Mobility scooters and related equipment
Due to a rather surprising array of neurological disorders, not to mention the devastating effects of advancing age, I have become sort of less mobile than I used to be. Where I used to be able to effortlessly walk for many hours, I now move slowly at a tortoises pace, for no more than one hour, leaning on either a cane or a crutch – depending on how I happen to function that day. Yet I won’t complain: there’s nothing I can truly say I lack in this life, and reduced mobility doesn’t really bother me.
Anyway, for the somewhat longer distances I presently use an electrical, which definitely makes me feel like a prince or even a sultan! Relaxedly sitting in a comfortable seat, pleasantly but never haughtly greeting the breathless passers-by, I buzz along at either walking pace or double speed. When I feel social I “walk”, when I really need to be somewhere at a certain time I rev up the little machine.
There are many people much worse off than me, when it comes to mobility. I can, though with difficulty, still walk – many others can’t. Especially for them the electric scooter is a great help, enabling them to feel free again. There are 3-wheel mobility scooters and 4-wheel mobility scooters, and if you happen to be considering buying such a contraption, I certainly recommend the 3-wheeled version. They tend to be somewhat more manoeuvrable due to their tighter turning radius, which is a definite advantage in crowded or narrow spots. I also would recommend to go for batteries with a lot of capacity: it’s not only unpleasant but also quite embarassing to find yourself out of power when a long way from home!
Apart from electrical scooters, there are many more things and inventions that make the life of the handicapped much more pleasant. Stairlifts, bed lifts, electrically powered wheelchairs, rollators… they all help to make life much more pleasant for the handicapped.
