When it comes to ensuring accessibility for your medical mobility scooter at home there are many different issues to take into account.For this reason only a high-level discussion will be presented here.We can describe accessibility in terms of three different categories; accessibility approaching the house, entering the house and within the house.
Approaching the House
A paved driveway or at least a sidewalk is preferable. Concrete or asphalt is ideal but a wooden walkway should be ok for most.To help make surfaces safer in poor weather there are products available such as abrasive strips, special paint products or even heated concrete surfaces.The four wheel Pride Maxima Mobility Scooter is well suited to driving over uneven terrain if necessary however care must always be taken on slippery surfaces.
Entering the House
If you are not fortunate enough to have an entrance to your home at ground level then you will need to invest in either a ramp or a vertical platform lift commonly known as a porch lift.A power door opener is also a good idea to make entering the home easier. These typically operate by remote control and will also lock and unlock the door when activated.Finally, it may be necessary to purchase or build a simple threshold ramp to deal with a raised door threshold.
Within the House
This is certainly the most difficult aspect to deal with in most cases. Some points to be aware of are:
- three wheel scooters have a smaller turning radius than four wheel and are therefore more maneuverableTherefore if you require the use of a heavy duty four wheel scooter such as the Pride Mobility Maxima scooter some remodelling of your home may be necessary
- hardwood floors are better than carpet (the thicker the pile the more difficult to maneuver)
- the wider the doorway or hallway the more accessible especially where 90 degree turns are involved
- even with an open design layout care must be given to the amount, size and placement of furniture
- stair lifts or inclined platform lifts (or elevators if feasible) may be necessary where there is more than one living level
Hopefully this article has provided some useful information when it comes to getting the most out of your scooter in and around your home.
Tags: maxima mobility scooter, medical mobility scooter, pride mobility maxima