Disabled Enabled 4: The personal medical mobility scooter

The modern mobility scooter is a mobility aid that is similar in its intent to the modern motorized or electric wheelchair in that it is intended as a mode of motorized transport for its user.  The most obvious difference would probably have to be in their intended function: that the occupant of the electric wheelchair is most likely remaining in it most of the time and not intending to transfer off and onto the chair just for going from location to location, whereas the scooter user would be using the vehicle primarily just to go from point a to point b and not be on it for any other purpose.

Another obvious difference between the two types of mobility devices would be their basic style and design; the mobility scooter is configured in much the same way as a motorscooter. It is also commonly known as an electric scooter, a medical mobility scooter, a power-operated vehicle, or as just a scooter. It is also referred to occasionally as a handicap scooter, however this is likely a more pejorative term for it.

The basic design of the medical mobility scooter includes the driver's seat over the two rear wheels of the vehicle, a flat rest or support area for the feet, and the handlebar assembly located in front of the occupant for steering of the scooter. The driver of the mobility scooter is turning and steering either a one or two wheel front assembly. The driver seat of the mobility scooter is designed so that it can swivel out to the side of the vehicle for easy access to the vehicle and for easy disembarking of the vehicle from the side. Pretty much most of the mobility scooters that one will find on the market today are battery powered vehicles. The battery is charged through the use of a seperate battery charger unit which is plugged into a standard electrical power outlet. I should mention that there are a number of gasoline powered mobility scooters still out there however they are for the most part being replaced by the aforementioned electric powered variety.

with most mobility scooters, near the front steering column is where the forward and reverse controls as well as the speed controls are located. The control for these functions is usually done through the use of a throttle or switch on the column that makes it easier to control these functions. Basically there are two major forms of mobility scooers available on the market: front-wheel drive (FD) and the rear-wheel drive (RD). The FD scooter is usually a smaller-chassied mobility vehicle and is really best made use of while indoors or in a more calmed terrain. The maximum occupant weight capacity is around the 250-pound mark. The RD scooter is used both for the indoor and the outdoor environment and has a maximum occupant weight capacity of about the 350-pound mark. A more 'heavy duty' style of RD is actually capable of carrying upto almost 500 pounds.

Today, medical mobility scooters are available in quite the range of varying models, from the tiny folding travel scooter to the heavy-duty bariatric model. Mobility scooters are commonly available for loan at many public or community facilities, such as some major grocery store chains and are sometimes available for rent at various amusement parks and other outdoor entertainment areas. I believe that it's also possible to purchase some forms of mobility scooter insurance for your mobility vehicle.

Really, mobility scooters are like most everything else, in that they have their own inherent advantages and disadvantages based on the model that you might be talking about. A smaller scooter might allow for more mobility in your environment, letting you turn and reposition your vehicle more easily than in a larger-body vehicle. Also, the ability to swivel the seat of the mobility scooter means that it is generally much easier to embark or disembark than with a motorized wheelchair, where the process of moving the foot rest supports can be something of achallenge. A mobility scooter is also most beneficial for any one individual whose condition has resulted in the disabling or weakening of their entire body in general. I am aware of individuals with conditions such as severe forms of arthritis, cerebral palsy, and congenitive heart or lung issues that have benefitted from the use of a mobility scooter in the performance of their everyday duties. Of course in these cases, the individual in question would still have the ability to walk short distances and have the required upper body strength necessary - without any torso support - to safely steer their scooter.

I find it interesting that some of the people that I have dealt with in my home support role have openly admitted to me that they are much happier to be able to have the use of a scooter than of a motorized wheelchair, the reason being that they feel that if they were to be seen out in public in a wheelchair it would be seen as some kind of visual public statement that they are a disabled or even elderly individual. Somewhat ironically, I suppose, there appears to be more and more disabled and elderly individuals opting to go with the use of a mobility scooter for their daily personal transit needs, which cannot help but increase the profile of the mobility scooter as a mobility aid for the disabled.

As I just mentioned, mobility scooters can also have their disadvantages for the user. Although a mobility scooter can eliminate many of the manual strength isues faced by individuals using a manual wheelchair to get about, the steering mechanism of the scooter still needs the driver to be able to maintain an upright posture while driving the vehicle. Also, the user has to have the previously mentioned shoulder strength, hand strength, and upper-body strength to properly control the scooter. Another issue of the scooter is the fact that by its design, it cannot help but have a much larger turning radius than an electric wheelchair, which of course means that the scooter is less maneuverable in a smaller space, such as in an elevator or a small apartment. I even know individuals with power chairs that would have just found navigating a mobility scooter to be frankly much too frustraing in their apartments. I can also think of at least one client who is often frustrated by the turning radius of his personal mobility scooter whenever leaving his apartment because of how much backing up and turning is involved in leaving his apartment. As well, it is not as convenient to turn back and lock his front door in his mobility scooter as it would be for him in an electric wheel chair. Another thing is the fact that most scooters are unable to fit into the standard short distance wheelchair lifts found in many public locations, which means that they have to try their luck in the closest available elevators or hope that an adequate ramp area has been included in the layout of the area in question. Something else to keep in mind when considering the purchase of a mobility scooter is that, similarly to the motorized wheel chair, there are various carriers of mobility scooter insurance out there offering forms of vehicle coverage; this could be a very prudent option to take advantage of depending on the source of funding for your mobility scooter purchase: the more you are responsible for covering the cost of the initial purchase, the more likely it is that you would be on the hook for any potential future maintenance issues.

The above all just goes to show that mobility scooters are equally different from motorized wheelchairs, and that they definitely have their place alongside all other mobility aids in society that exist to enable the disabled in our community.

Just in case you want to read what has come before in this series of hubs, feel free to visit my earlier Hub which was an introduction to my look at the presence and use of personal mobility aids within the home and community setting. I also have taken a look at the various lift chair recliners used in the home. In another previous Hub, I looked at the use of the different types of wheelchair stair lifts that are installed in many homes.  And lastly, before this Hub, I looked at electric wheelchairs