How Mobility Scooters Provide Freedom for the Elderly
French actor, singer and entertainer Maurice Chevalier once said, “Old age isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative.†The older I get, the more I agree with that statement! Now that I have reached a dreaded milestone birthday, it isn’t so bad.
One person who agrees with me is my neighbour who just recently celebrated his own milestone birthday. Over the winter he was spending more and more time indoors, but since his family gifted him with a scooter for his birthday he is outside every day!
My neighbour confided that relying on everyone else to do simple things for him was humbling. His arthritis was so bad that he couldn’t even walk from the living room to the kitchen to get a glass of water. But the mobility scooter has changed his life.
How to Select a Mobility Scooter
Mobility scooters are a common option to provide freedom for the elderly. Unlike a motor vehicle they do not reach a high rate of speed. And the Department of Motor Vehicles does not require any time of permit or license to use them.
But with all the various brands and models, not to mention the wide range of prices, how does one choose the right scooter to fit the person who needs it? Here are questions to ask to make sure that when you buy a mobility scooter, you are making a wise investment.
- Is this a permanent purchase or something you will only need temporarily?
- What type of warranty comes with the mobility scooter, and are you able to insure it?
- Is the scooter comfortable to ride for the person who will be using it?
- Depending on the person’s ability to balance, will it need 3 or 4 wheels?
- Will the scooter be used indoors exclusively, or outdoors as well?
- How easy is it to transport the scooter for using it elsewhere, like in the grocery store?
- Should you buy a scooter that is fueled by gas or one that is electric powered?
Once you have the answers to these questions, then you are ready to purchase the mobility scooter that best fits the lifestyle of the person who will be using it, whether it is you, an elderly family member, or a person in your life who has a disability that causes mobility impairment.
Some mobility scooter companies will let you test drive before you buy, so that if there is a problem with comfort or balance you will know to avoid that particular model or style. You can also talk to them about things like financing and insurance.
Always ask these questions and review the mobility scooter before the purchase. Depending on where you purchase it, and especially in the case of buying a previously owned mobility scooter, you may not be able to return it if you change your mind later.
The Price of Freedom for the Elderly
The Administration on Aging, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (http://www.aoa.gov/) reports that in 2011, more than 3.5 million elderly people were below the poverty level.
Fortunately programs like Medicare and financial assistance from mobility scooter companies are in place to help people make this investment. Some of the benefits that elderly and other mobility-impaired people might enjoy from using them include:
- Independence – Mobility scooters give people who are otherwise mobility impaired the freedom to get around without relying on other people.
- Prevent falling – Slips and falls are one of the most common reasons why elderly people visit the emergency room.
- Promote fast healing – Scooters allow people to move around without putting too much pressure on injured areas.
- Easier errands –Walking up and down long aisles in a crowded store is difficult on a good day. Scooters can help eliminate the challenges.
As you can see, the benefits that come with using Economical Mobility Scooters far outweigh the costs. The most important thing to recall when buying a mobility scooter is to do your homework to prevent winding up with the wrong machine for the person who needs it.
Once you find the mobility scooter that best suits the person in your life who needs it, or perhaps even for yourself, then it is clear scooting towards the freedoms of the past, before whatever happened to impair mobility.
About the Author
Freelance writer Melissa Cameron is also the mother of both a son and a daughter, and wife to her husband, Dave. She writes on a wide variety of topics which causes her to visit a variety of websites, such as http://mobility-scooter-reviews.com/blog/ when researching them. In her free time Melissa enjoys practicing yoga and knitting.
