Mobility Scooter - Motorized Scooters for Elderly

When the times comes that elderly cannot hold their driver license, they often experience the feeling of not being able to move over larger distances, and in some cases, being isolated from the rest of the world. But, even with their deteriorating stamina, vision or coordination, millions of seniors have managed to regain freedom of movement by purchasing scooters for elderly.

Motorized scooters for elderly are modern mobility aids that have the equivalent function of a wheelchair, but are much faster, able to travel over larger distances, and are configured into a form of a motor scooter. They are today also known as a power-operated vehicle or a power-operated scooter. They are also famous as electric scooters for elderly because a clear majority of them operate on electric power that is stored in large onboard batteries that can be replenished when vehicles are not in use.

Scooters for elderly are in vast case of scenarios used to maintain regular activities that seniors have been able to perform while they held their driving license, such as visiting friends or family, drive to the store, maintain health appointments, or go to scenic drives. However, it is important to note that scooters for elderly cannot fully emulate the capabilities of traditional car (they are single-seater devices, with little space for luggage and small area of operation due to battery charge limits), but access to such mobility aid can often dramatically help elderly to reach great distance without straining themselves by slowly walking or potentially falling and hurting themselves.

Many modern countries have fully embraced integration of the needs of scooters in the public infrastructure, building pathways on public roads, modifying internal layout of buildings (shopping, medical facilities, recreation or senior centers, and many other places of interest), and thus enabling elderly to more easily take full advantage from their electric scooters and regain their freedom and independence back.

Scooters for elderly come in three or four-wheel versions, are almost always equipped with a small carrying case for limited transport of goods or personal possessions and can be accessorized with various add-ons such as places for storing canes or even for attaching small trailer on the back.

Positives of Motorized Scooters for Elderly

They increase the travel range of seniors much more than any other non-powered mobility aid. Seniors who own motorized scooter can easily visit several stores, friends, family and do many things during each day, without the need to walk between those (often distant) destinations.
Scooters for elderly are fast and agile devices that can easily maneuver across urban environments. Their maximum speed is often limited to between 4-8 MPH, which is faster than some people can walk when they are young and healthy. Some rare models can even go up to 15MPH!
Scooters can easily transfer goods via built-in baskets. For larger loads, some models can even be equipped with small trailers that can be filled up with heavier groceries or objects.
Use of small motorized scooters can prevent falls during walking, muscle strain and other injuries.
Scooters for elderly are built from the ground up to be comfortable and very simple for use. Many models have comfort features such as armrests, headrests, padded seats, and in many aspects, sitting in one of them resemble sitting in a high-end and expensive office chair. More advanced models feature lightweight roofs that can protect the driver from sun or rain.
Motorized scooters for elderly are considered to be much more “visible” on public roads than simple wheelchairs because they are often equipped with safety equipment such as headlights, horns, mirrors, bumpers, and others. This helps scooters not only to be more visible to other motorized users on roads but can also lessen injuries during accidents.

Limitations of Motorized Scooters for Elderly

While the motorized scooters for elderly can dramatically boost the independence of elderly user, these mobility aids are at the end of the day still complicated machines that bring with themselves an array of limitations that users need to be aware of. Here are some of the most notable limitations of the scooters for elderly:

Mobility Scooters require much more maintenance than a traditional wheelchair or walker. Their wheels, driving commands, internals (that feature gears and belts), and battery all need to be checked from time to time. Batteries also have to be replaced after several years of use.
In the event of some damage, wheelchairs can still be pushed away to safe place or back to senior’s home, but that is not the case with mobility scooters. In the event of damage of drivetrain, wheels, battery or other parts, or damage caused by moisture or rain, they are almost always locked to place and cannot be easily moved. This is most commonly experienced when batteries simply get completely drained out, which is something that many users experience during regular use.
Scooters for elderly are large devices, which cannot be easily carried on longer trips in storage compartments of cars. Other mobility aids such as walkers and wheelchairs often feature folding mechanisms that make them much more portable.
Even less than wheelchairs, mobility scooters give elderly even less opportunity to exercise. Many researchers believe that sedentary nature of their usage can potentially cause deuteriation in the physical abilities of seniors. On the other hand, manual wheelchairs can lead to the burning of as much as 120 calories in 30 minutes of use.
Lack of infrastructure for the use of mobility scooters in public places, both in public spaces and indoors. This includes suitable road networks (usually walkways or bicycle lane) ramps, scooter-friendly elevators, and bends with suitable turn radiuses.
Weight limits. Most scooters have strict upper weight limits, which may make them unusable for certain overweight or disabled people.
Cost. Some of the cheapest Scooters for elderly can start with as much as $800 for used models, and that price can very easily go up even up to $5000 or more. Their accessories are often also costly. Many elderly users who want to purchase one of such device are unable to do so because their insurance companies are not willing to cover full or part of costs. Regular wheelchairs, on the other hand, cost a fraction of an even cheapest mobility scooter.

