How to choose a mobility scooter?

[Ethelswith]

I hope this will be a thread that does what it says on the tin!

DMum has become significantly less mobile in the last year or so (replacement hip under discussion, but that would be a whole other thread). She's been talking vaguely about getting a scooter for some time, and now seems to want to get on with it.

So I was shamelessly hoping to pick your brains! Other than Which? are there any good websites to consult about types and features, and actual performance reviews? And what has anyone else found valuable, or a complete waste of space (and why)?

Sorting through information and trying to work all this out is a bit daunting. Anyone already been down this path?

Do you not have anywhere local that sells them?

Sorry I mean to test and try features?

You should have a local mobility centre, they will talk you through it and show you them.

Can your mum have a road test. Do you want to fit it into the boot of a car? Does mum have storage for it? My mum has a gogo, she loves it but there are loads of models to chose from.

We have a big shopping centre near us where you can borrow them for a day (shopmobility) - your DM could give them a try see if she prefers 3 or 4 wheels, how easy it is to turn (turning circle), etc

We found that my DM liked one that was completely flat where your feet go as it was difficult for her to lift bad foot over raised plastic bit running along middle

i would always consult with an occupational therapist. ask her gp for a referral.

I'm a scooter user (though I'm considerably younger than your mum!)
I would say the decision should be based on what she wants to use it for and how it will be stored.
Will she be using it in the car? If so it needs to be collapsible and either her or whoever she is with needs to be able to lift all parts.
Will she want to use it on buses? There is a list online of the models that are acceptable, she will need to have an assessment by the bus company who will then issue a permit.
Otherwise if she won't be using either of those a large class 3 would perhaps be better, but those can't be used in shops etc, people do but they really are too large.

I would say its important to look at the distance it can travel on a charge, the turning circle and size, and the comfort, those seats can be awful to sit on, obviously with hip problems that's an important consideration.

Definitely get to a dealer, they're in most towns and try sitting in them, that's almost more important than spec etc as comfort is such an individual thing.

This is so helpful!

I'm not local to my DMum so want to do as much research/thinking as possible, so we have a decent shortlist of wants (or at least some idea of what to ask about/try out) so we can use the time I am there as effectively as possible.

Great tip about trying out in a shopping centre!

Not sure about need to out in a car - she still owns a car but hardly ever drives now (kept for convenience of her offspring, and likely to be got rid of next time it brings big bills). I'll need to talk to her, but think it's unlikely.

There is enough space for storage in the garage, plus electricity there.

She won't be taking it on buses (they barely exist where she lives)

Another great tip about asking OT - she's intermittently under the falls clinic, so there are OTs who know her.

She will want to take it to the library and in to shops. Though she could park it just outside and go in on a stick/frame. She can't walk for long, but she can walk a bit. The models I've looked at so far wouid all have plenty of charge for a trip to town, and errand or few and back again. She lives in a fairly small town - we'd probably need to go to a larger one to find a mobility centre.

Would she need to be able to get it in other people's cars, when relatives take her out, for example?

Find a local place that sells them and take her to try out a few there. My dad is on his 4th scooter, and having a local service engineer has been vital as he manages to break it reasonably often.

A scooter has been amazing for dad. He can go down the town and spend as much time chatting as he likes, and places like the GP surgery where all the parking is a short walk but too far for him and he can just drive in now.