Rollator, good option for mobility challenged?

[Delta Dear]

My husband has trouble walking long distances but does not want to rent a scooter nor a wheel chair. Stepping off the Legend in Roatan and in Cozumel, he immediately knew he would have trouble walking the distances.

 

The Legend graciously loaned us a wheelchair to get to the village. In Cozumel we used the rickshaw.

 

For an upcoming trip to St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, once again he refused to rent a scooter or wheelchair. Is a rollator a good option? He is over 350 so it would need to be a large one. Do they fold up for storage ? Would it be ok in a regular cabin ? He would only need it for ports, he managed on the ship since there are lots of places to sit as you walk along the decks.

 

I have not seen a thread about these at all. If you used one, please give me your opinion. Thanks. Our trip is not until Feb. so we have time.

[katisdale]

I used a rollator for several years as my only aid (after about 2 years with a cane) until my post-polio symptoms increased. Mine says on it that it is rated for 250 lbs. Probably they build them for larger people. I actually own two rollators, both a three wheel one which is good for inside my home as the back wheels collapse toward each other making it ideal for going around furniture. My 4 wheel one has a seat and is therefore better for being in lines. If I was starting my journey into disability over again I would do two things. First, I should have had a Physical Therapy evaluation sooner rather than later. I am so impressed with the PT and OT evaluations I have had. They have saved me time and money by helping me decide which equipment will work with my specific problems and I would have made lots of mistakes without their assistance. Second, I should have bitten the bullet and gotten a scooter long before I did as all I was doing was slowing my family down. Now they have trouble keeping up with "speed racer". Both of my rollators fold up. What they don't do is make walking easier or less painful. The scooter makes both of those problems go away.

[gram2trips]

Delta Dear

 

When we were on the Carnival last fall a woman traveling alone had one. I said before I cruise again I would buy one. I have a bad low back & cannot stand for long periods. I saw one on QVC but checked out Amazon & ended up buying one. I love it!! I am a big woman & I got a heavvy duty one with bigger seat. It is great. I used it at my grandsons soccer game. Used in my kitchen while cleaning out the fridge. My husband has mobility issues & he has a power chair. That is the only way he can cruise. My husband is about 340 lbs. You can use the rollator in a regular cabin but you may be more comfortable in the accessible one as there is more room & he can sit onthe rollator if need be. Mine folds but not as compact as a regular walker. Also mine has a basket which must come off when folded. My husband & I are cruising Aug 26 to San Juan, St Thomas, etc. I am thinking in St Thomas since we have a tour set up my husband can get off the boat with my rollator & I will use my cane. He will go off ship in San Juan in his chair. Then in Oct my girlfriends & I are going to Bahamas & I am taking the rollator them for myself. Sorry this post is long, but do check various places for the rollator. Prices & quality varies. If u deal with a medical supply where u live check with them or google online. Check out amazon.com search rollators.

Hope this helps

Sara

[Delta Dear]

Hi Katisdale and Sara,

Thank you both for sharing your experience. I do think a rollator would be helpful so that my husband could sit and rest when his legs cramp. He doesn't need it for support when he walks, but he does have to stop after periods of walking because of leg cramps and a bad back.

 

I agree with what you said Katisdale about therapy. I should add that I have an arthritic knee that made itself clearly known to me in December. I did two months of PT and I now do aqua aerobics to keep it strong. I do not have much, if any cartilage in one knee, but the therapy and water work are really helping.

 

I could just say I am getting the rollator for ME ! That way we could share as needed. Since I have a while before our January cruise, I will start researching now.

 

Sara, have a great time on your upcoming cruises. Let us know how you made out with your plans. I really appreciate input from both of you.

[xxoocruiser]

You can actually do more harm than good if a rollator is purchased without having had a full accessment from a licensed physical therapist. Particularly when your husband has never been fitted for one in the past.

Height, weight, your husband's gait and mobility limitations all greatly influence the type of rollator/walker that would work best for him. Nothing purchased from a local big box store or mass merchant is not likely to meet his weight needs. Another reason he needs to have a proper evaluation done first. He will definitly have to have a barriatric rollator.

 

Sharing a rollator is never a good idea. Particularly if your height and weight varies greatly from your husbands. Please forgive me for being so plunt. As a rollator used myself I can atest to the importance have having the correct mobility aid for the individual.

[Delta Dear]

Hi XXOOCruiser,

Thank you for what you have said. I am very appreciative of your comments. The last thing we want to do is to make a mistake and make matters worse.

I had no idea what would be involved. Sometimes you think you see a solution to a problem and learn you have NO clue. I love these boards just for that reason.

