How has your ECV/Scooter changed your life?

[mamaprincess]

My Dh and I recently purchased light weight ECV's for his mother and grandmother, both of whom suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and other ailments that restrict their mobility. We are sending his mom to Ghana to see grandma who lives their (home). We are hoping that the ECV's will help them get up the street to church and around the market places and out to see friends and neighbors.

What can you do now that was very difficult for you to do before your ECV? Just taking his mom shopping is so hard because it is so difficult for her to walk. She is so lively and energetic, we are hoping to give her back some of her freedom and ability to experience life without so much pain.

If you have flown with your ECV, how was this handled. Did you use it in the airport as opposed to using the airport wheel chairs? If so, when was it loaded onto the airplane? Were you able to use it when you transferred during a stopover? Was it damaged.? We are planning on keeping grandma's in the box. Good idea? Will this protect it more?

How easy are they to learn how to use?

Any personal experiences are greatly appreciated.

 

[RNMOM]

Wow, lots of questions. I bought my scooter this past June and for the first year in so many I can't remember, I got to go to the local outdoor craft festivals, balloon festival, shopping in Santa Fe markets, the huge Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and many other events. I have arthritis and difficulty walking due to knee and back pain. I also have Sjogren's recently diagnosed. It has changed my life and I am so much happier being able to live a fairly normal life.

I traveled to Denver from Cleveland with mine. I rode it to the gate and they took it before the boarding from the gate. They put tags on it and kept the key. I had put a name tag with my name and cell # on the key and put my self addressed name sticker with my cell number on each individual piece in case it had to be disassembled, which it did not. I also had copies of the battery specifications and disassembly instruction in the back pocket of the seat in a plastic sleeve in case they needed that too. I used a diaper pin to keep it in place so it wouldn't slide out on my trip. I had all my bases covered and didn't need any of it as they kept it intact. They load the scooter last and take it off first. By the time I got to the ramp it was waiting for me and they were all so very nice and accommodating.

My scooter is a large size to fit me and I am hoping to get a minivan with a lift so we don't have to take it apart and I will be able to use it easier if I am alone. So far, it is a little too challenging for me alone but I have a friend who will go with me and help. I hate to do that as I feel I am imposing. I have been able to go to the mall for the first time in 10 years. I have been able to take my dog for a "walk" and he does pretty well with me on the scooter. I did hit his foot once but he has learned not to get in front of me but to keep by my side. It was the best couple thousand dollars I have spent in a long while and I love having my own unit and knowing the batteries are charged and the wheels well cared for so I don't have problems.

Your family will have a wonderful trip thanks to your gift of their scooters.

 

[mamaprincess]

Thanks so much for your very encouraging reply. How easy was it to learn to use? How long did it take you? We are so excited for them! It will be my MIL's first time back home to Ghana and seeing her mother in 11 years. We want to make their visit as wonderful as possible.

Your dog is the cutest ever!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

An ECV is very easy to use. Especially the lightweight ones. They steer just like a tricycle.

There tends, on most models, to be a lever at the bottom of the handlebars. Pressing the lever with the right thumb makes it go forward, pressing with the left thumb is reverse, taking both tumbs off the lever is the brake.

There tend to be two controls for speed. One is a knob that goes from a turtle symbol to a rabbit symbol; the other is the control lever itself. The further in the control lever is pressed the faster iut will go. The top speed when the knob is on the turtle end is about half of the top speed at the rabbit end of the knob.

One important thing to do is check on the electricity (especially voltage) in the destination country(s). If it is other than 110/120 they will need to get a charging unit that can handle that voltage, or a transformer that has an amperage capacity that can handle the charging of the battery.

 

[mamaprincess]

We did make sure we bought Scooters that could be uses internationally. It's good to know that it is easy to stear.

 

[mamaprincess]

I found some at planet mobolity.com http://www.planetmobility.com/store/ramps/catagory/van.html

Maybe these would work out instead of having one installed. Some install in minutes some are portable.