Who Should Use Motorized Scooters

Elderly who are considering using scooters should have some or all of the following criteria fulfilled:

Good cognitive abilities, hearing, and vision
Physical ability to safely go in and out of the scooter, and to safely operate scooter during prolonged periods of time and in all times of day and weather
Decreased physical ability that is causing you to lose ability to walk manually, such as severe arthritis, respiratory issues, multiple sclerosis, obesity and many there forms of chronic health conditions
Access to public roads (sidewalks and bicycle lanes) that are optimized for the use of motorized scooters
Secure storage location where scooter can be kept and recharged when not in use. Covered indoor or underground locations are considered to be best.

Who Should Not Use Motorized Scooters

Scooters for elderly are not for everyone. Seniors are encouraged to take in consideration that these factors should push them into choosing some other form of transport in public spaces:

Lack of storage and recharging place for motorized scooter
Lack of travel access points between their road and public walkways (stairs between their home and roads)
Lack of optimized road network for the use of motorized scooters (sidewalks or bicycle lanes)
Various health issues, such as poor balance, disorders that cause seizures, poor vision and hearing, inability to safely get in and out of scooter, inability to safely operate the scooter, and various cognitive issues that impact judgment and memory

Types of Mobility Scooters

Modern scooters for elderly can be separated into several types, which are as follows:

Some wheels – Either three or four-wheelers are in common use today. Three wheelers are popular because they are agiler, can turn in tighter arcs, and can more easily be used indoors. For wheelers are considered to be more safe and stable.
Drive type – Front, rear or four-wheel drive. Front wheel drive models usually have less power, can carry less weight and are most often designed for indoor use. Rear wheel drive is used for both indoor and outdoor usage, larger weight capacity and faster speeds. Four-wheel drive is best suited for elderly who live in rural areas.
Lightweight type – Indoor scooters come in a special small form that is very lightweight and light on safety equipment. Since they are so small, they are more easily tipped and should not be driven over any uneven terrain.

Accessories

Baskets – For carrying groceries and smaller items
Trailers – For transport of bulkier or heavier cargo
Parking covers – For protecting the scooter against rainy weather or strong sun
Canopy – For weather proception while driving
Ramps – For homes, road access points and vans scooter-friendly
Vehicle Rack – For carrying scooter on a vehicle
Reflective safety vest
Safety flag
Helmet
Attachable safety lights

Recommended Features

Large and easy-to-use controls
One-handed operation
Four wheels, larger wheels
Swivel seat
Reflective safety warnings
Armrests, preferably with flip-up mechanism
Basket
Anti-flip safety wheels
Rear view mirrors
Enhanced batteries for greater range
Good ground clearance
Good suspension
Canopy
Warranty

Difference Between Motorized Wheelchair and Mobility Scooters

The core difference between a motorized wheelchair and mobility scooters is that 1st device is firmly designed around augmenting the existing design of traditional wheelchair. It adds the very small amount of power to the rear set of wheels, while also providing the user with the ability to steer by controlling the rotation of the smaller set of front wheels. The function of the wheelchair remains the same – to provide people who have very severe health issues to remain mobile, without the need to stand up, and whose cognitive capabilities are too weak for them to venture out on public roadways.

On the other hand, scooters are primarily designed to be alternative for cars, for elderly who can fully take care of themselves in public spaces, but lack the necessary capabilities to retain their driver's license. Mobility scooter drivers have to be in good health, with good cognitive capabilities and should use these devices only as a means to eliminate the majority of the walking between the distant points of interests, both inside their home or outside.

Legal Issues with Mobility Scooters

Many governments around the world have placed restrictions on the procedure in which elderly users can receive subsidies for purchasing of mobility scooters. There are also other types of legal issues that users need to be aware, including:

In the United States, Medicare has a strict ruling that prevents seniors from receiving a subsidy for the purchase of scooters or powered wheelchairs if they deem that person does not need to use it inside their own home. This means that even if a person is clearly a good candidate for mobility scooter or powered wheelchair if they can safely walk inside their own home, they are automatically denied a Medicare subsidy. Many health and disability rights advocacy groups are campaigning to change this very restrictive rules.

Canada also has many legal rulings that restrict the support that elderly persons can get during a purchase of mobility scooter. The laws that govern the rights of mobility scooter drivers have placed them on equal grounds like ordinary pedestrians. This means that scooters can lawfully use pedestrian tracks, which increases the potential for injury of a pedestrian who can be struck with very heavy scooters who can travel at substantial speeds.

United Kingdom citizens can purchase mobility scooters by taking advantage of government subsidy that is part of the Motability scheme. By law, these scooters are classified as Class II (max speed 4 MPH) or Class III (max speed of 8 MHP) of “Invalid Carriages for legal purpose”.