Mobility and Elderly Scooters

What size disability or handicap 3 and 4 wheel scooter are you interested in? Is your scooter just for elderly or senior use.

Are you in the market to buy an Elderly and Senior Scooters come in small, compact and foldable portable types; Junior and Medium Size, Large and Heavy Duty.

Are you primarily going to use the Elderly or Senior folding scooter indoor or outdoors?

A mobility scooter has a seat over two rear wheels, a flat area for the feet, and handlebars in front to turn one or two steerable wheels. The seat may swivel to allow access when the front is blocked by the handlebars. Mobility scooters are usually electric-powered. A battery or two is stored onboard the scooter, and is charged via an onboard or separate charger unit from standard electric outlets. Gasoline-powered scooters are also available, though they are rapidly being replaced by electric models.

FIND MY GO-GO LIGHTWEIGHT MOBILITY SCOOTERS | View All Models When Choosing the best Go-Go® to fit your needs, there are a few things you should consider. Which of the following is most important to you? Indoor Maneuverability Indoor/Outdoor Capability Increased Weight Capacity Increased Range Per Charge

The tiller, with forward/reverse directions and speed controls, is the steering column centrally located at the front of the scooter. Direction can be controlled by thumb paddles, finger controls or a switch. There are two types of mobility scooters: front-wheel drive (FD) or rear-wheel drive (RD). The FD is usually a smaller device and best used indoors. Rider weight capacity is generally upwards to 250 pounds maximum. The RD is used both indoors and outdoors with rider weight capacity of 350 pounds. A heavy duty RD is capable of carrying up to 500 pounds, varying by manufacturer.

GO-GO® TRAVEL MOBILITY SCOOTER MODELS Find My Go-Go    |    Models    |    Accessories    |    Why Go-Go?
Go-Go Elite Traveller	Go-Go Ultra X	Go-Go Elite Traveller Plus	Go-Go Elite Traveller Plus HD

The first elderly mobility scooter, the Amigo, was built in 1968 by Allan R. Thieme in Bridgeport, Michigan. This senior front-wheel drive model was built specifically to assist a family member with multiple sclerosis regain their independent mobility. Mobility scooters are now available in a wide range of models, from tiny folding travel scooters to heavy-duty bariatric models. Scooters are commonly available for loaner use at public facilities, such as amusement parks or grocery stores.

  Assistive and small sit-down motor scooters provide important advantages to disabled people with mobility problems throughout the world. A senior or elderly  scooter is useful for persons without the stamina or arm/shoulder flexibility necessary to use a manual wheelchair. Also, swivelling the seat of an electric medical scooter is generally easier than moving the foot supports on most conventional wheelchairs. A mobility scooter is very helpful for persons with systemic or whole-body disabling conditions (coronary or lung issues, some forms of arthritis, etc.) who are still able to stand and walk a few steps, sit upright without torso support, and control the steering tiller.

A main selling point of the medical electric scooter is that it does not look like a wheelchair, which many people see as a sign of old age. However, as increasing numbers of elderly persons choose mobility scooters, the scooter is now developing its own reputation, at least among the able-bodied, as a geriatric item. Portable Mobility scooters are generally more affordable than powered wheelchairs, and often easier to obtain from insurers or health care agencies.

Limitations

While a mobility disability scooter eliminates much of the manual strength problems of an unpowered disabled wheelchair, its tiller steering mechanism still requires upright posture, shoulder and hand strength, and some upper-body mobility and strength. Other drawbacks of 3 and 4 wheel mobility scooters are their longer length, which limits their turning radius and ability to use some lifts or wheelchair-designed access technologies such as kneeling bus lifts. Often a mobility scooter for seniors has a low ground clearance which can make it difficult to navigate certain obstacles, such as traveling in cities without proper curb cuts. Navigating nursing home rooms, where space is often limited, can also be a problem. Scooters also have fewer options for body support, such as head or leg rests. They are rarely designed for ease of patient transfer from seat to bed. These limitations may prevent some disabled individuals from using handicapped scooters. In addition, scooter limitations may vary depending on model and manufacturer. A limitation of one make/model does not necessarily carry over to all. Individual needs may affect the suitability of a particular model.

Currently in the United States, Medicare will not approve a power wheelchair for disabled persons who do not need to use the chair "inside their own home", even if their medical needs restrict the use of a mobility elderly scooter. For example, a person with severe arthritis of both shoulders and hands may not be the best candidate for a scooter, but because they can walk a few steps in their own home, such persons are not seen as approved candidates for a power wheelchair either. Used Second Hand Scooters are 1/2 OFF!