Walking Aids and Mobility for Older Adults in Thiruvananthapuram

What the city asks of a walking aid

• Slopes: the aid must give control going up and, more importantly, going down, where braking and a firm grip matter.
• Steps and thresholds: entrances, temple steps and library or hall entrances often have steps.
• Wet weather: rain makes tips, wheels and surfaces slippery for much of the year.
• Warm humid air: metal parts corrode and handles get damp and slippery.
• Shared spaces: pavements and park paths may be shared with others, requiring a compact, manageable aid.
• Stamina: many people tire on a hill and need a place to sit.

Ask the physiotherapist or doctor about balance, strength, stamina, vision and any one-sided weakness before choosing; see stick or walker: which one does my parent need and how to choose the right wheelchair or mobility aid for seniors.

Walking frames for slopes and recovery

A walking frame gives the most stability for someone who is weak, recovering from surgery or very unsteady. It has no wheels (or two), so it does not run away on a gradient, but it must be lifted or pushed forward with each step and works best on level ground.

• Adjust the height so that handles are at wrist crease height with arms hanging relaxed; elbows should be slightly bent when standing inside the frame.
• Rubber feet with a good tread, checked often in the rains.
• Indoors: ideal for short distances in rooms and corridors; see walking frame buying guide and how to use a walking frame correctly.
• After hip or knee surgery, follow the surgeon's and therapist's instructions exactly; see walking frame after hip or knee surgery.
• A two-wheeled walker is easier to push along flat paths; see two-wheeled walker guide.
• Do not use a frame on stairs.

Rollators on the city's gradients

A four-wheeled rollator with brakes and a seat suits people who tire on a walk and need to rest, such as on the longer beach or park routes.

• Brakes matter more than anything: the person must be able to squeeze and lock them, and the brakes must work when wet; see rollator brakes and seat safety and rollator buying guide.
• Downhill: keep the rollator close to the body, go slowly, and apply the brakes lightly, not suddenly. Avoid steep slopes without a helper.
• Sitting: brakes on, rollator on level ground, never on a slope.
• Surfaces: larger wheels cope better with kerbs, tree roots and uneven paving; see rollator on indian pavements.
• Comparison: see rollator vs walking frame.
• Do not use as a wheelchair, and do not leave anyone sitting on it while it is moving.

Sticks, seat sticks and quad sticks

For those who need a little support, sticks are lighter and less conspicuous.

• Standard stick: height at the wrist crease; ribbed wide rubber tip; see walking stick height fitting and how to choose a walking stick.
• Seat stick: folds into a small seat for resting on hill routes or while waiting at a temple or hall; see seat walking stick guide.
• Folding stick: goes in a bag; see folding walking stick for travel.
• Quad stick for one-sided weakness; see quad stick buying guide.
• Stick on slopes: on a descent, place the stick down first, then the weaker leg, then the stronger; on an ascent, the stronger leg leads; see using a walking stick on stairs and slopes.
• Torch stick for dawn or dusk walks; see walking stick with torch night use.

Planning routes in the city

Route choice can matter as much as equipment.

• Beach promenade at Shanghumugham: wide and flat, with benches; best early or late. Sand and salt air affect aids, so rinse and dry them.
• Museum and zoo gardens, and palace grounds: shaded, level paths with seating; good for building stamina.
• Veli lagoon-side walk: a flat walk with seating.
• Kowdiar and Vellayambalam roads: tree-lined and shady but with kerbs and some slopes; walk with a companion and in daylight.
• For hills: choose routes with benches, avoid steep ones when wet and turn back when tired.
• In rain: skip outdoor walks and exercise indoors; see chair exercises for seniors and balance exercises for seniors.
• In hot months: walk at dawn or after sunset, carry water, and rest in the shade.

Entrances, ramps and steps at home

Many homes in the city have steps from the lane, a raised entrance, and sometimes a sloping drive.

• Handrails at each flight and at the entrance, firmly fixed; see handrails and stair lifts.
• A portable ramp at a threshold for a rollator or wheelchair; check its length and slope; see portable ramps for thresholds.
• Non-slip surfaces on steps and sloped paths; see anti-slip tape and coatings.
• A place to sit and dry aids near the door.
• A second aid upstairs, so that nothing needs to be carried on stairs.
• A wheelchair for those who cannot manage the slope, with a helper trained to handle ramps; see pushing a wheelchair safely.

Wheelchairs and transit chairs

A transit wheelchair is light and can be folded for a car boot, a help for hospital visits and family events, but a hilly road makes pushing hard work; a helper should be strong and trained. A standard wheelchair suits longer sitting, with a correctly measured seat and a cushion; see transit wheelchair vs standard wheelchair, wheelchair buying guide india, wheelchair seat width and measurements and cushions for wheelchair users. Always use brakes on slopes, and never leave a person alone on an incline. See wheelchair and car travel.

Footwear and clothing

Wet stone or polished floors and wet steps make footwear critical. Closed shoes or secure sandals with a firm back and grippy sole are best; dry them between uses; avoid loose slippers; see choosing shoes for older feet. For diabetes, check feet daily; see diabetic foot care at home. Avoid long, loose mundus or sarees that trail on steps; hold them clear when going up and down.

Care of aids in a rainy city

• Wipe aids dry after wet outings, including wheels and rubber feet.
• Check tips, feet, wheel treads, brakes, folding catches and screws weekly in the rains.
• Look for rust at the end of each rainy spell; replace parts that are bent, cracked or worn.
• Store aids off damp floors; keep a spare tip.
• Do not adapt or repair aids at home beyond simple part replacement.

Strength and confidence

Aids work best with exercise: sit-to-stand practice, balance work and short, frequent walks as the physiotherapist guides; see 14 best exercises for seniors for strength, flexibility and balance and falls risk assessment at home. Walk with a companion on slopes and wet days. Review the aid after any fall, illness or change; see when to move from stick to walker.

When to ask a professional

Ask a physiotherapist to assess gait and balance and to fit and train. An occupational therapist can assess the home and entrance. The doctor should review dizziness, heart or breathing limits, vision and medicines. For senior citizens' information and support, Elderline 14567 is a helpline; check current availability. After a fall with head injury or suspected fracture, call 112.