topic Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter? in Wellness

Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

SouthernBee — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:05:20 GMT

Hi Y'all. It has been a month since my epidural. Still not able to stand or walk more than a few minutes. Not able to stand and cook and delivered meals expensive and doing only one delivered meal per day. Eating fruit at night.

My hip pain return about one week ago and back pain yesterday. Have been using a stand up walker.

DH has his health issues. He drives a Honda CRV and easier for him to put my walker in the back seat. I am concerned about the weight of a wheel chair and scooter. I hate to admit that I have gained weight and considered obese. Trying to lose weight. Dealing with so many issues and decisions.

Any information greatly appreciated.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

Mz iMac — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:12:01 GMT

@SouthernBee Do research on both that will handle your weight AND will break down easily to put in car.

The heaviest thing on the power wheelchairs & mobility scooters are the batteries.

Pick out the one that YOU like, wheelchair or scooter.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

Kachina624 — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:13:29 GMT

I have mobility scooters, actually I have 3 of them. Two are quite large so transporting them is out of the question. The third I can quickly disassemble or assemble in 30 seconds. I can barely wrestle it into my SUV as the heaviest piece weighs about 35 lbs. I don't think it would fit in a small Honda.

A power wheelchair would take a specially equipped van and is very heavy.

You need to do some research.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

SouthernBee — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:14:34 GMT

@Mz iMac : Thank you. A major decision and lot of research.

@Mz iMac wrote:
@SouthernBee Do research on both that will handle your weight AND will break down easily to put in car.
The heaviest thing on the power wheelchairs & mobility scooters are the batteries.

Pick out the one that YOU like, wheelchair or scooter.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

Mz iMac — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:19:50 GMT

@SouthernBee I forgot to add. "Some" insurance companies will pay for them either 100% or partially IF your physician rx them. Call your health insurance & ask.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

ninjawife — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:38:41 GMT

If you are considering a power wheelchair, you should consider a wheelchair evaluation done by an occupational therapist or physical therapist that specializes in wheelchair evaluations. Your doctor would need to write a prescription for this type of evaluation. The evaluation and wheelchair may be partially or fully covered by your medical insurance should it be determined it is medically necessary (your doctor would have to write a letter of medical necessity for the insurance company) A scooter may also be covered if it is a medical necessity.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

SouthernBee — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:39:56 GMT

@Mz iMac : I appreciate your help. So sorry that you are dealing with so much.

My orthopedic doctor will do the rx when needed.

This is a major decision and expense. I have good insurance.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

SouthernBee — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:42:01 GMT

@ninjawife : Thank you. I will contact my doctor.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

spumoni99 — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 20:33:53 GMT

Years ago my mother had a scooter and they had a thing on the back of the car to hold it. My dad was in good physical condition though so not sure how heavy it was.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

geezerette — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 20:40:57 GMT

@spumoni99 wrote:
Years ago my mother had a scooter and they had a thing on the back of the car to hold it. My dad was in good physical condition though so not sure how heavy it was.

@SouthernBee

With your DH's health issues, you may need to check and see if a lift could be placed on the back on his car for either one.

I agree that your best bet would be to visit a wheelchair specialist to see what would be recommended for your situation. And to try each out for the pros and cons and to consider how each would work in your home as well as when you have to be out and about.

Also, DH needs to input on what he will be able to handle.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

RedTop — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 21:13:40 GMT

I see all kinds of scooters and wheelchairs at the VA. I take more notice of what the VA is covering for veterans like my husband with 100% service connected disability, and it's more wheelchairs than scooters.

The VA has replaced all of their old style wheelchairs used for transport inside the facility, for lighter weight, zero turn chairs which are so much easier to push as the handles are much higher so the pusher is using straight arm force and way less back force. The patient cannot use this type of chair to get anywhere on their own, as there are no wheels they can turn by hand; there has to be someone behind pushing.

Our main living area in this house is open concept, and either would work here, altho my husband would want a scooter. He had the opportunity to try one out last year and the first thing I noticed was his difficulty in lifting his leg to sit in the seat, and difficulty lifting and moving his leg and hips to get off the scooter. He has extreme back and hip pain and cannot walk far at all, so realistically I don't think a scooter is the best choice for him.

