Purchase of power chair vs scooter????

[mamajoan]

Hi guys! I have not been over to this board for a while glad to see it is still a wonderful place to be at. I need some opinions( and I KNOW you all have opinions, )
Workmen's Comp has agreed to pay for an electric scooter ! Hurray!
But I was thinking that I might be better off with a power chair. My amb. is very limited(my legs are getting weaker and walking is painful ) SOOO can anybody out there help me choose between a power chair or a scooter.?
Also anybody have any experience with chairs/scooters made by Bruno? The chair is very similar to a jazzy.
Thanks for all your help!
Joan

 

[mhopset]

My scooter is made by Victory, and I like it because I feel it "hides me". Does that sound stupid? Well, anyway I really like it, but it can be a pain in tight places. I have seen the Jazzy wheelchair and I know it turns on a dime. That would really be nice in tight places such as stores where the racks are so close together it is hard to manuver. They make scooters now with all kinds of different gadgets such as headlights, a horn, a seat the has a lift on it. I would suggest you go to a certified mobility dealer and take a look at all they have. I would love to have one of the new 4 wheel drive scooters. They are so cool. Anyway, get the best you can get because mine is on it's last leg and I have to wait another 2 years to get a new one. Good luck on your adventure!!!

 

[lisapooh]

I have a Mini Jazzy 1103 and I absolutely love it. If you have any difficulty with your hands it is easier to manuever. One thing you will have to look at is the extra cost for the power chair over the scooter. If you are seeing a physical therapist she should be able to steer you to what is right for you.
Whatever you do I would try to go with a Pride product. Bruno is in the lift business and does that well but Pride is in the mobility business and can't be beat! Btw my lift is a Bruno.

 

[mamajoan]

Thanks for the help. I am a PTA, I have helped lots of folks order chairs and scooters over the past . But now that the proverbial shoe is on the other foot I am looking for all the help I can get from those here on this board. I got the cost of the power chair.. it is almost $7000 with all the options I need and want.
The scooter is about $4500 with same. My preference would be the chair, but I don't "need" it right now-the future is another thing. Now, I just have to convince work comp., I agreed to settle the case with the stipulation of a scooter. I hope I can make the change to the powerchair. Say a little prayer..
Btw.. I saw the 4WD scooter... OMG it is a beast! It looks like you could go ANYWHERE!
Thanks again!
Joan

 

[autumnblue]

I switched from a scooter to a shoprider electric about 18 months ago. The insurance company tried to make me take another scooter but the new ones are beasts ( this thing had a headlight and everything). I really like my electric wheelchair it makes work much easier. I can pull right up to my desk rather than turning around and backing it. There are a lot of discount dealers out there. I got my chair for about 4,800.

 

[SueM in MN]

My DD has a power wheelchair (Invacare Arrow). It looked so nice when it was brand new, but she's bumped and scraped it up a lot as she learned to drive it. My biggest advice is, whatever you get, get the best one that you can convince the insurance or worker's comp to buy since it's likely to hold up better. The rest of what I have to say, you probably already know, but here goes.
The wheelchair like lisapooh has shares a lot of advantages with scooters. I "test drove" one at work and it really does turn on a dime. At the time we were looking for a power chair, it didn't have some of the seating options and driving options that my DD needed. I don't know if it does now.
One of the disadvantages of a power wheelchair is that they are very (and I mean VERY) heavy. My DD's is about 270 pounds without her in in. You will definatly need a ramp or lift van to transport one, since it does not come apart into nice little pieces like a scooter can. Like autumnblue mentioned, you can pull a power wheelchair right up to a table. Another advantage (if your condition will be changing) is that a power wheelchair can change too. You can change the seat to something more supportive and the way you control it can be changed. Some of the girls in DD's dance class have the same wheelchair and use joysticks with either a stick or a ball, one girl has a head control and my DD has something called a goalpost. It's shaped like a goalpost; she puts her hand inbetween the uprights. It's great for her because she can drive with her whole hand when she has good muscle tone, two fingers when she is very loose, and her fist if she's really tight.

 

[Nanajo1]

I chose a powerchair(Invacare Storm series) over a scooter because I found it easy to move around in tight spaces. Also my arms get support from the arm rests and in the scooter I felt my arms were extended all the time. I have a special seat cushion and adjustable back rest.The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission paid for my van adaptations, for the ramp and hand controls as well as driving lessons. As Sue said the chair needs an adaptive car to accommodate it.
I asked my "seating " advisor why someone would choose a scooter over a power chair . She said some people think the chair makes them look more disabled than the scooter. I threw pride away a long time ago when it comes to my independence and comfort.
As was said before get the best mobility aide for YOU. It does not necessarily need bells and whistles. Try as many types as you can. I knew I would not be happy in a scooter everyday at my work it was just too cumbersome. My chair works out great getting on and off the elevators and in and out of rest rooms as well as at my workstation.
Good luck I hope you get what you need.

 

[autumnblue]

Nanajo,How long did it take for Mass Rehab to adapt your van? I've been on the waiting list for about a year now, I'm afraid by the time they get to me, my van will be to old (Its a 2000).

Autumn

 

[Nanajo1]

It took a while. I had my chair and was using a portable ramp to load the chair in through the rear of the minivan. I couldn't do it by myself. I guess it was about 9-12 months. They have to wait for funds to become available. I was very lucky. I believe they will adapt a car up to 4 years old. We had been leasing so we had to buy a van and decided to buy a new minivan and hope it lasts a long time. As you know the adaptations are costly. MassRehab was very good to me. They also bought me a chair lift so I can get to the upstairs in my home. They also looked to moving my washer/dryer up from the basement but we couldn't work that out. They would have paid for my chair if my insurance had not come through. I can't say enough good things about them.

 

[autumnblue]

I'm also very happy with them. They gave me money for college and just recently signed with a contractor to have my shower adapted. I'm just excited about getting my Van adapted, I miss that independence.

Autumn

 

[Nanajo1]

I know how you feel. I was getting desperate and asked if I paid for the adaptions would Mass Rehab reimburse me. They said no but it wasn't too long after that the funding came through. I hope your wait is over soon.
Good luck.