As a person becomes older, it goes without saying that they will little by little start to lose their independence, which will undoubtedly be a frightening experience. Need a mobility scooter for a senior? Here are our tips for aging parents.
Most senior citizens lose their independence because of health issues, including mental problems and the lack of being able to move around freely. It does not necessarily have to be that way for your aging parents.
With this article we aim to provide a closer look at how you can help your parents maintain their dignity and independence through the help of mobility scooters for seniors.
How Mobility Scooters Can Help Aging Parents Maintain Their Independence
There are a lot of reasons why it is wise to acquire a mobility scooter for your aging parents. Mobility scooters are generally compact vehicles that provide the same benefits as those that a wheelchair offers, except that they are designed and look like a motor-scooter.
As parents get older there are many issues that normally develop that reduce their mobility, making it quite difficult for them to have the same sort of independence they once enjoyed in their youth.
For example, your parents might have developed lung issues over the years, which might cause difficulty in walking very far. Senior citizens also develop knee problems or back injuries with time, which might require surgery.
Having gone through surgery might bring with it a substantial amount of pain while they are recovering. Having to go through this type of pain on a daily basis makes it very difficult to walk for a long distance.
In order to address these issues, we highly recommend acquiring a mobility scooter so that your parents can get back their independence as well as their mobility.
It does not really matter whether your parents live on a big ranch with plenty of open space, or whether they live in the city, there are mobility scooters that will fit their needs.
The Benefits They Can Enjoy With Mobility Scooters
If you are considering getting a mobility scooter for your parents, there are a lot of benefits that come along with using them.
The main benefit of getting one of these is that your parents can now enjoy a semblance of independence that they might have lost ever since an illness, injury or a disability.
With this newfound independence your parents will now be able to do things without constantly having to ask for assistance. Because of this newfound independence, confidence will also surge, creating a more joyous and jovial atmosphere.
With a travel friendly mobility scooter, travelling to different places is quite simple. While a wheelchair might require an amount of manual force in order to move - if you are using a manual wheelchair - travelling with a mobility scooter is a luxury in comparison, as they are powered by motors.
Your parents will be able to sit back and relax, laughing and enjoying the view whilst traveling. Mobility scooters are portable and extremely adaptable.
An average mobility scooter is equipped with adjustable armrests, a wide seat and a simple steering mechanism called a delta tiller.
These features can easily be altered to fit their comfort and their needs. Most models have a backrest which can be folded and thereby allow the mobility scooter to be carried from place to place.
Some folding mobility scooters can be folded into a compact shape, making it easy to transport in the trunk of a vehicle.
Below is a popular folding mobility scooter model, the EV Rider Transport AF Plus Deluxe which can fold and unfold at the push of a button.
There is no doubt about the fact that providing your parents with a mobility scooter will improve the quality of their life.
Bear in mind that mobility scooters can accommodate basically any need, which means that with the plethora of models on the market, your parents should be able to find a model that meet their requirements.
Types of Mobility Scooters Available to Aging Parents
When searching for the right type of mobility scooter for your aging parents, there are a number of models you can choose from.
You can choose from three-wheel and four-wheel mobility scooters. If you choose a three-wheeled mobility scooter, you will have a great scooter that is awesome, with precise turning radiuses, and which is extremely maneuverable.
Four-wheeled scooters on the other hand offer greater stability, meaning that you can be rest assured that they will be more stable and can be operated on many different terrains.
Folding Travel Models:
The folding travel models are the type of mobility scooters that can either be folded up manually or automatically by the push of a button.
A perfect example is the EV Rider Transport AF Plus Deluxe mentioned above. It is light in weight and can fold and unfold easily. Although it weighs only 44lbs, it is quite sturdy as a four-wheeler.
It is perfect for travelling as it is TSA approved, meaning that it is airline friendly. It’s tight turning radius makes it easily maneuverable in tight corners and around crowds of people.
Once this unit is folded up it can be wheeled behind you. Perfect for someone who loves to travel but has limited strength and mobility.
Standard Models
If your parents are not so keen on the traveling aspect, you could provide them with a mid-sized mobility scooter like the Afikim Afiscooter C3. This unit is a bit bigger than the foldable types of mobility scooters.
It is also designed for travelling over longer distances with each battery charge. These mid-sized standard models are equipped with comfortable features like padded seating and come in speeds ranging from 4 to 6 mph.
As a perfect example, the Afikim Afiscooter C3 is a luxurious model with a weight capacity of up to 350lbs. It has an adjustable orthopedic seat which can also swivel.
Should they want to dine out this unit can easily drive up to the table, swivel and they are ready to eat.
It comes with full suspension and shock absorbers. It has wide pneumatic tires, with an amazing 4-inch ground clearance for easy navigation through parking lots and sideways.
Heavy Duty Models
The heavy-duty models are a bit bigger and can support weights of up to 600lbs. These models can be driven off-road and have many useful features such as suspension like the Afikim Afiscooter S4.
This unit is a heavy-duty four-wheel scooter that is perfect for outdoor activities. It has an impressive driving range of 28 miles per single charge.
What this mean is that they will be able to drive around without recharging the battery for 28 miles. It is equipped with smooth suspension, an adjustable tiller, a steel frame, and a wide seat.
With a large 1400-watt motor, it can easily support up to 450lbs in weight. It also features a top speed of 9.3 miles per hour. Pretty impressive.
Additional Add-Ons
While shopping for a mobility scooter for your aging parents, there are several features to take into consideration. Many scooter models have different colors to choose from, including everything from green to blue to black and white.
Some scooters offer different seat sizes. Remember that the larger sizes offer more comfort. Review all the specifications of a particular model you are interested in. Ideally with the help of a sales consultant.
Sales consultants will be able to help by taking the user’s measurements, ie. their height and their weight. Even better would be to shop locally so that you can test drive a given model.
When choosing a scooter, make sure that it has warranty. As this will cover labor and parts for a particular length of time.
Conclusion
Our parents are dear to us, and we want to make sure that they continue to experience the comfort they deserve especially in their old age. Hopefully, we have inspired you to help your aging parents maintain a certain level of independence even as they are becoming older. Please feel free to let us know if you have any questions or if you feel we need to add more elderly help related articles to our site.
We also have a special offer you can benefit from by taking 6% of your order. Simply enter coupon code EW6 at checkout and it will apply the discount. This offer won't be around long, so act soon! See product pages for details and if you have any questions feel free to give us a call at 800-682-9444 and one of our agents will be happy to assist you. We are open every day from 8AM - 8PM est!
If you are more interested in looking for other elderly help related articles or for mobility scooters that fold, our staff compiled a great list of the Top Folding Mobility Scooters of 2020 and have had some great feedback on that article as well. We also have another article on the 5 Best Lift Chairs for Elderly People.
Feel free to write me anytime at kellon@electricwheelchairsusa.com if you have any questions or comments. At Electric Wheelchairs USA, we truly love helping our customers make the best choice for their needs whether it is a power chair, mobility scooter, or lift chair.
