Kevin and Nataline Plus Anyone else looking at the Hugo or rollator
I love the Hugo. Unless you need it delivered, you will find
better prices at Walmart Super Store or Sam's club - $110 to $115.
I have used my Hugo to walk around in the yard. The larger
wheels allow this. There are times that I have had to "lift" it
to get out of a big hole covered by grass but other wise it is
very handy.
I keep my Hugo in my SUV so that it is always on the outside of
the house. I have 3 steps into my house and as yet have not had
a ramp installed and while I probably could lift it up those 3
steps I try not to take too many risks.
Inside my house, I use 3 rolling office chairs. I am able to
take several steps - at most 10 feet - unaided but I really have
to concentrate on where I am going and take every brain cell to
accomplish this. I found this out the hard way - no multi
tasking in thinking and concentrating because I fell and did
something to my little toe. It then took another 3 falls to
figure out that the "pain" was making my legs give out. This
wiring in the spine is crazy! After 16 months still learning
what is what and still there are differences day by day.
Anyway, back to the Hugo and rolling office chairs. Other than
the brakes, I find the rolling office chairs easier in the house
because the handles on the Hugo wouldn't allow me to get close
to cabinets and such. Since I'm short - 5'1" - I have short arms
and the Hugo in the house made it even more difficult to try to
cook and work at cabinets. At one time I kept a regular rolling
4 wheel walker in the house and the Hugo in the SUV. Having the
same difficulties, and having a friend of a friend worse off
financially, I gave the 4 wheel walker to her. After my fall, I
decided that I did need something in the house to help carry and
sit so I started using my rolling office chair and that's when I
found that they work in the house. I have 3 rolling office
chairs. They are narrower than the Hugo and they make tighter
turns. Therefore, I find the rolling office chair better in the
house.
With the rolling office chairs, I sit higher and can do a little
better with regular cabinet heights and get closer. I also use
the rolling office chairs just like my Hugo - carry things on the
seat and push the office chiar from the back support which I have
set so that it doesn't give. I also use the rolling office
chairs to make my bed because I don't bend too well anymore. PT
and OT would probably not approve, but so far I have not had any
problems in the past 3 months. Just make sure that you fully
seated in the rolling office chair and Hugo because if you lean
too far forward it will slide out from under you.
Kevin, I'm not sure why you would want to use a cane with the
Hugo. If you need the cane to get up and down stairs, you can
always put the cane "crook" where the handles join. I have done
this several times. When you engage the brakes on the Hugo,
there are brakes on either handle and that handle only controls
the brake on that side. So if you put the brake on the right
side and push on the left, the Hugo is going to "circle" to the
right and vice versa.
I'm sure that is you knew someone, they probably would be able to
fix Hugo so that either hand brake would engage both. You may
also want to make that suggestion on the Hugo website. This
would be beneficial to patients who have only 1 good arm/hand.
I hope that I have helped in some way. I would like to
see others who have suggestions on doing house work, cooking,
general day to day suggestions. I'm always looking for ways to
do things.
I know I have surprised several people in the kitchen because I
have a couple of pliers in my kitchen - they are great to pull
those sealed tops off bottles and they also help with the smaller
lids on drinks and such.
For those things in bags, I use scissors to open and then roll
down the top and use the large black office clips to hold the
bags. The large black office clips are cheaper and easier than
the regular bag closeures that are $1 a piece (the potatoe chip
large clips in stores).
Prayers, thoughts and courage to each and all.
Candy K.
----- Original Message -----
*From:* Natalie Boyles <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
*To: *Kevin Wolfthal <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
*Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:tmic-list@eskimo.com>
*Sent:* 4/15/2007 12:56:16 AM
*Subject:* Re: [TMIC] thanks for rollator suggestions!
Hi Kevin,
All your emails about a rollator have me thinking of getting
one. I do not go many places anymore, just stay around home.
And, I do have problems getting around at home too. I found a
video of the Hugo at the link below. It does fold and looks
real nice. I am glad you brought up the question of the Hugo
as I guess I should give one a try.
Natalie
http://www.hugoanywhere.com/
