Does Medicare cover walkers for seniors?

Yes, it does—but unfortunately, you may not want to use your coverage to pay for your walker unless you’re in otherwise stellar health. “Because Medicare often won't cover more than one device over a period of several years, many individuals opt to self- purchase less expensive devices like walkers and use their benefits to pay for potentially more costly equipment, such as a wheelchair,” says Dr. Howard.

Are stand up walkers safe for seniors?

If you’re considering buying a stand up walker—a walker designed to have the user place their forearms into armrests and push it around while remaining mostly upright—it’s important to know the limitations. While these walkers are a great alternative for people with hand or wrist pain who can’t comfortably use a traditional walker, says Dr. Howard, they also have a higher center of gravity, making them somewhat less stable and prone to tipping. You should weigh the pros and cons of using a stand up walker before assuming it will automatically be safer and more comfortable for the intended user.

When should a senior use a wheelchair vs. a walker?

If a walker can be used safely , it’s usually the better choice, says Dr. Howard, but no one should put themselves at risk for the sake of using one. “While walking is an excellent form of exercise and has numerous health benefits, the risk of injury or death for a person at high risk of falls might make walking—even with a device like a walker—more dangerous than beneficial,” she explains. In this case, a wheelchair is a much safer option for transportation. Dr. Howard advises seniors with weakness in the arms or legs, numbness, pain, or memory loss or other thinking impairments to use a wheelchair instead of a walker.

The 7 Best Walkers for Seniors of 2023

There comes a point in a lot of people’s lives where moving around with a little extra help is a necessity. Walkers and rollators provide great support for those suffering from conditions like arthritis, hip and back problems, and severe respiratory issues that impact endurance.

The right type of walker and the right instruction can help your mobility increase greatly. “If you are choosing a four-wheeled walker, I would recommend splurging a little," explains Utah-based doctor of physical therapy Alyssa Kuhn. "I have found that the less expensive models tend to have less durability and need to be replaced much more frequently.”

We researched dozens of walkers and evaluated them based on their reviews, folding capabilities, ease of use and assembly, weight limits, and added features.

Here are some of the best walkers for seniors on the market today.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Medline Premium Empower Rollator Walker at Amazon

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Best Budget:

Lumex Walkabout Lite Rollator at Amazon

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Best Lightweight:

Hugo Mobility Explore Side-Fold Rollator Walker at Amazon

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Best Foldable:

Drive Medical Deluxe Two Button Folding Walker at Amazon

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Best With Seat:

Hugo Mobility Elite Rollator Walker at Amazon

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Best for Travel:

Able Life Space Saver Walker at Amazon

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Best Three-Wheel:

NOVA Medical Products Traveler 3 Wheel Rollator Walker at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Verywell Health

4.8

Amazon

Pros

Wide memory foam seat that folds for standing use
Antimicrobial protection
Height adjustable from 4’11” to 6’4”

Cons

Lots of extra features can be confusing for seniors
Four wheels make it less stable than traditional walkers

We chose the Medline Premium Empower Rollator Walker as our top pick because it's packed with unique features and is comfortable to use. Features include a cup holder for your drinks when you’re on the go, an extra-wide memory foam seat, cushioned backrest, and a removable seat storage bag. The memory foam seat, backrest, and handles all have antimicrobial technology to protect against bacteria, mold, and mildew buildup, which are known to cause unpleasant stains and odors. These features make this walker an especially great option for seniors with weaker immune systems. When you can’t move anymore, the Medline Premium Empower Rollator Walker is there to carry you forward with its 8-inch wheels made for enhanced mobility.

Price at time of publication: $200

Folding: Yes | Added Features: Cup holder, removable storage bag, tray organizer | Weight: Up to 300 lbs

What the Experts Say

“You want to make sure the walker supports your weight appropriately,” advises Dr. Kuhn, who adds that a walker poses a fall risk if it isn’t strong enough to support your weight. “Many traditional walkers are rated for [people up to] 350 pounds, but they do also have bariatric or heavy-duty walkers available as well.”

Amazon

Pros

Easy-to-use brakes
All-purpose 6-inch wheels
Lightweight; less than 15 pounds

Cons

Doesn’t fold up easily
Brakes are hard to use for people with grip issues

This walker may not have all the fancy features that others do, but it does what it needs to do for a reasonable price. The Lumex Walkabout Lite Rollator lightweight aluminum frame makes for easy movement, while its 14-inch cushioned seat, padded back bar, and ergonomic adjustable hand grips add to its robustness. It also comes with a storage basket, easy-to-use brakes, and safety lock to help users avoid tripping. And when it’s time to pack it all in after a nice walk with the help of four 6-inch wheels, you can easily fold up the rollator. Despite its basic features, this walker from Lumex is an excellent option for seniors looking for an affordable walker.

