Reductions in mobility threaten our independence as well as our mental and physical health. Therefore, choosing the right mobility aid is a vital part of maintaining agency throughout medical issues.
At the same time, some people with partial mobility find themselves caught between types of aids, and that can ironically limit you to a less fulfilling lifestyle. Many people who can walk around their home with a cane, walker, or rollator, will be reluctant to adopt a seated mobility solution, even though their trips outside the home are limited because of weakness or difficulties with balance.
For those people, an electric mobility scooter may be the perfect combination of standing exercise and seated assistance, one that can allow you to maintain physical abilities while expanding your activities to shopping, socializing, and simply getting out to explore the world.
If you’re still not sure and you live in the Tampa area, mobility scooters of many varieties are available in the Helios Tampa home medical equipment store. Come by and see us!
What is a Mobility Scooter?
A mobility scooter is an electric, battery-powered mobility aid, typically with a seat, four small wheels, and a steering handle. Many mobility scooters come equipped with, or can be accessorized with, baskets, mirrors, and other tools.
Mobility scooters are designed for people to get into and out of them easily, allowing for quick transitions in order to stand and reach things and then sit back down again.
Who Should Consider a Mobility Scooter?
These aids are for people who are able to stand and walk, but who might struggle to do so for longer periods of time. People who have difficulty walking moderate distances, including shopping at a grocery store or walking in a park with friends and family, could greatly benefit from a mobility scooter.
Additionally, mobility scooters facilitate holding and transporting objects without risk of falling, tasks that are difficult if not impossible to perform while using walkers or rollators.
Why Not Just Use a Wheelchair?
Wheelchairs are absolutely a valid option for those who need them. And for people without adequate upper-body strength to propel a manual wheelchair, electric wheelchairs allow you to get to where you need to go and maintain that vital level of independence.
However, for people who are able to stand and walk, it’s important to maintain as much muscle tone and bone density as possible by exercising to the full level of your abilities. Standing and moving around on your feet helps boost your overall health and lowers the risk of catastrophic falls and other injuries.
A mobility scooter still promotes standing and walking whenever possible, but it also allows for a more fulfilling, independent lifestyle by facilitating those activities that might be tiring or risky for people with partial mobility.
Tampa Mobility Scooters at Helios
To fully appreciate how easy mobility scooters are to use, and what a difference they can make in your day-to-day life, it’s important to experience them firsthand. If you think you might benefit from a mobility scooter, Tampa medical equipment supplier Helios offers scooter rentals, maintenance, battery replacement, and repairs.
Deckard & Company