| Mobility Scooters - An Important Tool For Seniors |
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| Written by Guest |
| Wednesday, 10 February 2010 11:50 |
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Many times, the ability of a senior to walk for extended periods of time is decreased with age. This can be the result of a mobility related disease, such as arthritis, a cognitive disorder like Alzheimer's, or a combination of the two. No matter what the reason though, finding a means of increasing the ability of a senior to independently move around is very important. One of the most common mobility aids for seniors is the walker, these are typically made out of lightweight material and provide two hand bars for the senior to hold on to as they walk. The rollator is a very popular type of walker and is basically a walker with wheels, which makes it easier to use than traditional walkers. Most rollators include a hand brake system, a basket for groceries or other goods, and a bench that can be used as a seat by the senior. Most walkers and rollators can be folded when not in use, so they can be stored in the trunk of a car or other vehicle. While walkers are very popular and probably one of the most cost effective mobility aids for a senior, they require a great deal of physical strength from the senior. They are definitely a step up from walking without assistance, but some find that they require too much energy to safely use. This is one reason that mobility scooters are so commonly used among the elderly. Mobility scooters were first developed in the nineteen-sixties and became very popular during the nineteen-eighties. These devices are electrically powered and allow a senior to effortlessly move by only pushing a button. Some are capable of traveling over 20 miles on a single charge, but most have a smaller range of between 5 and 10 miles per charge. Even with this lowered range though, that still means the senior will be able to go pretty much anywhere one would normally be expected to walk, including the grocery store, shopping malls, walks around the neighborhood, and even amusement parks.
The mobility scooter provides an important and quick way of increasing safety and are in similar in some regards to a wheelchair, which are another important mobility tool for seniors. Wheelchairs can either be manual or electric, but in regards to senior independence, the electric wheelchair is probably the best choice for an elderly individual. This is because a manual wheelchair can be very strenuous to use, so many seniors require that someone pushes the chair. While electric wheelchairs are similar to mobility scooters, they have a number of differences, including costing a great deal more. For seniors, it is often simply not possible to walk for extended periods of time, so finding way of making getting around easier is often a primary concern. The most common mobility aids for seniors are the wheelchair, mobility scooter, and walker, although there are some other types of mobility aids as well. |
