Electric Mobility Scooters

Navigating narrow corridors or confined areas used to be a challenge for those people restricted to wheelchairs. Now there are a variety of  power chairs that provide improved mobility and allow people more independence. One of the main advantages is an increased turning radius.

Thanks to recent innovations, there are now multiple sets of wheels that allow for cornering in close quarters. There are also several speed options to allow you more versatility in your traveling. These new and improved units are sure to be just the first step in revolutionizing power chair and wheelchair technology for future generations.

Electric scooters are compact, easy to drive and park, and can help you improve your mobility. If you’re thinking about making the switch to an electric scooter, you’ll want to know the various electric scooter battery options available to you. There are three types of electric scooter batteries, each with their own advantages. Read all about them and choose the one that is right for your needs.

The first type is a lead acid (SLA) battery. The advantage of this battery is that it’s relatively easy to find and the least expensive to replace. However, it’s the heaviest battery and has the shortest overall lifetime. It will last about 300 full charge cycles before it needs to be replaced. The second type is a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery. This battery is much lighter than an SLA battery and lasts about 500 full charge cycles. The final type is a lithium ion battery, which is the newest in battery technology. It is even lighter than a NiMH battery and lasts about 800 full charge cycles. However, this is the most expensive type of all three batteries.

After my grandpa had two hip surgeries in a matter of a year, it was nearly impossible for him to walk more than a few feet at a time. As a strong-willed war veteran, he was adamant about taking care of himself and was horrified by the prospect of having to be pushed around in a wheelchair. Although he didn’t like it, he realized that walking simply wasn’t an option anymore.

In order to make the transition easier for him, everyone in our family pitched in to buy him an electric scooter. It has allowed him to move around more freely, and he doesn’t constantly need someone’s assistance. He is hesitant to show any emotion, but it was evident that he was touched by the gesture and concern for him.

This summer the city of Spokane, WA hosted the 29th National Veterans Wheelchair Games. Athletes from around the country gathered for a weeklong competition in a variety of sports. It is amazing to see how these people overcome their disability and thrive in athletic contests.

There are a variety of events at the annual competition, including bowling, ping pong and archery. Many competitors also took part in more strenuous activities like basketball, soccer and weightlifting. In my opinion, the most impressive spectacle was the heated swimming races.

As I was growing up I loved watching game shows with my Grandma. Whenever I would stay home from school sick we would watch the daytime classics like Press Your Luck and Pyramid. My favorite, however, was always the long-running Price is Right with Bob Barker.

 There are many iconic staples from the show, such as Barker’s Beauties and the culminating Show Case Showdowns. One thing that anyone who watches the show will notice is the target market in the advertisements. The commercial breaks are filled with plugs for Sea-Bond and government subsidized power chairs, which always made me feel a little out of place being five-years-old.

When my grandma, Yia Yia as we called her due to her Greek heritage, became ill it changed everyone’s lives in our family. She became immobile and fragile almost over night due to what the doctors told us was Alzheimer’s disease. A mournful realization we all underwent that day, we made a pact to provide her with the best care and the best tools to keep her active longer. After a few hours of detailed research, we were able to make a list of things we could buy her to prolong her mental awareness and safety.

Already at the fragile age of 72, grandma had trouble walking because her feet had become so swollen. One of the items at the top of our list was an electric wheelchair. Comfy and compact in design, it became a lifesaver when we would run errands. It also ended up saving everyone a little bit of energy at the end of the day because no one had to push her. It became a tool of comfort to her, like a child’s blanket it was there to protect her.

If you’re looking for the ultimate in mobility, you’re looking for an Amigo scooter. Amigo Mobility International, Inc. has been making “friendly wheelchairs” since 1968, when founder Al Thieme was personally motivated to create a power scooter to accommodate a family member who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. According to the company’s website, the Amigo initiated the entire power scooter industry. Today, Amigo power operated vehicles are known for their compact durability, unique customization options, user-friendly features, simple maintenance, and dependable operation.

Nearly anyone can find an Amigo scooter to fit his or her mobility needs. Amigo offers a compact TravelMate scooter that is optimal for hassle-free storage in cabs, cars, RVs, boat, and planes. Even though it’s compact and great for travel, it sill has a robust 250-pound weight capacity. For people of smaller stature who want to maneuver around tighter areas at home or in stores, the Amigo Express Junior is perfect to accommodate small frames. Amigo also offers convenient, reasonably priced replacement parts and accessories, like baskets and touch controllers, to make the Amigo experience seamless.

While many people think they understand the challenges of being disabled, the experience is very different when you actually live it. Someone who is on crutches or in a wheelchair for the first time quickly realizes that communities and buildings are planned and constructed under the assumption that most people are physically able to navigate them. For every door that opens automatically or with the push of a button, there are 10 more that do not. A person who needs assistance with basic tasks because of a disability can feel helpless and embarrassed.

Some challenges that confront people with disabilities, especially those who use manual wheelchairs, are nearly invisible to able people, like how difficult it can be to navigate up a steep ramp while powering the wheels by hand. For this reason, electric wheelchairs are not just luxuries; they’re necessary for some people to live fulfilled lives that are not ruled by their disabilities. If you’re a caregiver or friend of someone who has a disability, take a moment to understand what it would feel like to be immobile or dependant on someone or something else to get around. This will help you be a more patient, thoughtful caregiver, and it will also empower you to advocate for your friend to have the proper tools needed to offset his or her disability.

Safety for caregivers is crucial. A patient lift is used in the home or at medical facilities to help a patient rise or any function they may need: 

Model 9700 Bariatric Lift • Electric Full Body Lift includes • 2 batteries • 3X sling • 1 battery charger • Safety padded hanger and beam • Non-arcing beam • Storage Saddle bags • Remote control • Battery Indicator • Swivel Hanger with safety latches • Weight Limit: 700 pounds

Many individuals that have limited mobility will need a patient lifter to help them move their legs or for them to lift their torso off of the bed. There are many companies that provide mobility equipment and with the new advances in technology the performance and type of equipment available will make movement easier then ever. Wheelchairs Abound is an up and coming leader in the area of providing  Mobility Equipment.

Good Ergonomic News!