COPD & MOBILITY SCOOTERS: HI, I'd... - Lung Conditions C...

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COPD & MOBILITY SCOOTERS

Jansy16 profile image
33 Replies

HI, I'd like some advice please. I have copd & thinking of getting a mobility scooter to put in the car. I'm a76 yr old lady & think it would give me some independence as I can't walk far as quite breathless, but it would be nice to have a wander around the shops. I weigh 9 stone. Do you think one that weighs 20kg would be too heavy. I would get a remote control one as would be easier for me not putting one together as that takes a lot of my breath, hope someone might have one & tell me how they've got on. Thanks.

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Jansy16 profile image
Jansy16
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33 Replies

I've been down that road considering all the options. I concluded that the only way that would work for me is a suitable car with a hoist to load the scooter into. Even the remote controlled are both heavy and difficult with a low loader. The only way is to visit a supplier and try the various options, getting it wrong will be a very expensive mistake. Good luck. 😊

sassy59 profile image
sassy59

Pete has a great scooter that operates by the push if a button to open and close. It’s a bit like a pull along suitcase when closed.

The problem being it is heavy at 24 Kgs, so a car hoist would be better. If it’s just for going around locally then fine. Pete’s is a Solax scooter bought online from a firm in Barnstaple called Motability Solutions. Xxxx

Jansy16 profile image
Jansy16 in reply to sassy59

The one I'm looking at is a press button remote as well & weighs 21kg, I'm very tempted to buy it. It would make my life so much easier. Thanks for replying.

Kristicats profile image
Kristicats in reply to Jansy16

But how will you be able to lift it in and out of the car yourself?

Jaybird19 profile image
Jaybird19 in reply to Jansy16

Just googled these and found local council have info and help and hire of walking frames and scooters.

Have you tried that

Ableworld have, second ha d ones sometimes .

Good luck

Jaybird19 profile image
Jaybird19

Observing a friend 's use of just cheapest walking aid , triangular and folding you need to consider your lifting ability and size of boot . I found it awkward. A scooter is a different beast . Have also seen a scooter and hoist in action and that looked good. You had to be fairly capable too to handle that.

Personally i find the shop trolley is marvellous for taki ng strain off my back and helping breathing.

Good lu ck

Kristicats profile image
Kristicats

I’ve got my Mum to use the shop mobility scooters in town. ( instead of her risking going all the way to town on her own scooter)Most towns have them. She now gets a taxi that drops her off at the shop mobility place , hires one to go around town, then phoned taxi to pick her up. You could drive there and hire one . The shop mobility place is actually in the main car park in our town. Just a thought. We did think of getting her a lighter one to put in a boot but we are all not spring chicks and unable to lift it in. Cx

Jansy16 profile image
Jansy16 in reply to Kristicats

Thank you but we don't have any Scooter hire in our town.

Kristicats profile image
Kristicats in reply to Jansy16

Age concern will know where the shop mobility are.

Jaybird19 profile image
Jaybird19 in reply to Kristicats

What a brilliant idea , so no trouble parking your car and scooter right there to hire,. Havent seen anything g like that here but havent been out since March to see .

Maximonkey profile image
Maximonkey in reply to Kristicats

Hi, is your local mobility shop open now ours closed in March and is still not open? It's a nuisance as hiring a scooter in town is the only way I can shop. I have thought of buying one of my own but due to weight a nd not being able to charge it easily h as put me off. Maximonkey

Badbessie profile image
Badbessie

There are numerous self folding lightweight scooters. However unless you have a fairly large boot to your car getting them in can be a pain. I am in the process of buying one and I am just waiting for the steps to changed into a ramp so that I can lock it in a shed at the back of my house before I order one. My local shopping centre as a hire shop and you can rent one by the hour fairly cheaply so I do not plan to take my own on shopping trips. On holiday I rent one for the week which they deliver to the caravan and then take away at the end.

Jansy16 profile image
Jansy16

Unfortunately no hire place in our town. The weight of the one I've looked at is 21kg, a bit lighter than a lot I've seen, so thanks for the feed back.

HungryHufflepuff profile image
HungryHufflepuff

Completecareshop has mobility scooters

completecareshop.co.uk/mobi...

There are lightweight ones (although at 20kg that’s pretty heavy), also some called boot scooters though these are around 40kg so I don’t know how you’d lift them into the boot of a car. Anyway there are a whole range here. I don’t have one so can’t comment on any particular one.

skischool profile image
skischool

Please try to visit one of the centres of the people i am giving you a link to.they operate all over the uk,they are a charity and will probably be able to set you on the path that is just right for you.

disabledliving.co.uk/

Regards Ski's and Scruffy cat x

sue45 profile image
sue45

Be aware that even a 'lightweight' scooter is pretty impossible to lift into a car boot! I'm female, 61, with severe copd.

