Rollator Types for Elderly Mobility

The rollator – live independently and stay mobile!

The rollator was a little frowned upon until a few decades ago. Behind the scenes, he was referred to as a “Pensioner Porsche” or “AOK Ferrari”. There is absolutely no trace of this negative attitude today. The mobile walking aid very soon proved in practice that its advantages far outweigh one or the other small disadvantage. Its qualities and amenities are now highly valued by numerous users: The rollator helps many sick and elderly people to quickly return to life. You can actively participate in it again and take care of yourself. The walker preserves their independence and mobility.

There are now a large number of rollators with different uses, which of course are also reflected in the price. The equipment varies from model to model and the accessories cannot always be easily retrofitted. There are also a number of things to consider when handling it in practice and when it comes to maintenance and care. In various articles, we provide an overview of the most important information on the subject of “rollators”: We explain the different versions of walking aids that are available on the market. We have put together the most important test criteria for buying a rollator in the form of checklists. We also show what rollator users should consider when using them in practice, so that they are always safe and on the move.

Rollator overview

Rollator – the types from the standard model to the Ferrari

Today it is almost impossible to imagine our streets without the rollator. The practical walking aid compensates for insecurities when walking and standing and considerably reduces the risk of falls. So it’s no wonder that so many people no longer want to do without their walkers. The rollator gives them back their mobility and independence.

And that was exactly the basic idea of ​​Aina Wifalk, the Swede who did not invent the rollator, but rediscovered it. Because it actually had been around for a while: The “steerable wheel” was mentioned for the first time in a magazine in 1916.

In any case, Aina Wifak suffered from a walking disability herself as a result of polio. But she still wanted to live as independently as possible. So in 1978 she developed a mobile device with a metal frame and wheels – the rollator. It has also been on the market in Germany since 1990. The dealers were very skeptical at first. At the time, nobody could really imagine that this monstrous steel frame with castors would really be accepted by customers.

Rollator: construction and use

But the rollator is still a great success today. In the meantime, the walker has become at least as natural as an aid as crutches, and the demand continues to rise. The health insurance companies alone finance an average of around 500,000 pieces per year and the prices for the standard models have fallen continuously since then.

Rollators – here are some of the types

Everyday rollator

Storage space,
Seat with backrest, back strap,
Pocket,
Brakes,
Transverse folder or longitudinal folder.

Suitable for outside and inside
Outer rollator Like everyday rollator plus

robust wheels
stable chassis.

Only suitable for outdoor use (outdoor rollator)
Inner rollator

Narrower and lighter than external rollators,
One-hand operated handbrake,
Tray as a storage and transport area,
without seat.

Only suitable for living areas
(indoor rollator)
Special models Specially tailored to specific diseases with special equipment, e.g. B.

both brakes can be operated with one hand or
wide support surface on which the forearms can be supported
Etc.

Suitable for outdoor and indoor use, depending on the model

*) Depending on the manufacturer and model, there may be differences.

In addition, rollators are divided into standard and lightweight rollators based on size, weight and load capacity. The latter are also available in a particularly narrow version (approx. 57 cm wide).

Electric rollator

And then there is the Ferrari among walkers: the walker with an electric drive. The biggest advantage of the e-rollator is obvious: You no longer have to push the assistant on your own. This is particularly helpful for users who are not physically resilient, for example because they have little muscle strength.

The battery is charged at the socket. One charge lasts for about ten hours. However, this luxury is also clearly reflected in the price: The fun costs around 10 times as much as a normal model, namely around 3,000 euros.