I solve this by shopping in stores that supply grocery-store shopping carts.

But a walker with a seat built in it so you can stop to sit and rest anytime you want. Or buy one of those portable stools on a cane.

I use the carts for support.

Do have a portable cane with stool but don't like it.

Or buy one of those portable stools on a cane. That would be my suggestion too.

Look up 'cane with seat' on Amazon.com, they have many to choose from.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Flip down seat:

This is what my father uses. He can sit to rest anytime by turning around and sitting in it:

DH has the same problem. Our Wal-Mart has park bench like seats in several areas, but Harry always gets an electric cart. Man, those things are a God-send. We put his walker (with seat) in the car too, for stores like Barnes and Noble that don't have carts.

I feel for you, luvstodream. It's very frustrating to want to go but just don't have the legs for it anymore.

I agree, stores should have more seating.

I commend you for wanting to stay on your feet. It will keep your strength up. Stay with it. Keep walking, keep shopping.

Is there any way your ability to walk could be improved? The seats, walkers suggested look great.

I had a friend with MS and she did all her shopping online. Boy did she shop!

I am not old but I have felt that way for the past year. I have been on crutches and/or use a cane for 5 of the last 8 months. The hallways on campus are LONG and NO seating. I have "made friends" with people who happened to have offices along my route. Nothing like a strange person hobbling into your office and plopping down in a chair for a few minutes.

I totally understand what you mean. I fully understand that putting "rest areas" in stores would be expensive but if they could spread out the areas in the stores that have seating anyway, like the pharmacy, optical, etc., it would give a spot to sit for a minute or two while you go around.

I find myself using the electric carts more and more. But around here, a lot of stores don't take care of them. They're not charged, batteries are dying, the units themselves are in such bad shape they need to be replaced, etc, that they're sometimes not an option.

It sounds like you don't need support for balance but rather that you simply have to sit down now and then.

We have a friend who has some pretty severe walking issues. When we asked him why he didn't get a scooter he told us his doctor said that the sooner one starts to use scooters and electric carts the sooner the slide in immobility. So he is avoiding them for now. So you are smart not to use the carts as long as you are able.

Maybe a letter sent to some of your favorite stores would help address the problem. If nobody says anything about it nothing will ever be done.

In the meantime try to learn the layout of the store before you shop. Ask someone where seating is available should you tire so you don't have to hunt for it.

Have you tried one of those carts at W/M? I absolutely understand your resistance to using it. I have limitations of other sorts, and it was very, very hard for me to accept that I needed modifications to things and to my life, and that I couldn't be like I used to be any more (before an accident). I actually had to go to counseling about it, but when I finally accepted it, I was much happier and ready to adapt. If you can get over the mental block of not wanting to use a cart, you might end up having a more pleasant shopping experience. Why don't you try it once?

Get a walker with a seat-get a prescription and your pharmacy will give it to you cheap-my DH got one for about $20. Unfortunately, it broke and Medicare won't pay for another for two more years. Rules. Except for handicapped parking, most stores aren't interested in people over 50. I'm fortunate I can still hoof it.

A few days ago, I saw a store display of those little fold up stools similar to the one dilly dally posted, but without the cane attachment. It was unbelievably light (yet sturdy), and would fit in a large purse.

I have the same problem, except I'm far from being a baby boomer! Those are my children.

Standing for very long, even at home, cooking, cleaning the kitchen, etc. is extremely painful. One of the most painful kitchen chores for me is loading the dishwasher.

When I'm shopping, I try to park near a cart corral and get a cart which makes walking easier. I do use a cane for balance when I'm walking. (I have had two knee replacements and the 15 year old one is loopy.)

I've had to use a walker after knee and other surgery, but I refuse to use it all the time. Using a walker long term can aggravate back problems. If you notice, people using walkers have to bend over to hold on to the handles, and that causes stooped shoulders. If I were rich I would "invent" a walker that is made so that you walk between those handles and hold on at the front. Wonder if the Shark Tank folks would be interested?

I have asked at stores where I shop if they would make it a policy to always leave some carts in the corral. I went to one store last week and drove around 5 empty corrals. SharpShopper has listened and now they leave some carts.

