Mobility scooters and related equipment
Due to a rather picturesque array of neurological disorders, not to mention the devastating effects of advancing age, I have become sort of less mobile than I was in my younger days. Where I used to be able to effortlessly walk for many hours, I now move slowly at a snails pace, for a maximum of one hour, supporting myself with either a cane or a crutch – depending on how I happen to feel that day. Yet I won’t complain: there’s nothing I can truly say I lack in this life, and diminished mobility doesn’t really bother me.
However, for the somewhat longer distances I nowadays employ a mobility scooter, which kind of makes me feel like a prince or even a king! Relaxedly sitting in a comfortable seat, nicely but never arrogantly greeting the breathless passers-by, I zip along at either walking pace or double speed. When I feel social I “walk”, when I actually need to be somewhere at a certain time I rev up the little machine.
There are lots of people much worse off than me, when it comes to physical capabilities. I can, though with difficulty, still walk – but a lot of others can’t. Especially for them the mobility scooter is a great support, enabling them to feel 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. These tend to be considerably more manoeuvrable due to their smaller turning radius, which is a great advantage in crowded or narrow places. I also would recommend to go for batteries with a large capacity: it’s not only unpleasant but also extremely embarassing to find yourself without of juice when far away from home!
Apart from electrical scooters, there are many more contraptions and gadgets that make the life of the handicapped much easier. Stairlifts, bed lifts, electrically powered wheelchairs, rollators… they all help to make life much more normal for the disabled.