Mobility scooters
Discussion
Vaguely motoring, right?
My mum is 81, she had a fall last week & cracked her head on the pavement, She's had a few falls in recent years & the family see this going only in one direction, so to prolong her independence as much as we can, the idea of getting her a scooter has been floated. I know nothing about them other than they all seem to come in metallic racing Burgundy.
Are they all much the same or is there a sweetspot with these things? It would realistically be used for round trips of about a mile back & forth to the town centre on pavements. Any pointers welcome.
My mum is 81, she had a fall last week & cracked her head on the pavement, She's had a few falls in recent years & the family see this going only in one direction, so to prolong her independence as much as we can, the idea of getting her a scooter has been floated. I know nothing about them other than they all seem to come in metallic racing Burgundy.
Are they all much the same or is there a sweetspot with these things? It would realistically be used for round trips of about a mile back & forth to the town centre on pavements. Any pointers welcome.
My old man ended up on one, used it on the pavement, fast mode, went to the pub about
2 miles away on it and always drove back half pissed.
Got a phone call one day, Son your dads in hospital been knocked off his mobility scooter,turned out to be a few bumps and scrapes but no real damage, he'd crossed from the pavement over a road and been clipped by a car turning the corner, some damage to the scooter steering gear....
After it was fixed, he was out one day putting his horses on, came out the bookies and some bugger had picked up the scooter into the back of a transit and made off with it.
Police involved, he got it back after it was advertised on gumtree, with a new paint job.
He was a bit of a character and it kept him going until he passed away, but he was a danger to himself and others on the damn thing...
2 miles away on it and always drove back half pissed.
Got a phone call one day, Son your dads in hospital been knocked off his mobility scooter,turned out to be a few bumps and scrapes but no real damage, he'd crossed from the pavement over a road and been clipped by a car turning the corner, some damage to the scooter steering gear....
After it was fixed, he was out one day putting his horses on, came out the bookies and some bugger had picked up the scooter into the back of a transit and made off with it.
Police involved, he got it back after it was advertised on gumtree, with a new paint job.
He was a bit of a character and it kept him going until he passed away, but he was a danger to himself and others on the damn thing...
Have a search through Ebay and Facebook Marketplace to see the different sorts available. If you set foot in a disability aids showroom you can expect to get rinsed for thousands to get something that can be bought barely used for hundreds.
Options are:
Speed: typically 4mph (indoor use), 6mph (pavement), 8mph (longer range).
Portability: Breaks down to load in the boot of a car (tends to be the smaller slower ones) Bigger ones need ramps to load in a van or people carrier.
Weather proofing: Most have none. Some have a tent-like roof and doors, others have rigid roof and doors (probably better if going on roads or longer distances).
Off-road ability; The smallest are really for indoor use and have very small wheels but good a good turning circle (those with three or five wheels). The middle ones are for pavement use, and the more powerful ones with bigger wheels and tyres can be used on grass and rougher paths.
Have a think about the way it is going to be used. You may find having a big one for trips into town and a small one to take in the car for shopping with friends is the answer.
If buying secondhand, battery condition is the big variable. Assume the battery will need replacing whatever the seller tells you. Gel cells don't like being left uncharged and they usually are when someone stops using a buggy and before it gets sold.
Assume £150 to £300+ for a set of batteries (Try Tanya Batteries - they do mail order and far cheaper for the same thing than from a mobility aids place).
Options are:
Speed: typically 4mph (indoor use), 6mph (pavement), 8mph (longer range).
Portability: Breaks down to load in the boot of a car (tends to be the smaller slower ones) Bigger ones need ramps to load in a van or people carrier.
Weather proofing: Most have none. Some have a tent-like roof and doors, others have rigid roof and doors (probably better if going on roads or longer distances).
Off-road ability; The smallest are really for indoor use and have very small wheels but good a good turning circle (those with three or five wheels). The middle ones are for pavement use, and the more powerful ones with bigger wheels and tyres can be used on grass and rougher paths.
Have a think about the way it is going to be used. You may find having a big one for trips into town and a small one to take in the car for shopping with friends is the answer.
If buying secondhand, battery condition is the big variable. Assume the battery will need replacing whatever the seller tells you. Gel cells don't like being left uncharged and they usually are when someone stops using a buggy and before it gets sold.
Assume £150 to £300+ for a set of batteries (Try Tanya Batteries - they do mail order and far cheaper for the same thing than from a mobility aids place).
Edited by GliderRider on Thursday 26th January 10:58
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff