~1.jpg&newwidth=80 "Jeanine Clancy")
Written by Jeanine Clancy, MEd, BSN, RN
For seniors, remaining active and maintaining independence contributes greatly to overall physical and mental well-being. As we age, balance can be affected by changes in vision and sensations in our feet and problems with the vestibular system, so a rollator walker can significantly impact mobility. The extremely versatile Medline Empower Rollator, dubbed “The Ultimate Rolling Walker,” is packed with features that make it a great option for just about any user.
 | Empower Portable Folding Rollator by Medline View Product |
The Medline Empower Rollator allows you to “step inside” the rollator frame. With other rollators, you stand back from the frame and lean forward, which can compromise your posture and shorten your stride. But all you need to do is flip the seat up, slide the storage compartment forward, and you’re standing tall in this rollator frame instead of leaning on it in front of you.
Stepping inside the Medline Empower Rollator frame promotes better posture and allows you to walk with a more comfortable natural gait. This design feature also allows you to stand closer to counters, sinks, and cabinets for easier reach and more accessibility.
This rollator serves a wider range of users than most models, with a weight capacity of up to 300 pounds and the ability to accommodate users up to 6’4” tall. It’s easily adjusted at several points for a perfect personalized fit via bright yellow, highly visible knobs that are simple to operate. It also has a reflector across the frame for visibility and added safety. Watch this video to see the comfort and stability the Medline Empower Rollator provides users of all body shapes and sizes.
One of the most valuable features of any rollator is a seat for resting. When it’s time for users of the Medline Empower Rollator to sit, they have a lot of options to ensure they can be comfortable in any situation. Its backrest flips forward and backward so you can sit in either direction, and the handles fold in so you can sit up close and fully use your arms.
Standard rollators have a fixed backrest or storage pouches affixed to the front, which means you can only sit one way, and the handlebars limit your range of arm movement. In restaurants, users need to transfer to a chair and store the rollator for full access to the table. However, with the Medline Empower Rollator, you just roll up to the table and use it as a comfortable seat.
With your hands on the handlebars, it isn’t easy (or safe) to carry something while using a rollator. Standard rollators usually have fixed storage that’s limited in capacity and usefulness. The Medline Empower Rollator has a large neoprene storage bag with a built-in organizer plus a removable zippered bag that attaches to the roof of the seat. One of the most useful features is this rollator’s built-in cup holder that keeps your drinks from spilling and leaves your hands free for safe mobility. See this video illustrating how the user experience is improved through the thoughtfully designed convenient storage options.
There aren’t many rollators that are produced with Microban antimicrobial protection, which actively inhibits the growth of mold, mildew, bacteria, and odors. However, the Medline Empower Rollator offers rollators in red, black, and white that Microban has treated at all touchpoints and on the seat to provide an extra layer of protection from spreading harmful contaminants.
The two most common rollator brakes are push-down and loop style, with loop style being the easiest to squeeze for people with limited hand strength. However, you can be confident in the stopping capability of the Easy Squeeze brakes on the Medline Empower Rollator that make stopping simple and safe and are easily set to ensure the rollator stays put.
If getting out and about with your rollator means more than taking a walk, the Medline Empower Rollator folds compactly for portable transport. It weighs only 17 pounds and fits into the trunk of a car, and the handles turn in, allowing it to fold flat for storage while traveling on an airplane, train, or bus.
It is standard for rollators to come with 6-inch wheels, seats in the 13 to 15-inches wide range, and a weight capacity of around 250 pounds. In contrast, the Medline Empower Rollator has large 8-inch wheels making it suitable for use indoors or out, a seat width of 17.5 inches, a weight capacity of up to 300 pounds, and adjustability able to fit people as tall as 6’4”.
Medline is a U.S.-based leading producer of medical equipment, with more than 20 manufacturing sites and more than 50 distribution centers in North America. It has a catalog of more than 300,000 items, so chances are good that you’ll see at least one Medline product next time you’re at your doctor’s office.
"This rollator easily clears the doorways in my retirement community and rolls smoothly over outdoor surfaces, even if they're uneven. I feel confident and safe using it, and it allows me to keep doing the things I enjoy, like getting out and visiting with people.” - Margaret D.
“This is not the ‘little red walker’ you’re used to seeing. It’s a sturdy vehicle with a comfortable seat and backrest with a lot of convenient storage. It’s also easy to assemble! It worked great while traveling by air, and my only regret is that we didn’t buy it sooner. It would have made previous trips so much more enjoyable.” - Nan B.
“Got this for my mom, a tiny lady who had been sitting in a chair all day getting more and more stationary. Now she regularly walks every day, building her stamina, confidence, and balance. It’s adjustable for much taller people, but fits her really well. It’s sturdy, with wheels that maneuver over most bumps you’ll find on a sidewalk or lawn. It’s increased her independence and mine, since I don’t have to be there all the time, as she can get herself safely around her home now.” - Shannon N.
A: It weighs 17 pounds, and with the storage basket, that increases to 23 pounds.
A: A steel frame is stronger, so it is appropriate for heavy-duty or bariatric rollators. The downside is that it’s heavy. An aluminum frame is still strong and lighter for more portability and easier maneuverability.
A: Medicare Part B covers rollators as durable medical equipment (DME). The rollator must be medically necessary, and your medical provider must prescribe it for use in your home. Please note that RehabMart does not accept insurance. What we can do, is, upon your request, provide you with an itemized receipt. Then, you can submit your itemized receipt to your insurance for reimbursement.
A: For walkers with a seat and/or crutch attachment, use codes for individual accessories (E0156, E0157) along with a base walker code. For example, a folding wheeled walker WITH a seat is billed as E0143 plus E0156.
Seniors report about 36 million falls each year in the U.S., resulting in more than 32,000 deaths. A rollator can help minimize the fall risk while maximizing the opportunity for independence through mobility. Being highly adjustable, supporting good posture, and a natural gait with its “step inside” design, convenient storage, and an exceptional level of accessibility has earned this feature-packed mobility aid a reputation as the ultimate rolling walker.
Visit Caregiver University for more articles, including buying guides, product reviews, and descriptions to help you make an informed decision on choosing the best rollator for you or your loved one.
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Jeanine has been a nurse for twenty-seven years with an extensive background in perioperative services, school/community health, quality/education, and leadership/administrative roles. Jeanine creates high-quality health content and is a mom (to 4 fabulous kids), dog mom, and avid hiker.