When the VA covers either of these options, they address how the device is transported on your vehicle, and pay for the attachment devices as well. I see spouses pulling chairs and scooters out of backseats, trunks and SUV cargo areas every time we are at the VA. I also see metal devices mounted to car and truck frames in order to transport chairs and scooters easily.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

Kachina624 — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 21:37:15 GMT

@RedTop. Most scooters, even my small one, have a lever under the seat that can be adjusted so the seat swivels out. The rider doesn't have to move his legs at all.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

River Song — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 21:56:06 GMT

The wheeled chair that is pushed by another person is called a transport chair. I needed to use a transport chair for my late husband when he was too weak from all the chemo and radiation to walk from the house to the car and into the doctor's office. I got it on Amazon, Nova Lightweight Transport Chair, around $300. It folds up and fits in the back of my SUV or the back seat. I was able to haul it in and out of the car and it rolls smoothly.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

jannabelle1 — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 22:15:16 GMT

@SouthernBee, we have a mobility scooter - looks similar to the ones sold on the Q, but we bought it from a Medical Equipment company locally. The scooter is heavy and in no way would I attempt to break it down to put it in a car. We have a lift on the back of hubby's SUV, installed for us by the same medical equipment company, so that the scooter is transported to doctor's appointments, etc. The hatch on the back of the SUV can not be opened with the scooter on the lift, the scooter has to be off the lift to open the hatch.

We've had no problems at all with the scooter - it's been extremely valuable for my husband who can no longer walk much at all on his own. But, do remember that they are heavy and I don't believe they are meant to be taken apart and put back together on a frequent basis. Maybe there are lighter weight scooters that are more portable, but I'm not familiar with them.

Cost: the scooters are around $1500 and the electric lift mounted on the SUV was around $2250. The scooter will not fit inside the back of our Explorer - it's carried on the exterior, on the lift.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

Scooby Doo — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 23:01:53 GMT

I borrowed a small battery operated chair 2 months ago for when I went on vacation. I can't walk long distances anymore. I don't know the brand but it wasn't that heavy. I was able to fold it and put it in the back seat or trunk without issue. It was pretty zippy and turned on a dime. I'm sure there are many styles to choose from.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

Mz iMac — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 23:15:01 GMT

@SouthernBee "Not able to stand and cook and delivered meals expensive and doing only one delivered meal per day. "

Check out "Meals On Wheels."

mealsonwheelsamerica.org/

I used them for 6 months when I had sciatica 2 yrs or so ago. Since I have no diatary restrictions, I pigged out on delivered restaurant quality food already prepared 7 days a week-NO TIPPING. All you have to do is pick out what you want to eat from their menu (I believe it's customized per customer), wait for them to deliver, refrigerate and/or freeze your order or heat it up & chow down! Best of all it was all FREE!

I live in a 50+ community & the social worker/director set it up for me. I was so impressed that after I no longer needed them I sent my local MOW a "donation."

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

SouthernBee — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 01:04:30 GMT

@ninjawife : Thank you. I have appointment with my orthopaedic doctor on 7/31/24. I will ask for rx and evaluation for wheelchair and scooter. This is a major decision and expensive and need as much professional help as possible.

@ninjawife wrote:
If you are considering a power wheelchair, you should consider a wheelchair evaluation done by an occupational therapist or physical therapist that specializes in wheelchair evaluations. Your doctor would need to write a prescription for this type of evaluation. The evaluation and wheelchair may be partially or fully covered by your medical insurance should it be determined it is medically necessary (your doctor would have to write a letter of medical necessity for the insurance company) A scooter may also be covered if it is a medical necessity.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

SouthernBee — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 01:06:19 GMT

@spumoni99 : Thank you. Will research this information.

@spumoni99 wrote:
Years ago my mother had a scooter and they had a thing on the back of the car to hold it. My dad was in good physical condition though so not sure how heavy it was.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

SouthernBee — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 01:07:58 GMT

@geezerette : Thank you, good information.

@geezerette wrote:
@spumoni99 wrote:
Years ago my mother had a scooter and they had a thing on the back of the car to hold it. My dad was in good physical condition though so not sure how heavy it was.
@SouthernBee

With your DH's health issues, you may need to check and see if a lift could be placed on the back on his car for either one.

I agree that your best bet would be to visit a wheelchair specialist to see what would be recommended for your situation. And to try each out for the pros and cons and to consider how each would work in your home as well as when you have to be out and about.

Also, DH needs to input on what he will be able to handle.

Re: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

SouthernBee — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 01:15:20 GMT

@RedTop : Thank you for the information.

DH drives a 2014 Honda CRV SUV and he will be helping to make decision and especially considering any equipment added to his car.

Will be doing a lot of research.