Thanks to Hellytheelephant for this informative guest blog!
To Buy or Not to Buy...that is the question
If you think this article is going to be about running, then guess again! This elephant is not a beast that can run without comedy, tragedy or both ensuing.
My Chariot is, in fact, my mobility scooter. I am that very uncool lady teetering on the back of her 3-wheeled ride, as we dip into breaks in the tarmac and ricochet off the kerb. Yes, in addition to having various other illnesses, including ME and Chronic Pain, I am chronically clumsy, which makes for interesting moments when I run out of juice and still have to make it home.
I should say to those kind souls concerned with my safety: I am not on the roads, and have a top speed of 4 mph (with a usual speed that is more like 2 mph)! If you're reading this and liking the sound of having the wind in your hair and bombing around like an aged Boadicea, there are a few things to bear in mind, both before buying a mobility scooter, and after purchase.
The plus points are obvious: you get to go out!! Yes, OUT! The space you see through your windows - you could actually be IN IT! You can enjoy fresh-ish air, nature, watching birds, cats and people doing things far more amusing than the four walls where you spend most of your hours! It is also really quite a fun ride. When I first tried out a scooter, it felt as if I was a blur around Monza racetrack; 4 mph feels mighty fast compared to my walking speed whilst leaning on a stick.
OK, so having made the decision - what to buy? A lot depends on budget and how much energy you have to research online. As we wanted a scooter that would fit into the boot (trunk) of the car, we opted for a nippy little model. I had not originally intended to buy 3 wheels, but it had the distinct advantage of taking tight corners well; as I am quite a pocket-sized elephant, there was minimal chance my weight would tip it over. If you are heavier or taller you would need to choose an appropriately-sized beast, and definitely 4 wheels.
At this point it is important to consider two things: where you will keep it, and how, and even more importantly, who, will be charging up the battery? Batteries are heavy, so you will need a strong person to remove batteries and lug them inside. (If you are chronically ill with mobility issues, that person is unlikely to be you.) Similarly, if you are planning to get a portable model, is there someone who can disassemble it, then pull it out of the trunk and get it in one piece again? (I would need respite care to recover from doing either of these!)
You can opt for a new scooter from a showroom or take a chance on secondhand...but beware of batteries without much life left in them.
Becoming a Savvy Owner
So you have tried a scooter, found the one you like and bought a model that suits you. Hurray! Now you will see the world through different eyes. Things that passed under the radar before (dog mess in the centre of the pavement, A-frame adverts across the pedestrian walkway, deep curbs) will occupy your every drive out, and it will take a while to adapt to your new wheels. A scooter is not, as I first thought, a substitute for your legs; it will not go where you could go before. You cannot take short cuts, dodge between narrow gaps or run if a car speeds up as it approaches. Life is making you s-l-o-w d-o-w-n and you can buckle up and try to enjoy it, or make it a miserable experience by wishing you were going faster.
Life at a slow pace offers many blessings. With slow perambulation there are more sights and sounds to savour. The upside of being a 'shut-in' is the higher level of appreciation you have for even the smallest trip out into the big wide world.
Here we are in the British Winter, and I have vowed to keep going with the scooter until my wheels are knee deep in snow or my legs get too cold (you get much chillier than when walking- think of sitting in the street in your armchair). The two other issues that currently occupy my elephantine brain are: how can I customize my scooter (they all look roughly the same - BORING!), and how to make myself more visible during twilight and foggier days.
I cannot end without a word about pain and other symptoms. In the excitement of getting transport, it is tempting to forget about the limitations you have. In my case, both pain and staying upright (I have orthostatic intolerance) are considerations. Also, I am not only clumsy, but suffer from brain fog and inability to concentrate when exhausted, as well. I am too embarrassed to tell you about the time I nearly steered into the river...shorter trips out since then!
I have tested a raft of cushions and (finally!) my occupational therapist has united me with a piece of cushioned gel, which helps considerably with the pain. Time and patient experimentation have given me clues as to when it is best to go out, and when it is better to leave my buddy in the shed.
There you have it. If you are wondering if a mobility scooter is for you, I would say go for it....and happy S-L-O-W-motoring!
