Purchasing a Scooter
Making a decision of purchasing a scooter can be difficult and stressful, let Complete Rehab Solutions help you. With us in your corner you will:
- find the right scooter that best suits your needs
- help you receive a discount purchasing the right scooter for you
- find the right vendor that will work for you
- may get relevant documentation to secure funding for a scooter purchase
- and finally, you will not have to be worried about vendors selling you something that you don’t require
Who should think about purchasing a scooter?
Scooters are also widely used by people who have mobility limitations and by using a scooter it will allow them to increase their accessibility inside and outside their homes. The scooter will enable its’ user to move around independently and access community resources such as going out for grocery shopping, going to the bank, going out for coffee, etc.
Scooters have greatly benefited people with neurological conditions like Multiple Sclerosis or people that suffer arthritis or people who have had strokes.
Environments to consider
The scooter can be used in variety of setting including rough terrain, slopes, hills and rural areas. Depending on the environment there are 2 different styles to choose from a 3 wheeled scooter or a 4 wheeled scooter.
3 wheeled scooters have great turning radius and makes it easier to move in tight areas. People tend to purchase 3 wheel scooters if they are going to be use it frequently in their homes or in their neighborhoods. Depending on the model, 3 wheel scooters also travel well on roads and sidewalks.
4 wheeled scooters have an extra wheel, which provides greater stability and strength. 4 wheeled scooters are typically used to travel through more difficult terrain such as gravel, hills, slopes or rural areas. Unfortunately, with the addition of the 4th wheel, there is a decrease of maneuverability.
What should I look in a scooter
There are many things to consider before purchasing a scooter and having an Occupational Therapist can help you decide which scooter is best suited for you or your loved ones’ needs.
Structural items that you should think about before purchasing a scooter include:
- Have a look at standard and captain seating for the scooter
- Consider the user’s weight capacity and the potential weight of items that the user is planning to carry on the scooter
- Consider getting a scooter that has a swivel seat with an locking mechanism, this feature is recommended for ease of transfers
- Determine the length of time you will be sitting in the scooter
- Have a look at armrests that flip back for ease of transfers by providing clearance
- Consider rear vs full suspension system
- If you are tall, ensure that you have enough leg room while you are on the scooter
- Ground clearance
- Accessories i.e. pouches, oxygen tank holders, crutch holder, tires: air filled vs. foam filled
- Choose a scooter that has a tiller which is easy to adjust, one that can be moved forward to transfer into the scooter and once the user is seated it should be moved back
- If you have grasping issues, don’t get a scooter which uses knobs for release mechanisms
Other items that may come up before purchasing a scooter include:
- Finding out if the funding will come from a public source, a private source or insurance
- Finding the right experienced Occupational Therapist that will perform a scooter and seating assessment
- Scooter’s compatibility with transit bus and/or HandyDART
- Transferring a scooter in and our of the van, see if it is easy to disassemble and consider the weight that your family member would have to lift if transferring the scooter
Why choose Complete Rehab Solutions?
Occupational Therapists at Complete Rehab Solutions Inc. are licensed professionals to conduct scooter, seating and mobility assessments. They can assist you in choosing appropriate knowledgeable scooter vendors by guiding you through the process of purchasing a scooter. This can reduce the feelings of being overwhelmed and confusion that may be caused by this process to you or your loved ones.
Occupational Therapists are trained to recommend scooter systems that provide the most comfort, support and mobility for your loved ones. Their professional involvement with this process can prevent future deformities that may be caused by having your loved ones in unsuitable scooters.
Occupational Therapists can complete relevant documentation to secure funding for a purchase of a scooter and they can also assist you in modifying your home to accommodate a scooter user i.e. consulting with contractors to build ramps, assisting in installation of indoor lifts, etc.
While deciding if you or your loved one would benefit from an electric wheelchair or a scooter, it is worthwhile to have a power mobility assessment completed by an Occupational Therapist. This can ensure that you or your loved ones are safe to drive the scooter and that they have confidence in their abilities which can be achieved through practice sessions with an Occupational Therapist. Occupational Therapists can also inform you about the retail costs of the wheelchair equipment to ensure that you are not paying more than the actual cost of the equipment.
