Would a painted walking cane make you less resistant needing to use one?
My friend, Emily, is such a sweetheart. I love visiting her. She is in her 90’s, fully able to live on her own, is lively, quick witted and always smiling. She is my hero!
Recently she started needing the assistance of a cane. She really hated using her black cane because she thought it was ugly.
And she much preferred holding onto a shopping cart at the market, rather than use a cane or walker.
She thought painting her walking cane, bright colors would make using it seem a little more fun.
We were on our way back from lunch when she noticed the broom handle (that I use as a limbo stick) sitting inside my car, and her eyes lit up.
She thought the colorful polka dots on my limbo stick looked really neat.
That sealed it…we had our inspiration. So I carried my painting supplies into her home and got set up to paint.
She picked a cozy chair, settled herself into it, and was delighted sit and watch me paint.
Custom Painted Walking Cane for Emily in Oxnard, CA.
She enjoyed watching me transform her walking cane. And now when Emily goes out, she feels special using her cane.
Her walking cane has become more like an accessory that makes her feel hip and cool.
Sometimes she even waves it around when she notices someone looking at it.
It was really fun creating it with her and she said it is holding up well!
Here’s how I painted this cane:
- Tape off the foam parts to keep them clean.
- Paint primer on the area you plan to paint. (I used a hairdryer to help it dry quicker.)
- Next, paint acrylic paint over the primer. (I used white paint.)
- You can add colorful polka dots with artists acrylics. (I kept turning the cane to make sure some of each color was viewable from each angle.)
- Next I added a few smaller black dots to camouflage the tiny holes that needed to stay the base color. (You’ll want to keep cane holes functional and accessible, for possible future adjustments.)
- Put a protective coat over the painted parts. (I used a thin coat of a water base varnish – Hopefully this will prevent the cane embellishments from getting scuffed up.)
Cane painting in progress
Painting a cane or walker, or buying a fancy one, can help make using one a little more pleasant.
Life’s challenges are sometimes difficult and it is human nature to resist things that feel distasteful.
- Know someone who is used to being more active and resisting using their cane or walker?
- Know someone recuperating from an accident or surgery and need a temporary cane or walker to get around?
Here is a potentially fun idea for an activities director of an assisted living community, an active living center, or a convalescent home.
- Some of your clients may enjoy decorating their own canes or walkers so they can stroll around in style….Or…You could hire a local artist to come in and custom decorate walking canes or walkers.
- There is even really fun patterned duct tape that could be wrapped around an ugly cane to make it fun….And you could change it out pretty easily for different holidays!
I never really noticed canes until after creating this with my friend. Now I notice colorful ones for purchase everywhere…even at local drugstores.
Maybe you’d like to see a custom painted powder room.