The family guide to rollators

17 January 2022

What is a rollator?

Curious about what rollators are and how they could help your loved one? Rollators are a type of mobility aid that could be a used help someone with mobility issues to get around with greater ease. They could have three, four, or even five wheels and a seat, basket or even both. There’s a lot to think about with this mobility aid and it can be easy to get overwhelmed by choice.

What is a rollator used for?

If someone you care for has been advised to get a rollator or it’s been suggested that they may find one useful, you may find that you have many questions about what they are and how they can be used to help.

Unless you work in healthcare or know someone who already uses a rollator you may never have even heard of them, which is quite common. Rollators are a type of wheeled walking frame, with a wheel on the end of each leg of the frame – you may sometimes hear them referred to as ‘rollator walkers’. They help support the person while they’re walking, providing a solid frame to help them to keep their feet and walk a little easier.

Who may benefit from using a rollator?

Ultimately anyone who feels they need extra support when walking may find that using a rollator could be the right solution for their needs. If your loved one is finding that their walking stick isn’t enough to support them anymore, for example, then a rollator may be able to provide the extra help they need.

Many rollators come with seats, which could be of benefit for those who find they tire easily when walking as it gives them a place to rest for a moment before continuing on. Being able to put some of their weight on the frame also helps to take some of the pressure off their feet when walking, which could also help.

Do rollators have any accessories or special features?

Rollators can come with a variety of accessories and features; it really depends on the design as to what is included.

Brakes
Almost all rollators should come with brakes to help make stopping easier. Many come with looped cable brakes to help make it a little easier for those with a weaker grip to use. Also available are those with pressure brakes, which work when a downward force is applied to the handles, rather than the grip and squeeze needed to activate a cable brake. If your loved one only has one hand available for braking control, you can get versions that have a one hand brake for maximum safety and convenience.

Seats
Not every rollator will have a seat, but for the ones that do there’s a variety of types available. The seat types vary from a fixed, firm base with padding to a strip of strong canvas. Many rollators with seats usually have a type of backrest available, generally a strip of strong fabric but there are exceptions to this.

A seat could be a very useful feature if your loved one finds walking longer distances a challenge as it offers them a place to rest when they need it. It’s important to remind them to put the brakes on before using the seat to help prevent it from rolling away from them.

Baskets
Some rollators come with useful baskets to put personal items in, so the person using it doesn’t have to carry a lot on their person. Sometimes the baskets are kept beneath the seat, to make it harder for anyone not using the rollator to snatch up anything that doesn’t belong to them.

Bags
Much like with baskets, some rollators include bags to store items in. With some rollators, like the Freestyle Three Wheel Rollator, the bag is detachable, so it can be removed and reattached as and when needed.

Where rollators can be used?

The majority of rollators are designed for outdoor use, to give your loved one a hand while they take a walk or pop to the shops. There are a few that are designed purely for use indoors, such as the Let’s Go Indoor Rollator.

Some may be suitable for use at home and while they’re out and about, but they’ll need to be able to clean the wheels when they come indoors to stop it accidentally marking up their floors.

You can find our full range of rollators here.

How to help your loved one choose the best rollator for their needs

Picking the right rollator comes down to a variety of factors and there’s plenty to consider before any decision is made. Would they need a heavy duty/bariatric rollator that are designed with higher weight limits? Does the right rollator for their needs have three wheels? Four? Five? Would they be better off with a rollator that could become a transit chair when needed? There are a wide variety of colours and styles available, which is also something to consider carefully as it’s a piece of equipment that may be used on a daily basis.

We’ve put together a full buying guide, which explains what all the different types of rollator are, all the questions you should be asking yourself before purchasing one, safety tips, and how to find the right handle height for the rollator.

You can read the full buying guide here.

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