Getting old is an inevitability of life. In its circadian nature, our twilight years are said to for contemplation, reflection, and taking in everything that life has to offer. But nowhere in that narrative does it say one has to slow down. We may get old, but we don’t, at any point in time, have to sit and stay still. Unfortunately for us, the wear and tear of our earlier years does eventually catch up, and the unhindered mobility of youth may not be much of an option. Osteoporosis, hip dysplasia, plantar fasciitis, and arthritis are among the most common health issues facing the older population today. These difficulties may prevent a senior citizen from being as mobile as we all want. Our current solution is the walker. We’re all quite familiar with what it looks like: big, metal, refrigerators-box sized frames on tiny, squeaky wheels. Well, that may have been the only option in the past, but nowadays there is much, much more that the competitive market has to offer.
Cure For The Common Walker
Enter the narrow walker. They’re stylish, affordable, and uncomplicated option for older people to stay mobile without having to hassle with the big, clunky alternative. They have all of the functionality of old hospital ones, but with a few added tricks up their sleeve. One would be surprised how easy they are to use. Here, we’ll explore the anticipated and a few interesting benefits these new-age walkers have.
What’s So Great About A Walker?
The primary function of the walker is to provide stability to allow for a person to walk. That may seem like a small thing, but for those of us who don’t need one, the ability to get around is completely taken for granted. Imagine not being able to go to the mailbox and back. Imagine not being able to go to the kitchen for a snack. These are afterthoughts to the vast majority of us. Yet many of us, when we get older will have these simple things morph into massive tasks. The utility of the walker is an absolute necessity in order to function day to day. To us, as human beings, that means the world.
Easy Mobility
Narrow walkers do exactly what you think they do. The primary difference is the size. The sheer simplicity in industrial design of making a functional tool smaller has opened the door for increased mobility among seniors. Remember the old ones people used to use? They could barely fit through the door. You had to have another person make sure that both sides were clear like a Mack truck entering a warehouse. Older folks, with a narrow walker, can now go down sidewalks, fit through even narrower halls, enter elevators, and go up escalators, with relative ease. There’s zero problem with getting to the top floor movie theater in the mall. There’s even less of a problem going for a nice stroll around the park. If the whole point of having a walker is to get around, narrow walkers have cornered the market in terms of doing it with as little effort as possible
Easy Storage
Because of their size and shape, narrow walkers can easily be folded and stored. This makes for the perfect option for travel. You may still have to check it in at the ticket counter, but the ease of transport is unparalleled. Getting it on a plane and using it the second you pick it up at the baggage claim is why older travelers all over the world prefer this option over a regular walker or even a motorized one. Not only that, it can be stored pretty much anywhere. Many elderly people live in smaller apartments and condominiums with less space. These clearly are the best walker for seniors travelling abroad. It only makes sense that the downsizing effect pertains to the rest of one’s belongings. You can store it next to a bed without it being a hindrance, ready to be pulled out and used at a moment’s notice.
Appreciated By All
Narrow walkers aren’t just good for people who need them, they’re good for everybody. When it comes to using a walker, larger ones naturally take up more space. They take more space on the sidewalk, they take up more space in the grocery aisle, they even take up space in hospital settings. The fact that narrow walkers are totally non-intrusive, makes everyone a beneficiary. They have a width at, or even less than shoulder width. So, the natural size of an average person is projected forward in motion and isn’t added on to. This makes for a greater acceptance in buildings and events that require one to be conscious of space.
Customization
One might not have thought about this, but narrow walkers are just more stylish. They can come in a variety of colors and designs with a bunch of add-ons and features. The utility remains the same, of course. But the look of it all is important to a lot of people. You can match it with your favorite jacket, or have it come in bright red so that it’s easily located. The options for customization are endless. One can even add a bicycle bell to it or a horn in order to get the attention of young people with loud headphones in their ears and their face on their phone.
Psychological Benefits
A benefit that is also totally overlooked is the psychological benefits of having a narrow walker. As we get older, we tend to lose our ability to be independent. Looking after ourselves becomes a lot harder than it was twenty years prior. That takes a huge emotional toll on people. Nobody wants to be a burden, and nobody wants to have to ask for help every day. Now, some cultures may have morays and institutions regarding the elderly. But generally, in the modern Western world, everybody has their own lives that need to be lived. Why would anyone bother the younger generation to wait on us when they could be living out their best years? Being independently mobile is an absolute necessity in keeping one happier and confident as they get older.
By now, I hope you’ve gone along with the conclusion that narrow walkers are one of the best options. They’re sleek, customizable, and gives our elderly population exactly what they need to feel confident in themselves and operate on their own. That is, after all, what we want for ourselves as people. Why not give that option to someone we care for?