED to 7 GATEWAY DRIVE, BIGGERA WATERS sales • hire • repair • service Come in and see our new expanded product range • mobility scooters • power chairs • wheel chairs • walkers • crutches & canes • lift chairs • walking frames • knee walkers 5500 6245 scootersandmobility.com.au • daily living aids • beds & mattresses • pillows & cushions • bathroom & hygiene • patient handling • pressure care • bariatric • rehabilitation 7 GATEWAY DRIVE, BIGGERA WATERS

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