One of the hardest things about growing older can be giving up your independence. As arthritis pain increases, you need a lot of help moving around, and so you may have to get a wheelchair. However, for people who live alone, a wheelchair is not a viable option since it requires someone else push it. After all, using your upper arms to pull the wheelchair can be just as painful as walking. There are also electric wheelchairs available, but many times these chairs are large and do not maneuver well.

For these reasons, more and more people with limited mobility are purchasing electric scooters. Electric mobility scooters are now capable of going up to twelve miles without being recharged, and many models are built primarily for outdoor use. Whereas when mobility scooters first came out they were large and cumbersome, they are now smaller and can be disassembled when not in use. They often have baskets on them that make grocery shopping easier, and some can be recharged without the person even having to get out of the chair. Some mobility chairs can even be described as stylish!

However, many older people do not consider buying an electric scooter because they may feel that a mobility scooter might cost a lot. What they often don't realize is that Medicare will often pay for your mobility scooter. Basically any person who is largely immobile will easily qualify for a free scooter. You simply have to visit with your primary care doctor, who will write you a prescription for the chair. The doctor will write out a medical report, including the prescription, and will submit it to the store that you buy your mobility scooter from so that Medicare will be billed for it.

So when you are looking into purchasing a mobility scooter, be sure to consider the following questions. Will you be using the scooter mostly in your home, or outdoors? Scooters with three wheels are much easier to maneuver than those with four, and are better for use indoors. However, if you are going to mostly be using the scooter outdoors, you should get a scooter with four wheels, which are designed to be used almost anywhere.

Next, is the scooter comfortable? If you can, it is better to try out the chair in person before you buy it. Each scooter is controlled by a set of handlebars. How easy is it for you to maneuver the scooter? Most scooters these days have cushioned seats and head rests for added comfort, but you should try it out and see how comfortable it is to you. Also, some scooters have seats that are capable of swiveling by as much as 360 degrees, making it much easier for the scooter's user to move around.
Electric mobility scooters have become a very popular way for older people to regain a large amount of their independence. Since these mobility scooters have become the primary mode of transportation for many people, you will definitely want to make sure that you find a chair you really like before you buy it.