Jack VanAusdall, a medical massage therapist based in Loveland, beams whenever he speaks about the first test of A Better Walker, an upright walker that he has been developing since 2013.

Its product, the LifeWalker Upright, is marketed as not only providing mobility and protection from falls, but also something precious to people as they age: dignity.

“For a lot of people, loss of mobility means a loss of independence. The LifeGlider has changed my life,” she says. “With the LifeGlider, I don’t have to worry about my balance so I now do ...