I bought a luggie, newer car 31.12.19 (Honda hrv), & had hoist fitted in February (Des Gosling - brilliant service)

Sadly, not been able to use it since March due to shielding 😭

Sue XxX

1947Mags profile image
1947Mags

Hi Jansy, I have 2 scooters a large one that allows me to get shopping in (I don't drive) and a smaller one that goes in the boot of a car for when family take me out). Both bought second hand. I have COPD and Bronchiectasis and am very breathless. I would not be able to manage to get the small one anywhere unless I could drive it in. But I must add I find it a life line. The Metro centres have mobility scooter you hire all you need to do is join for very little money. It is worth looking up shopmobility who I think are the company I am thinking of, good luck with this. Mags

Jansy16 profile image
Jansy16 in reply to 1947Mags

Thank you , I live in a small town that doesn't have any of those facilities unfortunately. I'm very breathless too, I'd just like to be able to go around the shops which i can't do, that's why i think a mobility scooter would be the answer if i could perhaps get one with remote control & just press a button to get it together without exhausting myself.

1947Mags profile image
1947Mags in reply to Jansy16

Hi my large scooter is a quango and it can do up to 35 miles on a full battery, I use it to go to our small town which is 4 miles away I go round all the shops and I even go into the shops provided they are big enough. Have you thought about a rollator which you could put in your car I also have one it has a seat which means I can sit down if needed. Take a look at the complete care web site. Once you start looking you could find something which will make life easier. Like you I am very short of breath and finding it more and more difficult even getting around my home, but check lots of sites I have just ordered a

Days Deluxe Lightweight Rollator which is narrow enough to use indoors as it will go easily through my doorways. Hope you find something that will make life a little easier and more enjoyable. Mags

in reply to Jansy16

It sounds to me as if you have already made up your mind to buy that remote controlled scooter and hoped to hear from someone on here who had one and was happy with it. I don't think that is going to happen, but if that is the case and you buy one, please keep in touch and tell us how you get on . Good luck, Don x

Jaybird19 profile image
Jaybird19

I have been trying to find help for a friend and the local council has somrthing called shopmobility. You can hire all sorts of aids ,walkers, muntil you find one that suits you. Sounds good . I had heard of Dial a ride but this is one step further.

My cousin has just returned from Bournemouth where the hotel had scooters for hire and they both hired mobility scooters for the day .

Take care

benney123 profile image
benney123

hi there jansy i have severe emphysema and i also been looking at getting a scooter so today this morning i had a nice man from monarch mobility to show me one of there elec folding scooter the Smarti and i it was just to see if i too could lift it into the boot of my car and get it out now i have a renault captur and i found it very easy to put in and out of the car and i did this a few times and not onice did i get out of breth but the man did say if i was havng a bad day two people could lift it also pulling it round was dead easy to pull round and after all the stuff i did with it i did not have to have one he came just to show me how it was

Jansy16 profile image
Jansy16 in reply to benney123

That's useful to know Benney. The one I'm looking at is a remote folding one weighing 20kg. I'm 9 stone what weight are you. It would be very useful for me to have as I can't walk far without getting breathless so would give me a bit of independence if I could put it in my car & then get out & have a little wander around. Thanks for your input.

benney123 profile image
benney123 in reply to Jansy16

am 13st in weight and did have a run round on it like i say you can get them on your pip or buy them out right but monarch mobility well come and show you them and the one am getting is remote folding as well and that the one oi was lifting in and out of car

benney123 profile image
benney123 in reply to Jansy16

here a though i get my scooter in 10 days time so if you live near me why not pop over and try it out

Jansy16 profile image
Jansy16 in reply to benney123

Hi Benney, I live in Pembrokeshire so imagine quite a distance from you. What is the weight of the one you're having.

benney123 profile image
benney123 in reply to Jansy16

yeah feel you are aquite a distance from me am yorkshire west it say it 27kg or 56 lbs but am telling you it does not feel that heavy when you lift it the way they show you

Jansy16 profile image
Jansy16 in reply to benney123

So pleased for you Benney, let me know how you get on with it. I'm hoping I'd be able to manage a 21kg remote control one but only being 9 stone the family thinks I won't. Watch this space.ha ha.

benney123 profile image
benney123 in reply to Jansy16

it not how much you weigh it how you are show to lift it that what it all about but good lucky and i hope you get one soon we all need to get out

benney123 profile image
benney123 in reply to Jansy16

hi jansy16 got my scooter last thur and i just been out on it today and wow and i mean wow love it i have freedom now

Jansy16 profile image
Jansy16 in reply to benney123

So pleased for you Benney. At the moment I seem to be more breathless than usual, so will probably wait until next spring before deciding. I do envy you, enjoy every minute of your independence. Best wishes.

skinnylizzy59 profile image
skinnylizzy59

Hi Jansy16, I've just icked a co

panda22 profile image
panda22

I bought a second scooter which is small but ideal for the bus. Stage coach gave me a maximum size. They then went a bus just for me and showed me how to get in and bus with it. I got a card showing I could take my scooter on and off bus the good thing is that you don't have to take it apart

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