Third Time Lucky...

During my recent placement it has become apparent that old habits die hard. Especially in the older population group in order to introduce new things into their life they need to be produced and reproduced in a positive non-threatening environment for them to be more likely to be accepted. Four wheeled walkers are a mobility aid that are heavily prescribed in the geriatric age group, however, they also have a stigma attached to them. For many patients that come for an assessment, our aim is to provide safe independent function. Our idea of this and the patients are sometimes very different. For a few of them, they hope that by receiving treatment they may rid themselves of their already present walking stick or improve their walking without an aid; but in most cases in order to improve their exercise tolerance, safety and ability to access the outside community they would benefit from a wheeled walker.

Within the patients that are recommended a walker, some of them resist them with a passion, seeing them as being “for old people only.” On questioning, many have already had a walker suggested on previous occasions either by another physiotherapist or allied health professional. In order to overcome this problem, gentle reiteration and introduction to an actual walker has helped. By introducing it gently and slowly gives these people a time to adjust to the idea. For example, after an initial assessment is performed and it is deemed beneficial, it is a good idea to allow time for the education component of how it would benefit their specific problems. At this point in time, it can then be said that next session you would be able to physically demonstrate and provide an opportunity to trial and practice walking with the walker in the treatment session alone if they were interested. By saying that you will do this during the next treatment session, and providing some information before then gives them a week to allow the notion to whirl around their head. The most important part is not to be forceful about it because they will make their own mind up regardless- but as long as you have provided the information there is nothing more than you can do.

So far, I have found that by introducing them slowly but regularly into treatment sessions, those patients that have been resistant to them previously have been able to adjust to the idea and are now feeling more positive.