Most stores do have benches here and there, but I've noticed they are usually occupied. The WalMart where I shop has a McDonald's and I sometimes take a break there. They have really good chocolate chip cookies!

I don't know what the answer is, but talking to managers about putting in more benches might help. At WM and other stores the shoe department has seats and I rarely see anyone using them, so that is one place where you can rest a while. Or if shopping for clothing, use the dressing room for a rest break.

I empathize with you, but keep going and see if you can get the stores to make some changes.

Good luck.

Sue

That is a problem for us too. DH has lots of trouble walking and we find we are going to much smaller stores now to do our shopping. We do have a walker with a seat but DH doesn't want to use it yet and wants to be mobile as long as he can.

"If you notice, people using walkers have to bend over to hold on to the handles, and that causes stooped shoulders. If I were rich I would "invent" a walker that is made so that you walk between those handles and hold on at the front."

You do realize that walkers are to be adjusted so that a person is NOT walking bent over forward or stooped in a painful position. Don't just use one "right out of the box" and also make sure you have it re-adjusted if you purchase one second hand since it would have been adjusted for someone else's height and arm length.

"A few days ago, I saw a store display of those little fold up stools similar to the one dilly dally posted, but without the cane attachment."

I was going to post those too but figured Google would work for people.

Collapsible with telescoping legs and a carrying bag.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Thanks everyone. I do feel it might be a good idea to contact the store managers. It is hard for them (and other people) to understand the need for benches especially when they are trying to put product in every square inch available. But maybe if I make them understand that I am not alone on this and they are losing business by not providing more benches they might change. I tried once a while back & the manager said there was no room for benches. If he would have given me 5 minutes, I could have shown him 6 places!
If everyone that reads this will remember to be tolerant of us "in-betweeners", I would appreciate it. Until you walk a mile in another's shoes...

I agree that benches would be good, but I also have noticed especially in our super walmart, that they are full of either men waiting for their wife's to shop, or some people who already have finished and checked out "sprawling" out with full baskets taking the whole bench waiting for others. Maybe large stores should have waiting areas with seats, etc. In the Eureka Mall, they have a huge area in the food court area where you can get a meal, or just coffee. That is where most people meet and wait and there is plenty of room, benches and seats.

You might print this page and show it to some local store managers. It seems to be a bigger problem than they realize.

Dottie

I use the store cart for support although I do have a walker with a seat that I could use in an emergency. However, when I go to something at my granddaughter's school, my family brings along a wheel chair as the walk into the school would be too long, as would walking the long school halls.

I would never be able to get myself up and off of one of those small stools that fit in a purse.

On a few occasions when my knee has really been bothering me, I have used the electric cart in our Super WalMart. It is really fun to use but I find I get dirty looks from older people. Shame on them for just assuming that because I look younger I don't need to use the electric cart. I also find I can't reach time on top shelves when I am sitting in the cart. Fortunately, I am able to get out of the cart and get the item.

I can remember when a lot of stores, especially grocery stores, used to have benches here and there throughout the store. That's a rarity anymore. I'm in same condition as luvs. I do ride the carts IF they have them. Places where they don't, I've had to ask clerks to actually go get me something to sit on while I wait for my co-shoppers if I'm not ready to go to the car.

The one and only mall anywhere near me used to have their wheelchairs fairly close to an entrance. Now they are kept in the office which is in the middle section of the mall and FAR from any entrance.

Shirley

Sorry, don't have suggestions about anything more than has been given.

Some of those walkers have adjustable legs that allows one to extend the feet lower.

If the one that you have has the handles too low, would it be possible to have a welder add a handle some above the ones already there, if they are so low that one needs to stoop?

Or ... how about adding a couple of inches or so to the ends of the legs?

Dilly Dally ...

... when your father turns around and sits on that seat ...

... do you accuse him of operating bass-ackwards?

Jes' wonderin'.

ole joyfoul

Our Walmart has benches, the carts are good for leaning on and there is a Subway inside which is rarely full. My DH and I meet at the Subway when we are done looking around unless I see him on a bench first. He had polio as a child and has trouble walking a lot. He also has COPD and heart problems and arthritis. Sometimes he does use the riding shopping cart.