If you think this article is going to be about running, then guess again! This elephant is not a beast that can run without comedy, tragedy or both ensuing.
My Chariot is, in fact, my mobility scooter. I am that very uncool lady teetering on the back of her 3-wheeled ride, as we dip into breaks in the tarmac and ricochet off the kerb. Yes, in addition to having various other illnesses, including ME and Chronic Pain, I am chronically clumsy, which makes for interesting moments when I run out of juice and still have to make it home.
I should say to those kind souls concerned with my safety: I am not on the roads, and have a top speed of 4 mph (with a usual speed that is more like 2 mph)! If you're reading this and liking the sound of having the wind in your hair and bombing around like an aged Boadicea, there are a few things to bear in mind, both before buying a mobility scooter, and after purchase.
The plus points are obvious: you get to go out!! Yes, OUT! The space you see through your windows - you could actually be IN IT! You can enjoy fresh-ish air, nature, watching birds, cats and people doing things far more amusing than the four walls where you spend most of your hours! It is also really quite a fun ride. When I first tried out a scooter, it felt as if I was a blur around Monza racetrack; 4 mph feels mighty fast compared to my walking speed whilst leaning on a stick.
OK, so having made the decision - what to buy? A lot depends on budget and how much energy you have to research online. As we wanted a scooter that would fit into the boot (trunk) of the car, we opted for a nippy little model. I had not originally intended to buy 3 wheels, but it had the distinct advantage of taking tight corners well; as I am quite a pocket-sized elephant, there was minimal chance my weight would tip it over. If you are heavier or taller you would need to choose an appropriately-sized beast, and definitely 4 wheels.
At this point it is important to consider two things: where you will keep it, and how, and even more importantly, who, will be charging up the battery? Batteries are heavy, so you will need a strong person to remove batteries and lug them inside. (If you are chronically ill with mobility issues, that person is unlikely to be you.) Similarly, if you are planning to get a portable model, is there someone who can disassemble it, then pull it out of the trunk and get it in one piece again? (I would need respite care to recover from doing either of these!)
You can opt for a new scooter from a showroom or take a chance on secondhand...but beware of batteries without much life left in them.
Becoming a Savvy Owner
So you have tried a scooter, found the one you like and bought a model that suits you. Hurray! Now you will see the world through different eyes. Things that passed under the radar before (dog mess in the centre of the pavement, A-frame adverts across the pedestrian walkway, deep curbs) will occupy your every drive out, and it will take a while to adapt to your new wheels. A scooter is not, as I first thought, a substitute for your legs; it will not go where you could go before. You cannot take short cuts, dodge between narrow gaps or run if a car speeds up as it approaches. Life is making you s-l-o-w d-o-w-n and you can buckle up and try to enjoy it, or make it a miserable experience by wishing you were going faster.
Life at a slow pace offers many blessings. With slow perambulation there are more sights and sounds to savour. The upside of being a 'shut-in' is the higher level of appreciation you have for even the smallest trip out into the big wide world.
Here we are in the British Winter, and I have vowed to keep going with the scooter until my wheels are knee deep in snow or my legs get too cold (you get much chillier than when walking- think of sitting in the street in your armchair). The two other issues that currently occupy my elephantine brain are: how can I customize my scooter (they all look roughly the same - BORING!), and how to make myself more visible during twilight and foggier days.
I cannot end without a word about pain and other symptoms. In the excitement of getting transport, it is tempting to forget about the limitations you have. In my case, both pain and staying upright (I have orthostatic intolerance) are considerations. Also, I am not only clumsy, but suffer from brain fog and inability to concentrate when exhausted, as well. I am too embarrassed to tell you about the time I nearly steered into the river...shorter trips out since then!
I have tested a raft of cushions and (finally!) my occupational therapist has united me with a piece of cushioned gel, which helps considerably with the pain. Time and patient experimentation have given me clues as to when it is best to go out, and when it is better to leave my buddy in the shed.
There you have it. If you are wondering if a mobility scooter is for you, I would say go for it....and happy S-L-O-W-motoring!
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