[LindaKE]

Once fitted with the correct one, you will find it very helpful. I took mine for the first time on our last cruise. Even though I don't need it very often at home now, I found it to be a wonderful help on the cruise. When you have to wait in line, just sit down. When you get tired, sit and rest. If only I had done this sooner! From now on, it goes with me anywhere I even might have to wait in line or walk long distances whether I feel like I need it or not. If you have not already done so, ask the cruise line for help boarding. They'll supply a wheelchair for use when embarking and disembarking.

[gram2trips]

You can actually do more harm than good if a rollator is purchased without having had a full accessment from a licensed physical therapist. Particularly when your husband has never been fitted for one in the past.

Height, weight, your husband's gait and mobility limitations all greatly influence the type of rollator/walker that would work best for him. Nothing purchased from a local big box store or mass merchant is not likely to meet his weight needs. Another reason he needs to have a proper evaluation done first. He will definitly have to have a barriatric rollator.

 

Sharing a rollator is never a good idea. Particularly if your height and weight varies greatly from your husbands. Please forgive me for being so plunt. As a rollator used myself I can atest to the importance have having the correct mobility aid for the individual.

 

I will respectfully disagree. I have not had an assessment from PT. The one I bought is bariatric as opposed to a regular one. it has height adjustments on it. Have used it with no difficulty what so ever. I have sacro iliac back trouble & cannot stand for long periods, my back tightens up so I must sit. Have had just about every therapy done, no cure for this. I try to control the best i can. I think the key is the height adjustment on the handles, as you are just walking with it.

[cusyl]

Be sure and buy the one with the large wheels. I originally bought one with the small wheels and found I had problems with the cobblestones and rough areas.

I gave that one to my sister and got the one with big wheels and it has been around the world with me. I highly recommend. I bought mine at an Ebay store with free shipping.

[DesrtDrmr]

My husband has trouble walking long distances but does not want to rent a scooter nor a wheel chair. Stepping off the Legend in Roatan and in Cozumel, he immediately knew he would have trouble walking the distances.

 

The Legend graciously loaned us a wheelchair to get to the village. In Cozumel we used the rickshaw.

 

For an upcoming trip to St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, once again he refused to rent a scooter or wheelchair. Is a rollator a good option? He is over 350 so it would need to be a large one. Do they fold up for storage ? Would it be ok in a regular cabin ? He would only need it for ports, he managed on the ship since there are lots of places to sit as you walk along the decks.

 

I have not seen a thread about these at all. If you used one, please give me your opinion. Thanks. Our trip is not until Feb. so we have time.

 

I think it depends on how challenged he is.

I took my Mom on a cruise and tried to talk her into renting a scooter as I was doing. We both use scooters, different conditions. She would not, and insisted that her walker was good enough. It wasn't. She became so exhausted walking from mid ship to aft, once, that she never did it again. I was on a scooter so could not beg a wheelchair and push her. We ended up going only where the nearest elevator took us..............to a dining room and to the casino. You have cruised before, so your husband should know how large ships are and the distance he'd have to cover. I have a rollator and love it for inside my house, or from my car to inside a restaurant, but for a trip to the mall or a large department store (both much smaller than a cruise ship) I need my scooter.

Could you influence him by reminding him how much more comfortable independence he'd have? (If he's like my husband, you couldn't. :)

The good things about the rollator are that they fold and would certainly fit in a regular cabin, as well as easily on the plane, if you are flying. I Agree with others regarding big wheels and a seat for him to rest on when the going gets a big much.

I do hope you have a wonderful time and that he does not get too tired to enjoy himself. Maybe renting a larger folding wheelchair that will fold into a regular cabin is an option for you. They would probably be better, more comfortable, and easier to push than one from the ship. If so, be sure and get one with large wheels, not a transporter type, as he would not be able to move himself at all in the small wheeled version, they are stiffer and less comfortable with little wheels, and also VERY hard to push across carpet.

[Delta Dear]

Hi DesrtDrmr,

Had to chuckle about trying to talk husbands into things WE think would make sense.

My husband's legs cramp when he walks short distances so he has to stop. That was not problem on the Carnival Legend because the Spirit size are very managable. We're going on its sister ship, the Miracle next.

The greatest challenges were in the port of Roatan. The distance from the ship to the shore seemed and was daunting. I was able to borrow a ship wheel chair to push him.

I have an arthritic knee which puts extra pressure on me if I have to push him. We'll be going to St. Kitts, St. Martin, and St. Lucia. The is going through an exercise program starting on Mon. Maybe he'll strengthen those muscles and be better by February. Thanks for the advice.