Tips & Techniques to Deliver Better Outcomes for Seniors | Senior Helpers Central Texas
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Delivering Better Outcomes for Seniors- Tips & Techniques

Getting Through Narrow Doors

A common issue our clients face is mobility while using durable medical equipment (DME) like wheelchairs and walkers in their home. Some doorways are just too narrow to get through with the equipment. So, what do you do short of calling a contractor for a remodel? 
Reverse the Wheels of the Walker

Reverse the Wheels of the Walker

Look at the pictures of the walkers to the right and notice that the wheels of the walker on the left are on the “outside” of the walker’s legs. The wheels come off most walkers and can be “reversed” so that the wheels are on the inside of the walker legs!

Simply push the button to release the wheels and put the wheels on the other side of the walker! This makes the overall width of the walker smaller without compromising safety.

If putting the walker’s wheels on the inside is still not enough, you can try a couple of things with the door. Most doors are actually sit within the opening of the door and can take up 1 1/2 to 2 inches or more in usable walking space. You could just take the door off the hinges to gain the extra width but that might not be desirable in all cases.

Use Swing Clear Hinges

Use Swing Clear Hinges

Fortunately, swing clear hinges were invented for just this case. They are special hinges that swing a door completely out of the opening. This allows for maximum clear width of the opening. See the picture above. Swing clear hinges can be found in most hardware stores and at The Home Depot and Lowe’s

These are the tips for today. Make sure to bookmark this blog and share with friends and family as we continue to Deliver Better Outcomes for Seniors.