Guidance
Choosing the right mobility aid.
Choosing a mobility aid shouldn’t feel complicated. There are a handful of key questions — and once you know what to ask, the right option usually becomes obvious. This page walks you through everything, one step at a time. Pull up a chair.
ContentsSection 1 — Walking Support
Walker or Rollator — Which One?
This is the most common question we get, and the answer usually comes down to one thing: does the person need to lift the frame with every step, or would it suit them better to push it? That single question narrows it down quickly.
Standard
You lift and place it with each step. That means maximum stability — the frame goes nowhere you don’t put it. Requires a bit of upper-body strength and good arm control.
Best for: someone whose main concern is balance, or a physio has asked them to bear weight carefully with each step.
Four-Wheel Rollator With Seat
You push it rather than lift it — far less effort. The built-in seat is genuinely useful: at the post office, waiting for the bus, in the garden. Goes everywhere they go.
Best for: someone who walks longer distances, gets tired easily, or needs the option to rest when they need to.
Narrow & Nimble
Narrower than a four-wheel rollator, turns on the spot, and handles smaller spaces more comfortably. The trade-off is no seat — best for people who are fairly active indoors and don’t need to rest mid-journey.
Best for: smaller homes, tight corridors, or anyone who finds a standard rollator keeps catching on doorframes.
Does the person tend to lean on the frame, or lift and place it carefully? If they’re leaning and pushing forward, a rollator is the safer and more natural choice. If they’re lifting and placing with care, the standard walker gives more control.
Quick Reference
| If the situation is… | Consider… |
|---|---|
| Needs maximum stability, careful step-by-step movement | Standard walker (no wheels) |
| Gets tired easily, walks moderate to long distances | Four-wheel rollator with seat |
| Navigating a small home or tight doorways | Compact three-wheel rollator |
| Needs to fold it into a car boot regularly | Lightweight folding rollator |
Section 2 — Fit & Setup
Measuring Handle Height at Home
Getting the handle height right matters more than most people realise. Too low and you’re hunching — which is hard on your back and shoulders over time. Too high and you’re tensing up instead of resting your weight through your arms. Here’s how to measure correctly, without needing anyone to help.
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1Step 1 Stand tall in your normal shoes — or the shoes you’ll wear most often. Let your arms hang relaxed at your sides, completely loose.
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2Step 2 Measure from the floor to your wrist crease — that soft bend at the base of your palm. If you’re measuring solo, let your arm hang naturally and lightly mark the height of your wrist against a doorframe with a pencil.
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3Step 3 That measurement is your ideal handle height. Most walkers and rollators adjust in small increments — check the product’s adjustment range against your measurement before ordering.
Stand behind the walker with hands on the handles. Your elbows should have a slight, comfortable bend — around 15–20 degrees. Straight arms means it’s too high. A noticeable hunch means it’s too low. Adjust one click at a time until it feels natural.
If you have the rollator in front of you right now, try standing straight and resting your hands on the handles without gripping. That resting position is what you’re aiming for — not reaching, not stooping.
Section 3 — Bathroom Safety
Shower Chairs — What to Check
Every shower chair has a weight rating, and it’s worth checking before you order — not because it’s a sensitive subject, but because the right chair is simply a safer chair. The rating tells you it will do its job reliably every single time.
Most standard shower chairs are rated to 120–130 kg. If the person is above that, or close to it, look for a wide-seat or bariatric model — these typically handle 160–200 kg and have a wider seat, which makes them more comfortable regardless of weight.
Arms or No Arms?
A chair with arms on both sides is easier to lower into and rise from — especially important if hip or knee strength is any kind of concern. A shower stool (no back, no arms) suits someone who simply wants the option to sit mid-shower without needing full seated support. They’re still active; they just want the security of knowing they can sit if they need to.
If someone is managing well but wants a safety option — a stool suits them. If they’re regularly tired in the shower, have had a fall, or are recovering from surgery — a chair with arms and a back is the right choice.
Does It Fit Your Shower?
- Most standard shower chairs have a footprint of around 550–650 mm wide when set up. A standard 900 mm × 900 mm Australian shower recess fits one comfortably.
- If your shower is older or smaller, measure the clear floor space before ordering. Most product listings include the footprint dimensions — it takes thirty seconds to check.
- Height-adjustable legs matter too. Look for a chair that adjusts in small increments so it can be set at exactly the right height for stepping in and sitting without strain.
Section 4 — Bathroom Safety
Toilet Frame or Raised Seat — What’s the Difference?
These two products solve slightly different problems, and it’s very common to mix them up. Here’s the plain-English version.
Adds height
Clips onto your existing toilet and lifts the sitting height by around 5–10 cm. Ideal when the main issue is that the toilet is too low — making it hard on the knees or hips to lower down and get back up.
Some models include handles on the sides. If the movement is manageable but hard on the joints, this is often all that’s needed.
Adds leverage
Sits around the toilet rather than on it. Two handles on each side give the person something to push up from and lower down onto — particularly important after hip replacement or with significant leg weakness.
Particularly recommended by OTs for the first weeks after hip or knee surgery. Many people step down to a raised seat alone once strength returns.
The key distinction: the raised seat adds height. The over-toilet frame adds handles and leverage. Some situations call for both together — and there are combination models that provide a raised seat within a frame if that’s what you need.
| Situation | What usually helps |
|---|---|
| Toilet feels too low; getting up is hard on knees or hips | Raised toilet seat (with or without handles) |
| Post hip or knee surgery; needs two-sided support to rise | Over-toilet frame |
| Wants both extra height and side handles | Raised seat with arms, or a combined frame-and-seat model |
| Not sure which applies | Start with the over-toilet frame — it covers more situations and gives more support |
Section 5 — Professional Guidance
When an OT Assessment Is Worth Seeking
An occupational therapist — usually called an OT — is a health professional who specialises in helping people live as independently as possible at home. For most everyday purchases, you don’t need an assessment first. But there are situations where getting one before you buy can save time, money, and a lot of second-guessing.
Worth seeking an OT if…
You don’t need a referral first for…
If you’re unsure whether a specific product is right for a specific situation — ask us. We’ll give you a plain-English answer, and we’ll tell you honestly if we think an OT would be more useful than anything we can offer.
OT Australia maintains a directory at otaus.com.au — you can search by location and area of practice. Most OTs working in aged care or home modification can help with mobility aid assessment. Your GP can also provide a referral, and most private health insurance covers at least a portion of the cost.
Still Not Sure?
Just Ask.
Every question we get is a reasonable one. Send us a message through the chat or email us directly — a real person will reply.
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