Keeping mobile is key to independence
Keeping yourself mobile and retaining your independence is something that has become easier with the growth of mobility aids.
The range of scooters, wheelchairs and aids that are available has never been greater and this has given more people the chance to get out and about.
Exel Mobility in Ayrshire offers an extensive range of mobility scooters, mobility wheelchairs, rise and recline chairs, rolltors and walking aids.
The team offer a free visit where they can come out and assess your needs in your home.
Here he offers some tips on how to choose a mobility scooter, which offers the ultimate in independence.
Consider the tiller and controls you can operate if you have arthritic fingers.
Otherwise you could waste money or buy a scooter that isn’t the safest or most comfortable.
Scooters you can use to travel on pavements and in shopping areas are called Class 2 scooters.
If you live near a high street and you can get to your destinations by avoiding roads, this may be a good choice.
Class 2 scooters are smaller, lighter and often cheaper than those designed for the road.
There are two types of scooters: folding and dismantling.
Folding scooters allow you to reduce them to a compact shape and wheel them, like a wheelie case.
The types of journey you plan to make and the type of terrain you’ll cover and storage facilities along with your body weight and size.
You should think about where you’ll store your scooter when it’s not in use.
If you can charge its battery separately, do you have somewhere dry and secure to keep it?
Scooters that allow you to reduce the width of arm rests or fold the tiller down may be more practical.
So get out there and do your research – ask the experts, and above all, work toward keeping your independence.