26 Jun 2017

A question about : Mobility Scooter

Hi

My Dad is thinking of buying a mobility scooter and has asked me to see which might be the best one for him. There are so many about that I don't know where to start. He is wondering about a three wheeler but I can remember the Reliant Robin and that it used to tip over. Age concern seem to just promote the Quingo. Can anyone give me a recommendation from their personal use please? Thanks in advance. Jackie

Best answers:

  • Do think about what problems he has mobility wise. Does he have a deteriorating condition which will affect his ability to manage the controls and transfer onto the seat.
    Many companies will sell you these trikes without any discussion as to whether he will be able to manage it in the longer term.
    Take your time and think about where it will be stored and is there level access to and from where it will be kept. Plus is there and electric socket nearby for the battery.
    Do you have a shopping precinct that has a mobility centre attached as that is a good starting point to see if he can use one( they lend them out )
  • There are quite a few that have been bought and very little use made of them.
    Got a four wheeler "Go Go" for my wife five months ago five off Ebay.
    About five years old and very litghtly used ( looks like new ) Ј260.
    Well worth shopping around.
    The difference it has made to us getting about together is remarkable.
  • Thanks carefullycautious, you have raised some issues that I hadn't thought of. Thanks ariba10, would you recommend the 'Go Go'?
  • Google Go Go elite traveler.
    Weighs about 40/45 kilo. Comes apart easily into four pieces and will fit in a car boot.
  • We leave the scooter in the car boot and the battery is taken indoors for charging.
  • There's good basic advice here -
    https://www.pennine-gp-training.co.uk...y_scooters.pdf
    If you have a disabled living centre/independent living group/other similar named group near you, ask for advice. My parents were given good advice from our local group about which stairlift would suit their needs best.
  • We've looked into mobility scooters, - as currently i hire them from shopmobility units when I'm in different places.
    Some thoughts....
    Weight - generally they go in weight ranges 18 st/21st/25 stone / + weight
    Size - theres 2 main issues - mobile ones pavement use (4 miles per hour), heavy duty big ones (8 miles per hour - need a road tax )
    Distance - how far do you want to go, general battery - 10 or 13 mile radius, - the more power to the battery in terms of radius - heavier battery
    Warrenty - second hand - you could buy and it conks out next day
    - new - 12 months warrenty (maybe longer)
    Additional costs - insurance - think recommended - apr Ј90 a year
    Storage - Where are you going to store it
    Electricity - need to have sockets close by for the battery
    Used one before - different styles of handles - need to look at condition as well
    Price - a new one start at around Ј600 - could pay as much as 3k for all bells and whistles
    what am I going to use it for - for out and about in car, back and forth to supermarket from home
    ---
    I would first suggest looking for an indepandant supplier, that way you know they dont have a sales target to meet to keep that firms stock in their shops.
    Try and go to different suppliers, - even if you have to go to next town
    Car boot - can I lift it, - some people have a lift built in, ramps, is it easy to come apart, how much room does it leave me in the boot.
    Try the ones in supermarket - they have the big basket so not an ideal experience but gives a jist of controls etc
    --
    Some of the points you may have already decided yes/no for.... so apologies if I have doubled up,
    Good luck, sure your have many miles ahead
    I know for me, the last 8 years of hiring them have given me so much freedom, independance and may sound daft even self worth, as i'm not reliant on others for everything. xxxx
  • Thanks mum2one and Mojisola. You have given me lots of helpful advice. Some points you raised I hadn't even thought of. Thanks again.
  • Yes think loads covered but things to think of:
    Do you want a large one for pavements/village/town or a smaller more manageable one for using in the car and inside shops only? Some of the bigger ones would not fit in most cars.
    Who would load it into the car? Some are very heavy, even when dismantled.
    Hire one out from town to have a 'test drive' or try the supermarket ones.
    I have had three and four wheelers and have had no trouble with either.
    Three wheelers and smaller ones more manoeuvrable inside shops.
    Some of the very small ones don't have a comfortable seat.
    Currently I have a small one with three wheels that hubby can put in boot which I use for Drs or shops.
    I also have a larger four wheeler which has a better padded seat for out and about in our village - but it is too large to transport.
  • He should really go and see for himself, try it out, see what it feels like. There are 'mobility' shops which specialise in this kind of thing. There's one close to where we live and you can always see people there trying them out on the pavement. The people who work there know what they're talking about and can advise.
    I don't see how you can buy it for someone else.
  • Hi
    Thanks 7roland8. He was thinking of a lightweight one and so the seat aspect is handy to know. We have a Shopmobility place in town so I'm going to suggest to him to go there and try one around the town to see how he gets on.
    Thanks margaretclare. He is 90 years old so he is asking my opinion.
  • Yes, it's fine asking/giving an opinion, but I've been told by people who use these things that a lot of it is 'how it feels'. He should not buy one without having tried some of them first.
  • The thing is with your first one you often don't really know what you want or need and its only by using one you find out the draw backs.
    Our local town had a place to hire out wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
    The two they had were those great large ones with four big wheels - great if we wanted a walk around town but a nightmare to try and turn if you went into a shop - it depends where you intend using it a lot really.
    Yes the smaller the scooter usually the harder the less padded the seat will be - for someone of 90 I would think they would like a bit of comfort - I use a cushion on my small one but you can also get inflatable cushions and back supports which help.
    The thing with scooters is that no one scooter is ideal for every situation and you need to work out what the needs will be - will it be used in house as well?
    Saw a good smallish four wheeler in local chemist today for under Ј400 new so you don't have to spend silly money but just think what you need first.
    Also he has to feel confident in using one otherwise it will just be a waste of money.
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