Difficulty walking to the bathroom. Does anyone know of some sort of mobility chair, like a wheelchair but smaller and more maneuverable?

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Difficulty walking to the bathroom. Does anyone know of some sort of mobility chair, like a wheelchair but smaller and more maneuverable?

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My wife has been having more and more difficulty walking to the bathroom. I always help her by holding both arms and walking backwards to the bathroom. We don't really walk, it is more of a shuffle. It is only about 20 feet from the couch to the toilet passing through 2 doorways. The wheelchair that we have is too large to maneuver through the doorways and make a right turn.
Does anyone know of some sort of mobility chair like a wheelchair but smaller and more maneuverable? Please let me know because I would like to keep taking care of my wife for as long as possible. Thank you.

Alzheimer's & Dementia Difficulty Walking Mobility Toileting

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What about a walker with a seat? It might be just small enough that if she can hold her balance in a seated position, you can gently push her the way?

https://www.amazon.com/Medline-Rollator-Rolling-Supports-Burgundy/dp/B079PG3BR3/ref=sr_1_9?crid=9CMRSETYVJ2R&dchild=1&keywords=walker+with+seat&qid=1633025315&sprefix=Walker+with+se%2Caps%2C199&sr=8-9

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It's called a "transport chair". You are so wise to seek out this information.

Before you order one (see if her doctor will script it so Medicare will pay for some of it) make sure to neasure your doorways and the turns.

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Also you might consider hospice for your wife. I suggest this as dementia is an incurable illness that Medicare provides hospice care for. If you have her assessed by a hospice agency they will know whether or not she qualifies at this time and help you get the doctors orders. With hospice they will provide all the durable equipment she needs. A gait belt which can help you when you transfer her, a rollator, a transport chair, a bedside commode. A hospital bed, the appropriate rails and mattress. Plus should she become incontinent they will provide those supplies.
My DH aunt is on hospice for over a year now. They send a weekly nurse and bathing aides. This help could keep you and your wife managing for a longer period of time.
If she doesn’t qualify for hospice yet, the next step would be to check with home health for the homebound. She would qualify for that depending on your insurance. Again the home health agency will know if she qualifies and help with the paperwork. Similar durable medical equipment is available through Medicare only instead Of it being loaned by hospice suppliers it is rented by Medicare and they pay 80% and you or your supplement plan pays the other 20% for a set number of months and then it belongs to the insured.
With either of these programs you would receive a lot of help and should your wife need blood work or UTI tests, these can also be provided.
You sound like a wonderful husband and father. Wishing you good luck on getting the services your insurance provides.

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I'm going to suggest an OT come to your home for a consult, they can be so helpful in pointing out potential obstacles and knowing about solutions. Be sure to have a list of questions to ask in order to get the most out of this, include any difficulties you have encountered with bathing, getting in and out of bed, eating and meals, etc

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Best 1st step!

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I’ve been using a commode that has wheels to push Mum to the toilet for a wash. Good luck.

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CWillie's idea is a good one. OT's have many good suggestions.

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I've seen something called a "Zinger" advertised that claims it's narrow enough to go thru doorways - not sure if Medicare will pay, however. It will actually fold flat, so it can be taken in a car and easily set up again. Weighs very little. You may want to look it up on the web. It's not in stores so far as I know. God bless you for being the kind of husband every woman envies.

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Many people sit on their 'wheeler' to be pushed - bit this must be SAFE for her & you pushing.

A bedside commode is a compromise.. less independence & more work for you (to empty) but may be suitable, especially when she is very fatigued or at night.

My heart goes out to you & your wife. Do you get any home help? This would be the next step - to give you an extra hand or a break. Even if just a few visits a week, it could help you keep your wife at home as long as possible.

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There is something called a TRAVEL CHAIR. It is like a wheelchair but less heavy. I think they come in different sizes. Try Amazon. Or, your local state or city Office on Aging might have a social worker who tells you referrals. Sometimes, like in Riverside, CA, they have an office that collects things from what people give them, and if they have one there, they could give it to you for free.

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CWillie has a great suggestion and I would get in touch with her doctor to make that happen. EMS or Ambulances use what’s called a stair chair to move people when a stretcher won’t fit, they are collapsable but very sturdy when set up and fit through all kinds of narrow spaces.

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Just got a Medline Ultralight Transport Chair through Amazon. It comes assembled, but folds to store in the car. It's 23" wide and fits in the doorways of our home. My husband's wheelchair was also too wide to wheel him into the bathroom. The local med equipment store said they can't get these in stock. Hope this helps your situation.

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I had the same problem with my wife. I removed the bathroom door and was able to get her wheelchair, with her in it, into the bathroom. You would have to remove the bolts from the hinges that hold the door on. that eliminated any bathroom privacy for family visitors, but they didn't seem to mind. I don't know whether that would give you enough room to get your wheelchair in, but you might try it.
All of the answers so far seem very helpful.
The rollator walker suggested by Lizbitty is a great idea, but it looks like the one on Amazon has the seat in front of the person using it, which means she would have to turn around to use it. If you can get your wife onto that seat from her bed or chair, that may work for you. I spent hours looking for a walker with a seat that is behind and under the person using the walker, but only found one. The cost was about $800 and it was too rickety to risk using it. Best wishes. I hope you find a solution.

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Portable wheel chairs that can be folded are smaller. That might work. We also use a walker that has a seat on it for many purposes. It's good to have one of these walkers anyway, in case you are going to places where there is no place to sit.

