Mobility scooters and related equipment

Due to a rather picturesque range of neurological disorders, not to forget the increasing effects of advancing age, I have become considerably less mobile than I was in my younger days. Where I used to be able to effortlessly walk for hours and hours, I now move slowly at a tortoises pace, for a maximum of one hour, leaning on either a cane or a crutch - depending on how I happen to function that day. But I refuse to complain: there’s nothing I can truly say I lack in this life, and diminished mobility doesn’t usually bother me.

However, for the longer distances I nowadays use a mobility scooter, which definitely makes me feel like a prince or even a king! Relaxedly sitting in a cusioned seat, nicely but never haughtly saluting 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 in time I rev up the little machine.

There are lots of people much worse off than me, when it comes to mobility. I can, though with difficulty, still walk - but a lot of others can’t. Especially for those the electric scooter is a great support, enabling them to be 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 would recommend the 3-wheeled variety. They are considerably more manoeuvrable on account of their smaller turning radius, which is a definite advantage in crowded or cramped places. I also would advice you to go for batteries with a large capacity: it’s not only unpleasant but also quite embarassing to find yourself without of juice when far away from home!

Apart from electrical scooters, there are many more things and inventions that make the life of the disabled much more pleasant. Stairlifts, bed lifts, electric wheelchairs, walkers… they all serve to make life much more normal for the disabled.