Do You Have Mobility Issues? Give Your Loved Ones the Gift of a Walking Aid!

Article written by Gwen M Ray,

It makes no sense. I mean, who feels guilty about the money they spend on a pair of glasses? I need two pairs, regular glasses and computer glasses, and they aren’t cheap. Progressive lenses for distant, middle, and near vision are expensive. But I like to see, so I fork over whatever insurance doesn’t cover and don’t look back.

I like to walk without falling on my face too. So why did I feel guilty about using some of our hard-earned cash on a walker?

Maybe it was because I remembered spending that kind of money in the past on fun stuff for shared activities. Like when we got recumbent bicycles. We enjoyed those bikes for years, pulling our kids in trailers until they were big enough to ride their own bikes.

I couldn’t really see a walker being as much fun.

But my physical therapist encouraged me to get one. She suggested an all-terrain walker based on where I live and what activities I used to enjoy.

I was hesitant, but then I thought about our most recent nature walks. My husband would walk beside me, his face pinched. He would be busy worrying about me falling. I would be concentrating on not falling. Neither one of us would enjoy the surroundings. I would also tire easily and be desperate to get back to the car so I could sit down.

I felt like a burden needing help with things I used to do with ease. But I wanted to try to keep hiking as long as I could. I didn’t want to get left behind when the whole family would go for walks around the neighborhood when we visited my in-laws.

So my husband and I researched walkers, looking for something that could handle more than just the grocery store. We chose the Trionic Veloped Trek.

Totally. Worth. Every. Penny.

When I had to write a short piece on what my “why” is for becoming a writer, my new walker inspired me to write this for my opening:

I push my all-terrain walker down the dirt trail, aiming for dried leaves and delighting in the crunching sound they make as the large rubber tires roll over them. My husband laughs at how easily amused I am and reaches out to hold my hand where it rests on the grippy, gray rubber of the walker's handlebar.

I tip my head back to look up at the blue sky contrasted against the dark green of towering trees. I breathe in the earthy smell of dirt and decaying vegetation.

I take in everything, enjoying each moment. I see my husband, carefree and happy. His incredible smile always makes my heart flutter, even 26 years after I first saw it light up his face.

I mean, who would ever think a piece of mobility equipment would inspire that? It certainly wasn’t the scene that popped into my head when I imagined myself with a walker!

My favorite part of that excerpt? “I see my husband, carefree and happy.”

More Quality Time Together

We all want to spend time with our loved ones. Playing cards and board games can be fun, but it’s also nice to get outside with family and go for a walk.

If you have a mobility issue, you can tell your family and friends, “I’m fine staying here, you go have fun,” until you are blue in the face. They won’t believe you anymore than you believe yourself.

Putting that on your loved ones is a burden. Spending some money on a walking aid so you can join them is a gift.

Sure, you might not be able to do everything they’re doing, but you’ll still have fun. That idea that it makes people who can’t scramble over boulders or run in the waves sad to see other people do it is a bunch of malarky. People are sad sitting at home alone. Watching a loved one take a tumble in a wave and get a faceful of sand is entertaining (when they come up laughing of course). Plus, the wind in your face and the smell of the ocean is just as enjoyable from behind a walker.

My husband on the Sky Trail at The Trees of Mystery in Klamath, California taken from the seat of my Trionic Veloped.

Would I have gone up there myself 5 or 6 years ago when I was still able to? Probably.

Did I regret not being able to go now? Yes, for like two seconds. I was enjoying myself too much for it to bother me beyond that.

Would I have enjoyed being there without my Trionic Veloped? No.

Would my husband have enjoyed going into the Trees of Mystery without me? We were on our anniversary trip, so that would be a hard no!

Did he enjoy himself as much as I did? One hundred percent yes!

Peace of Mind

Although we all enjoy spending time with our loved ones, we also need space sometimes. It can be hard to see someone you care about struggle with mobility issues. Your loved one may be afraid to leave your side when you are out and about. This can leave you feeling frustrated and burdensome.

You might want to tell them not to worry about you. But you may also be afraid of going it alone. The thought of falling in front of a bunch of strangers is scary.

The appropriate walking aid can give you both the confidence you need to venture away from each other sometimes.

In the grocery store you can divvy up the shopping list. You can go separate ways at the mall to buy each other Christmas gifts. You can enjoy a more leisurely stroll while your loved one takes the dog for a little run.

Improved Mood

Let’s be honest…no longer being able to get around the way you used to can make you a bit, well, cranky. Your friends and family love you, but they might not love being around you if you’re spending too much time moping around the house.

It turns out that both exercise and spending time in nature can improve mood. You can do both of these things – at the same time even – using a walking aid.

Moods, good or bad, are infectious. Think about it, when was the last time the people close to you were walking around with big smiles on their faces while you were harboring a strong urge to punch someone?

If you want your loved ones to be happy, you need to be happy. They won’t be able to be happy if you’re miserable.

Getting outside in the fresh air and exercising is a guaranteed mood lifter. Whatever can help you do this is worth it, you’re worth it, and I’m sure your loved ones will agree.

Better Health

It is a well-known fact that physical activity is critical to staying healthy. It can be hard to stay physically active when you are dealing with mobility issues, but it is very important that you find a way. The right walking aid can help you get out and move more.

Improving your physical health along with your mood (see above) can mitigate symptoms. It can help you maintain what mobility you do have for longer. Regular exercise will also improve your stamina.

Just as your loved one’s health matters to you, your health matters to them. Taking care of your health is something you should do for yourself, but it’s also something you should do for your loved ones.

Agate Beach in Newport, Oregon. I was able to walk and talk with my husband without having to concentrate on what my feet were doing. I could look around and enjoy the sights, smells and sounds without losing my balance and falling.

Sadly, we did not see any whales. We did, however, see some bald eagles!

It was not accessible to the Veloped due to a couple flights of stairs. But because I have been walking regularly with my walker, I built up my stamina and even increased my muscles a bit (no small feat for somebody with muscular dystrophy). I was able to go with my husband’s assistance. It was a more challenging workout for me, but well worth it! My husband and I both enjoyed it immensely.

Healthier Relationships

Better health, improved mood, peace of mind for the whole family, and more quality time together all lead to healthier relationships with loved ones.

For someone with mobility issues, the key to all those important factors is having the right walking aid. You aren’t going to get out enough and stay active if you can’t do it safely.

As we get older, we start to become afraid of falling. This isn’t a big deal when you have good balance and are strong enough to safely support yourself as you move about. But if you have any type of mobility problem, be it weakness, chronic pain, poor balance or impaired stamina, falling becomes a real concern.

For someone who is older or who has a progressive condition, injury from a fall may mean permanent loss of the ability to walk – with or without a walking aid. At that point, a wheelchair becomes necessary, most likely a power wheelchair (which will cost you a heck of a lot more than any walking aid).

If you’re staying home more and becoming sedentary due to mobility issues, the best thing you can do for yourself and your family is to get an appropriate walking aid. A physical therapist is the best medical professional to help you choose the right one, as well as make sure you know how to use it properly.

With a walking aid as your trusty sidekick, you and your family will be able to get out and enjoy life together again.