Folding: Yes | Added Features: Ergonomic hand grips, padded back bar, under-seat storage basket | Weight: Up to 300 lbs

Walmart

Pros

Side-folding mechanism makes storage easy
Lightweight for travel; only 15 pounds
Automatic braking

Cons

Wheels are not overly durable for outdoor use
Not adjustable enough for tall users

This lightweight walker from Hugo is the ideal friend to carry on the go because it won’t bog you down. Although just 15.4 pounds, the Hugo Mobility Explore Side-Fold Rollator Walker manages to pack a lot of features without adding too much extra weight. It comes with a padded built-in seat, contoured backrest, and underseat storage. Its ergonomic, comforting hand grips create easy access to brakes and the height adjustable handle bars help you maintain proper posture. With four 8-inch wheels and a weight capacity of 300 pounds, this walker is designed to support without letting or weighing you down.

Price at time of publication: $347

Folding: Yes | Added Features: Padded seat, contoured backrest, storage basket | Weight: Up to 250 lbs

Amazon

Pros

Ergonomic hand grips
Two-button folding mechanism

Cons

No seat option

This walker from Drive Medical is great when you’re not sure what type of walker you need. It comes with two 5-inch wheels for easy movement on most surfaces. Made from aluminum, this frame is lightweight, durable, and easily adjustable. Setting a walker to the right height helps to maintain good posture and prevent painful alignment issues that would necessitate wearing a posture corrector.

On top of being able to support 350 pounds, this walker offers ergonomic hand grips to make operation easy. And when the day is done, you can just push down the two-button release mechanism—which is specially made for those with limited dexterity—with the palm or side of your hand to then quickly fold it for nice, easy storage.

Price at time of publication: $42

Folding: Yes | Added Features: None | Weight: Up to 350 lbs

What the Experts Say

“The best walker is the one that's actually used, so finding a walker that will fit inside the home, is comfortable, and has useful features for that senior's day-to-day life could help improve the likelihood that it will serve its purpose in keeping someone mobile and safe.”

— Ileana Howard, MD, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist

Amazon

Pros

Handlebars are ergonomic and height-adjustable
8-inch wheels for indoor and outdoor use
Tool-free assembly

Cons

Four wheels means less stability overall
Doesn’t fold easily or compactly

Stopping to rest and take a seat should be a comfortable experience—one that comes with a lot of room and extra padding. That’s why Hugo’s rollator walker is ideal, with a thick 12-inch seat that can be set at two different heights. It also comes with under-seat storage, an additional saddle bag, and a backrest for extra support while the handlebars act as a nice armrest. When standing, those same height adjustable bars work to ensure better posture and have ergonomic hand grips that place your hands at a natural level for more comfort and better brake access.

The Hugo Mobility Elite Rollator Walker is designed to fit people of most heights and support adults up to 300 pounds. It’s durable without being clunky, managing to maintain a lightweight design of only 18 pounds. While great for indoors, its extra-large 8-inch wheels also make it reliable on shaky ground outside. This walker is meant to carry you anywhere.

Price at time of publication: $175

Folding: Yes | Added Features: Under-seat storage bag, saddle bag | Weight: Up to 300 lbs

Lowes

Pros

Folds all the way down to 6 inches in diameter
Weighs less than 8 pounds
Front wheels only make it extra stable

Cons

No seating option
Wheels don’t rotate 360 degrees

According to its description, the Able Life Space Saver Walker is said to be the “world’s smallest folding walker” perfectly designed for stress free travel and storage. By simply lifting a tab with your finger, this walker folds into a 6-inch diameter in seconds—much like an umbrella—and can be stashed away in your car or overhead plane compartment. At only 8 pounds, this walker is extremely lightweight for easy loading and unloading, but it can also support up to 400 pounds of weight. With a 19-inch base, it can fit through tight spaces, and its two fixed 6-inch front wheels help you to glide across all different types of surfaces. The stability and reliability of the Able Life Space Saver Walker makes it a welcomed friend during any travel experience.

Price at time of publication: $99

Folding: Yes | Added Features: None | Weight: Up to 400 lbs

What the Experts Say

“The most commonly used walker is a front-wheeled walker that has four legs: the front legs have small wheels on them while the back legs do not. This design simultaneously allows the walker to glide smoothly on the ground while providing a stable device for support when standing still. These walkers can also be easily folded up for storage and transportation.” — Dr. Kristen Gasnick, a board-certified doctor of physical therapy

Amazon

Pros

Flexible for many environments
Soft-touch hand grips
Easy-to-operate brakes

Cons

Heavier than the average walker with added features
Three-wheel designs increases risk of tipping

This narrow walker will make sure you have no trouble fitting into and through the tightest of spaces. Its three-wheel design makes it easy to handle doorways, hallways, passages, kitchens, and more. Although most effective when used indoors, NOVA Traveler’s 8-inch rubber wheels are extremely durable and make for a smooth, stable ride when walking across roads or lawns. When you need to rest, just give the feather-touch hand brakes a light squeeze and park your walker anywhere—or, fold it inward so it can stand on its own. With comfortable grips and a removable basket, tray, and pouch, this adaptable walker is very user-friendly. It’s also covered for life by NOVA’s warranty, with a lifetime limited warranty on the frame and five-year warranty on the brakes.