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A walker is narrow enough, or a rollator (transport chair). Both are covered by Medicare, with a doctors prescription. Having an OT to assess her would be great, as was suggested earlier - to get the perfect aids for all her needs right now, as well as teach you and your wife how to maneuver around the house. Best of luck!

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They have smaller width wheel chairs plus they have transport wheelchairs that are smaller in width.
Also, some find it easier to remove the door off the bathroom for easier access.
Of course in the future when needed, you can buy a bedside toilet that can be located anywhere close by so your wife only had to shuffle a couple feet.

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Three wheel rollator.

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I don't think they have a seat.

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There are walkers that will fit through narrow doorways. I found one for my Mother on Amazon.

ProBasics Junior Folding Walker for Seniors - Sure Lever Release Folding Walker, for Petite Adults. JUNIOR SIZE, LIGHTWEIGHT WALKER. The mobility walker is very light and maneuverable and has sides that detach for storing in tight spaces. Walker only weighs 6 pounds.

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I recently saw a walker with a built-in toilet seat (hidden under the normal seat). It was called a Free2Go (you can Google it) and could be used over a toilet in a small / narrow bathroom or used with a portable catch bucket/bag when a bathroom is not available. Might be worth a look.

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Have you used a walker? My Mom has always used one. It’s smaller and narrower than a wheelchair. It also has a seat to sit on. Much easier to maneuver. It has 4 wheels and hand breaks. You can buy them online at Walmart and Amazon or medical supply stores. Hope this helps.

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The man is telling us that his wife is having trouble walking at this point so he wants and needs something where he can roll his wife into the bathroom. I found something like this for him maybe on Amazon?
HOMCOM Accessibility Commode Wheelchair, Rolling Shower Wheelchair with 4 Castor Wheels, Rectangle Detachable Bucket, & Waterproof Design, Black

Visit the HOMCOM Store
4.3 out of 5 stars
239 ratings | 56 answered questionsPrice:$299.99 ($299.99 / Count)

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Shop with a measuring tape and, if possible, go to a specialty store. My Mom lived in an older mobile home and the doors to the bath and bedroom were VERY narrow. We did find rollators and one transport chair that were small enough, but it was a struggle.

Please write to your state congressperson about changing building codes to require a minimum of 30 inch doorways to all rooms in a home. The long-outdated 26 and 28 inch doors are a nuisance to young able-bodied people as well. They are very awkward for getting things in and out of rooms. I lived in one house where the bathroom doors were further cut down to create 24 inch doors. Boy did I learn to hate those stupid things every time I went through the doors with a pile of towels.

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HOMCOM Accessibility Commode Wheelchair, Rolling Shower Wheelchair with 4 Castor Wheels, Rectangle Detachable Bucket, & Waterproof Design, Black

Visit the HOMCOM Store
4.3 out of 5 stars
239 ratings | 56 answered questionsPrice:$299.99 ($299.99 / Count)

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This is a good reference because there are several models to choose from with different sizes.

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Look for a wheelchairs that are 17 - 19" seat widths should be narrow enough for doorways. Take off the foot rests for indoor use. You might also try getting her to use a walker - walk behind her if she is unstable. Not sure that your bathroom is like, but you may be able to get government assistance to modify the bathroom.

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Although I haven't (yet) used this to get my H to the bathroom, this lightweight transport chair might be an option for getting around the house if she cannot walk with a walker - about $140 from Amazon: "Drive Medical Lightweight Expedition Folding Transport Wheelchair with Hand Brakes". I bought this to carry in the car, for short walks in the park - the regular wheelchair was getting too heavy for me to lift into the car. If she has some mobility a rollator might work; however, if you get one with a seat do not have her sit on it while you push it - there are warnings about doing that! In fact, I should have listened...I was pushing the rollator while H sat, and it tipped - his head hit and I thought I killed him; but fortunately no concussion, but he did fracture a vertebrae.

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That might be helpful for us too.

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Look into the possibility of getting a ROLLATOR........It is a walker, with a seat, locks to hold it in place, wheels. Easy to handle - this might help you.

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Please watch the rollators. My dad had one but the brakes were not reliable. It may be just that particular one, but I'd still be cautious to make sure they are operating correctly.

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I bought a combination walker/wheelchair. It’s excellent! It’s called a rollator/transporter. It easily transforms from a walker to wheelchair. It’s only about 17 pounds and fits easily into the trunk of my car.

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Mom can only walk on the main floor and the bathroom is on the second floor.
We have a potty she can sit on like a toilet and the dung goes into a pot and I empty it. I forget its name though.

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Commode

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Take a look at the Invacare Get-U-Up lift. Once your wife was secured and standing in the lift via a sling under her arms with the platform for standing on her feet, it is narrow enough that you could probably slowly roll your wife through the doorways to the toilet and place her on the commode; provided that you would not have to turn her around in the lift while inside the bathroom to put her on the commode because that would not work. It would also be more difficult with carpeted floors. You would leave your wife in the bathroom attached to the lift via the sling. Afterwards you could lift her up to stand-up attached to the lift to help clean her, and roll backwards out of the bathroom. Medicare covers the lift with a doctor’s order. Some nursing homes might have it and maybe you could try it out before getting it, in order to see if it would be practical.

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Try a transport chair. much thinner than wheelchair

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phaT1paTch: Imho, you may require a Rollator or if that doesn't work, a bedside commode. I am not suggesting that she is immobile, only that it may help.

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A transport chair is what you need. Buy or rent. Lightweight and moves easily

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Difficulty walking to the bathroom. Does anyone know of some sort of mobility chair, like a wheelchair but smaller and more maneuverable?

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