How to Tell if You Need a Mobility Scooter

Mobility scooters provide independence for a number of people, and so they are popular devices. Yet, it can be difficult to pinpoint whether you need one, and misconceptions exist about who can or cannot benefit from their usage. Here are a few groups of people who can benefit from mobility scooters, and how to tell if you fit into them.

Persons with Physical Disabilities

Persons with disabilities, of any age, can benefit from mobility scooter usage. Although many can and do use manual wheelchairs, these are difficult to maneuver and often require the aid of others to use. Children with disabilities, in particular, often increase their independence and self-confidence through learning to use a motor scooter or power wheelchair early on. If your loved one has a physical disability that prevents walking, or is having trouble staying ambulatory, you can consider investing in one of these devices. Mobility devices may also help decrease pain from naturally stiff muscles, arthritic flare-ups, and other disability-related issues.

Seniors

Not all seniors have physical disabilities, but the aging process means that movement can become increasingly difficult. Seniors may also begin having trouble carrying items, either at home or in public, or negotiating parts of their homes that used to be easy, like stairs. Mobility devices and chair lifts can help with staircases, uneven flooring, tricky walkways, and more. Having a mobility scooter also means a senior who is uncomfortable on his or her feet has an easy place to go if a short rest is needed.

The Over- or Underweight

People in both these groups often find relief from mobility scooters and similar machines. For obese persons, a mobility scooter can take stress off joints and provide a low-impact way to continue moving around while recovering from medical procedures or losing weight. However, many people don’t know that those who are underweight can benefit, too. For example, disorders like anorexia and bulimia often erode muscles, including the heart muscle. This means underweight individuals can have trouble moving around and might even experience injury from it, since their hearts have to work even harder to get blood to the extremities. A mobility scooter, then, can be beneficial to someone in treatment for an eating disorder, until he or she gains enough weight to move comfortably again.

Mobility scooters often increase a person’s independence and self-confidence, which are both positive results. However, pinpointing who needs one and when is sometimes not simple. These guidelines can help you determine who in your life might benefit from such a device.