How to Teach the Use of a Merry Walker

The Merry Walker offers patients and nursing home residents a way to "walk" and a way to achieve a new level of freedom not available to them while in a wheelchair. It is designed to improve functional mobility while preventing falls, pressure sores and additional muscle atrophy. The improved patient freedom encourages socialization, increased appetite, independent activities of daily living and, most important, further deterioration of walking skills.

Things You'll Need

• Merry Walker
• Merry Walker assessment form

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Instructions

• 1

  Assess the individual for appropriateness of the Merry Walker as an ambulation device by utilizing the "Merry Walker Assessment Form" that comes with the Merry Walker, or it can be accessed on their website at http://www.merrywalker.com/docs.html. Determine cognitive ability, balance, desire to ambulate and any medical conditions that would impact the individual's use of the Merry Walker.

• 2

  Familiarize the individual with the Merry Walker; explain that he or she will be able to walk independently with the Merry Walker.

• 3

  Lock the rear brakes of the Merry Walker.

• 4

  Place the Merry Walker near to the individual to assist with transferring the person. Lock the brakes If the individual is in a standard wheelchair before attempting to transfer the patient. Place a gait belt around the individual's waist if he or she is weak when standing or transferring from chairs. A gait belt is an assistive walking device.

• 5

  Move the wheelchair foot and leg rests away from the patient to avoid any injuries. Position the Merry Walker on a right angle to the wheelchair.

• 6

  Have the individual move forward in the wheelchair seat with his or her hands on the armrests of the wheelchair before attempting to transfer to the Merry Walker.

• 7

  Instruct the individual to bend his or her knees and place his or her feet back under his or her body. Remind the person to keep feet flat on the floor.

• 8

  Tell the individual to flex his or her head and trunk (forward) to help attain a standing position. Remind the individual that it is "nose over toes" in order to stand.

• 9

  Ask the individual to push down with his or her hands and straighten his or her elbows at the same time.

• 10

  Ask the individual to stand erect with hips and knees as straight as possible. Have the individual move over to the Merry Walker and pivot around so that the back of the legs are against the seat. Have the person sit in the Merry Walker.

• 11

  Secure the individual and the Merry Walker by engaging the swell latch of the front crossbar on front of the Merry Walker and secure the safety belt to the front crossbar.

• 12

  Release the back caster wheel brakes on the Merry Walker.

• 13

  Ask the individual to stand and begin walking by placing his or her hands on the sidebars just in front of the armrests. Have the person push down on the side arms to get up to a standing position; the weight of the individual pushing downward will stop the Merry Walker from moving. Instruct the individual to walk once he or she is in the standing position as his or her weight will be on his or her feet and the Merry Walker can move. If the Merry Walker does move before ready, have the individual place his or her hands back on the middle of the side arms so that the wheel casters will be weighted down.

• 14

  Move the individual's hands from the side arms to the front crossbar; the Merry Walker will then "follow" the person as he or she walks.

• 15

  Instruct the individual to walk by advancing one foot at a time, one in front of another. Advise the individual to start walking by moving the weaker leg first.

• 16

  Assist individual to walk by placing a hand on the back of the Merry Walker and walk with him or her. Place hand on the small of the individual's back to provide encouragement and stability. This will also help the individual to walk taller. Have the person walk a few steps and then sit down.

• 17

  Ask individual to practice walking and turning around objects.

• 18

  Transfer individual back to a wheelchair by locking the Merry Walker brakes and the brakes of the wheel chair. Release the crossbar and the safety strap.

• 19

  Ask individual to remove one hand from the side bar and begin reaching for the wheelchair arm. Have the person pivot and prepare to sit in the wheelchair. Instruct the individual to step back until the back of his or her legs touch the wheelchair seat. Have the person return his or her hands to the wheelchair armrests.

• 20

  Instruct individual to flex head and trunk forward, bending at the hip and knees in order to return to a sitting position. Remove the gait belt, if used.

• 21

  Encourage individual to use the Merry Walker instead of the wheelchair since there are many health benefits and it allows the person more freedom. Train anyone who works with the individual so that they are familiar with the Merry Walker and how to use it safely.