Just use the scooters in the store.Im with you I went away with my daughter today .Couldnt go much.Im exhausted.

For 10 years, I have been using my "little red walker" like
dilly posted. It has gone from the Grand Canyon to our Alaska trip last summer. I once went into a Penneys store with a basket from the pharmacy in the mall, and was asked to leave. Needless to say....I have not been in a Penneys since. Do not hesitate to get one of those walkers....it will change your life. One friend took hers on a cruise (as I advised her to do), and was almost embarassed (as I was) at the extra help you get. But you are there...and trying to live life the best way you can, so you deserve it!!!! Nanny

As ole joyful knows, I also have problems. I have polymyalgia and several other things. Balance is very poor especially if I have to stand. I get exhausted without warning and need a seat then. The rheumatologist had an occupational therapist come out to the house and make recomendations for grab bars, etc. She also advised a walker, so that when this exhaustion hit that a seat was right there. She odered it and when it came she came out and adjusted it in many ways. I don't have to lean forward, height, everything is great. I got one that the seats folds up in half and it takes so much less room in the trunk of the car. I'm limited in what I can lift as well, because of a previous injury years ago but this is very manageable. I say that it is the Lexus of walkers. It is called a Nexus. I had to pay only 25% of the cost as it had been ordered by the therapist.

The hardest part was admitting that I needed it and had to swallow my pride. I did not find that easy at all but finally conquered it.

I even walk the dog, using it, up to 1 km. a day and several times have stopped and sat down for however long it took to feel like going further.

Wishing you all the best and certainly understanding your situation
ivamae

Being "almost handicapped" in many cases is more of a problem than being fully handicapped. When you are almost or like many people "invisably handicapped", shopping, traveling, staying away from home, many issues confront you that would not matter as much to someone who is in a wheelchair.

Heavy doors can be a major obsticle for the invisibly handicapped. Most anyone would open a door for someone in a wheelchair
Handicapped parking spaces are not always closest to the door, but placed where it is most convenient to put a cut out in the curb. That involves a longer walk and usually includes an uphill slope to get to the door. On interstate highways for some dumb reason, the rest areas are either down hill or up hill from the parking area. Many with sidewalks that are more tham 100 feet to the buildings.
Handicapped stalls in restrooms are always placed the fartherst from the door.
Many waiting rooms (doctor, lab, etc.) have no chairs with arms. Bad knees, hips, etc. would greatly appreciate the help of armed chairs.
For this handicapped, but not in a wheelchair person the absolute biggest joke is the handicapped rooms in a motel. Of what use is a sink with no place whatsoever to sit any toiletries. The only place in the whole room where one might sit something is the top of the toilet tank...on the opposit wall and it is sloped so nothing will stay there.
I could go on and on with my frustrations. I am sure that many of you have others. I am thankful for what I CAN do, but sometimes I wonder where the powers that be in such matters have their brains.

Posted by marygailv: "I would never be able to get myself up and off of one of those small stools that fit in a purse."

Marygailv, those Walkstools are 26" high. That is countertop height.

If that would still present difficulty, the ones with canes or carrying handles are designed so that the user can use the handle to get up from the sitting position.

Here is a link that might be useful: Walkstool 26 inches high

I have another thought. How about the tripod with the seat, and a grocery cart. You could put the folding seat in the grocery cart and take it out when you need the sit down break. That way you could get the exercise you want but sit when it is needed.

Dottie

There are really great walkers out there that have really nice padded seats and they have baskets on them too so you can put your purse, etc. in it. That way you can stop where ever or even if you have to stand in line somewhere you can sit down and wait and rest until you are ready to go on.

I see walkers here all over in town as there are tons of seniors. And they are such a variety. I did see someone that had a really old one with the tiny wheels and that isn't good. YOU need the big solid wheels to go anywhere.

And also you can fold the walker in the trunk or some will just put it in the back seat as is.

Check the places out where they sell them and try them out and see what kind will work for you.