Folding Mobility Scooters – How to Bring More Independence to Your Life

Having trouble simply walking is bad enough. It’s even worse when you require family, friends and nurse aids to do your shopping, errands or to even get you around your home. Feeling like you’ve lost your independence is a hard pill to swallow. Luckily it doesn’t have to be that way anymore.

That’s because more and more people are learning about “folding mobility scooters.” Now a mobility scooter is an electric powered scooter that has either a three-wheel or four-wheel base. It’s the perfect mobility aid for people who have trouble walking.

Better still, if you are still independent and would largely like to remain so, having what’s called a folding mobility scooter is a blessing. Actually, many models of mobility scooters today break down into individual, lightweight parts, allowing you to put the scooter in the car or in the back of your min-van or SUV. Surprisingly, it can take less than a minute to put the scooter into your car!

Even though the folding mobility scooter breaks down small enough where you can store it in your car, many models are sturdy enough to carry up to 300 pounds. Folding mobility scooters can range in price from $450 to $1,000.

Depending upon the dealer, you may be able to get a good service plan and warranty. Plus, your insurance or Medicare may be able to pay for part of your folding mobility scooter. Be sure to talk with your local dealer about this.

Once you have your folding mobility scooter, no longer will you feel like a burden (if you do) on others. You can have much of your independence back. What’s more, there are many, makes and models of folding mobility scooters. You can get a scooter that fits your own personality, traveling up to 5-10 miles per hour to get where you need to go.

· First off, if you’re working with a clinician or aid, talk with them about your particular situation and get their feedback. Odds are, they’ll be able to tell you decisively whether a scooter or wheelchair is right for you.

· The control issue: Keep in mind scooters are steered with a tiller much like a bicycle’s handlebar. While electric wheelchairs are operated by a programmable joystick. That said, your upper body ability to manipulate a “handlebar” style control vs. a joystick will go a long way in determining which one you choose.

· Posture/Support issue: If the mobility aid user has a posture/spinal support issue then a wheelchair will usually be the better buy as they tend to offer features like power stand, power recline, power tilt, and power elevation.

· The transportation issue: When it comes to the user of the mobility aid doing a lot of driving and traveling, which device you choose will largely be based on this too. For instance, handicap scooters depending upon the model can be broken down into multiple parts for each storage in a car’s trunk or stored in a min-van or SUV. Whereas, a wheelchair (unless a foldable, non-electric) cannot be stored in the trunk. In that case, an electric wheelchair requires what’s called a lift and may very well require a wheelchair van for transportation.

· On the driving issue: When it comes to going from your mobility aid to actually driving your VAN/Mini-van, it’s important to note that scooters aren’t as safe as a seat in a motor vehicle. They’re also harder to tie down. However, you can operate your vehicle from a power wheelchair – and they’re safer than a handicap scooter because they have a 4-point tie down.

· On price: Scooters are more affordable than wheelchairs. Of course, when comparing the two a lot of it has to do with the “add-on” features you request.

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