Errands
Grocery stores, restaurants and shopping trips with a mobility aid
The trick is to go when it's quiet, know where the accessible entrance is, and never be shy about asking.
By David Ellison
Senior mobility editor · Updated
Pick your time
Mid-morning on a weekday is the quietest time in most grocery stores: aisles are clear, staff have time to help, and parking close to the door is available. Many stores also have senior hours early in the day.
Store scooters, carts and help
Most large stores keep motorized carts near the entrance; call ahead to check they're charged. If you use a walker, a wheelchair-attachable cart or a rollator with a large basket beats pushing a full-size cart. Ask customer service to carry heavy items to your car — they are happy to.
Before every outing
- Check the store or restaurant's accessible entrance and parking on its website or by phone.
- Charge the power chair or scooter the night before.
- Bring a reacher for high and low shelves.
- Keep a small bag hooked to the chair or walker for your phone and wallet.
- Know where the nearest accessible restroom is.
Restaurants
When you book, say you use a wheelchair or walker and ask for a table near the entrance, not a booth. Tables with a center pedestal rather than four legs are easier to roll under. If it's your first visit, look at photos of the entrance online for steps.
Let delivery do the heavy lifting
There's no prize for carrying 20 pounds of water and cat litter. Get heavy, bulky staples delivered and save your trips for the parts of shopping you enjoy — picking your own fruit, chatting with the butcher, seeing people.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your doctor, physical therapist or occupational therapist about what's right for you.