Price at time of publication: $180

Folding: Yes | Added Features: Storage bag and basket, attached tray | Weight: Up to 250 lbs.

What the Experts Say

“If the walker will be used outdoors, consider the wheel size; larger wheels help with negotiating sidewalks [cracks and] creases.” —Preston Brown, DPT, GCS, owner of Prestige Therapy & Wellness, LLC in Wisconsin

Final Verdict

The Hugo Mobility Elite Rollator Walker (view at Amazon) hits the sweet spot. It’s reasonably priced for a walker that provides ample amenities and adjusts to whatever you need, whether that’s an elevated seat level or more storage space. It easily transfers from surface to surface and is sure to be a helpful companion wherever your travels take you—even if it’s just from the kitchen to the garden.

What to Look for in Walkers for Seniors

Wide, Padded Seats

When it comes to seating, the wider the better. Even if you don’t necessarily need all that room, it’s nice to know you have more than enough space for your whole body to relax comfortably. You also want to make sure the seat comes with thick padding, especially if you’re prone to long rest stops.

Soft, Ergonomic Grips With Brakes

If you suffer from arthritis or any dexterity issues, finding a walker with grips that cater to your hands is essential. You also want to make sure that the brake and folding mechanisms are designed for easy use. Your hands shouldn’t have to be stressed when using a tool designed to make your life easier.

When it comes to adequate breaks, don’t neglect this important safety feature or assume you won’t ever need to use it; brakes are an important component of any walker, especially if the user is unstable on their feet.

“Make sure you look at the brakes before buying [a walker because] many times the brakes can become defective,” warns Dr. Kuhn.

Lightweight

If you like to move about and be on the go, you should prioritize a walker that doesn’t weigh a lot or come with too many add-ons that could potentially weigh you down.

“Most times, four-wheeled walkers are heavy and hard to manage,” says Dr. Kuhn, “and the traditional two-wheeled walkers are usually much lighter—but you have to be able to fold them up to put in a car or to store away, too.”

Location of Use

Different walkers have different features, some of which make them better for use in the home versus out of the home. “It's important to know details about where the walker will be used,” says Dr. Howard. “Tight city spaces versus rough terrain in the country, for example, as well as [if it will need to] be transported—taken on the bus or folded up into the car—and whether or not it will be used inside the home or just for longer distances outside.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Medicare cover walkers for seniors?

Yes, it does—but unfortunately, you may not want to use your coverage to pay for your walker unless you’re in otherwise stellar health.
“Because Medicare often won't cover more than one device over a period of several years, many individuals opt to self- purchase less expensive devices like walkers and use their benefits to pay for potentially more costly equipment, such as a wheelchair,” says Dr. Howard.
Are stand up walkers safe for seniors?

If you’re considering buying a stand up walker—a walker designed to have the user place their forearms into armrests and push it around while remaining mostly upright—it’s important to know the limitations.
While these walkers are a great alternative for people with hand or wrist pain who can’t comfortably use a traditional walker, says Dr. Howard, they also have a higher center of gravity, making them somewhat less stable and prone to tipping.
You should weigh the pros and cons of using a stand up walker before assuming it will automatically be safer and more comfortable for the intended user.
When should a senior use a wheelchair vs. a walker?

If a walker can be used safely, it’s usually the better choice, says Dr. Howard, but no one should put themselves at risk for the sake of using one.
“While walking is an excellent form of exercise and has numerous health benefits, the risk of injury or death for a person at high risk of falls might make walking—even with a device like a walker—more dangerous than beneficial,” she explains.
In this case, a wheelchair is a much safer option for transportation. Dr. Howard advises seniors with weakness in the arms or legs, numbness, pain, or memory loss or other thinking impairments to use a wheelchair instead of a walker.

Why Trust Verywell Health

Having been raised by two medical professionals, Amari Pollard understands the importance of health literacy. As a seasoned health writer, she is committed to producing well-researched and well-sourced product reviews to help people make informed medical decisions.

Additional reporting by Sarah Bradley

Sarah Bradley has been writing health content since 2017—everything from product roundups and illness FAQs to nutrition explainers and the dish on diet trends. She knows how important it is to receive trustworthy and expert-approved advice about over-the-counter products that manage everyday health conditions, from GI issues and allergies to chronic headaches and joint pain.

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