A little scooter

Cantilip

Normally I use a rollator. A complex mix of additional things going wrong with me thankfully temporary meant I couldn’t get out of a taxi to attend my GP. I thought of an electric wheelchair and decided a lightweight scooter was easier to store in my flat, easier for other people to lift. It’s not exactly meant solely for indoor use, but it's a delicate little thing as scooters go, really happy only on the flat and level.

So the general idea was to scoot in and out of wheelchair accessible cabs and drift elegantly into the surgery, not a hair out of place – as opposed to crying and yelping with pain and arriving a sobbing distraught wreck if I’d tried distinctly malfunctional legs.

Complication 1: getting it out of the building because of thresholds. For this there are ramps.

Complication 2: the logistics of getting the ramp to the front door with my uncertain legs and rollator, returning inside, scooting into the outside and then what, can’t leave the ramp in the doorway.

To solve all this another person is or may be needed.

The speckled area is used only by me. Depending on how much my mobility continues to improve, it may be possible for me to scoot outside, dismount, hold on tight to the door-frame and give the ramp a good shove so it ends up there and is not in anyone else’s way. I cannot stand without holding onto something, so only one arm can be used.

So life’s a learning-curve. See how it goes.

Theoretically all this is temporary because I have applied for sheltered housing. I am of course aware that I might still be here in six years’ time.

So for what am I using my new toy? For going out with other people.

Rachel_Scope

That looks like a nifty little scooter! I hope it helps you gain more independence and you feel more comfortable going out and about. Hopefully you'll get sheltered housing sooner but it's great that you're planning ahead just in case 😊

Cantilip

@Rachel_Scope Truly I have not a clue what they'll make of what I said. In some critical ways there is absolutely nothing wrong with my flat, it's light, airy, large, well heated, everything works, no damp or mould - well a minute bit along the wainscoting, probably inevitable from the sea air. But there are considerable negatives from the mobility POV and the chief one is outside and called a hill! A short but steep hill. I was much more mobile when I moved in, on sticks, and generally more well. When less well, my rollator and I are frightened of that hill, making me housebound, despite being able to walk. The bathroom and kitchen are both tiny, which is of course awkward with the rollator, much manipulation required to get myself onto the bath seat, and so on. And of course I'm vulnerable to falling and to have help on site would be very reassuring. Large number of near-misses.

egister

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/122024/a-little-scooter

Very bad description. A photo or video would be clearer. The device in the photo is dangerous; It's easy to fall even on a perfectly flat surface. Also, you did not describe in detail your physical condition, age, illness, height, weight, … - without this, advice is impossible.

Cantilip

I don't think I said I wanted advice. Just describing the plot so far. News bulletin from Planet Cantilip. The seat and arms look and feel sturdy. I have a belt. I am intending to go neither far nor fast, as described, such as from the kerb into the surgery or a restaurant.

Bluebell21

Good luck @Cantilip I hope you little scooter helps you get out and about.

Cantilip

@Bluebell21 Thank you! At the mo it's standing peacefully in my sitting-room because a bit of furniture rearranging is in progress, family very kindly coming next week to remove a large sideboard, which of course I've had to empty, then once it's gone need to get delivered some replacement shelves and get a load of stuff off the floor. I only really do one 'project' at once so sorting out ramps and getting mobile will happen only after all that is sorted.

Bluebell21

Sounds like a good plan. I hope it all goes well, and you are soon mobile. @Cantilip