How Mobility Devices Help You Stay Independent and Enjoy Life

The small pleasures of life make our lives worth living: going to the farmers' market, spending time with grandkids at the playground, meeting with friends over a cup of coffee. But once mobility becomes an issue, even the easiest activities may prove to be a problem – you may struggle with walking around too much, looking for a place to rest, and needing assistance. In some instances, staying at home becomes easier. You do not have to let go of the pleasure in life.

With the help of mobility devices like a power wheelchair or a mobility scooter, life becomes easier as your everyday tasks become simplified and you have a chance to enjoy yourself at your own pace. Here we will explain to you how using the right mobility device will help you stay independent and confident, and we will review research on mobility and socialization.

How Can Mobility Devices Support Independence and Confidence?

Being independent does not always mean living by yourself. Being independent is the ability of a person to plan their activities and lead an independent life without thinking much about moving from one place to another. A person who faces difficulties with moving, but is capable of walking short distances, could benefit from the use of a powered wheelchair or scooter. Furthermore, feeling scared about using some type of mobility aid is absolutely natural, but there is nothing wrong about having some difficulty with moving on your own.

What Researchers Say?

The World Health Organization (WHO) admits that assistive technologies such as wheelchairs could become a key to being independent and actively participating in everyday activities. Wheelchair mobility research stresses the importance of proper selection of an assistive device, confidence, and skills. [1] Still, the aid has to match your needs and be used comfortably for you to benefit from its use. Having the aid at home will not automatically give you independence.

3 Ways Mobility Devices Can Improve Everyday Life

Apart from assisting you in moving from one place to another, these gadgets might also help you make various activities easier and more fun.

1. Maintain Contact With Your Family and Friends

Imagine taking your family out for a trip to the zoo. You find the concept exciting, but even the mere idea of navigating through the different spots and queuing makes you refrain from it. Using a proper mobility gadget, you might be able to spend less time moving and more time watching animals, talking to your relatives, and making pleasant memories. That is applicable to spending time with friends, going to various events in your community, and visiting the market.

2. Save Energy for the Things You Love

Some people feel fatigued or find it difficult to walk longer distances. This makes simple activities a burden. For instance, going out to do some shopping may exhaust you such that you cannot make food once you return home. A long walk to the terminal of the airport will exhaust you even before you start your holiday journey. The use of a mobility aid like a power chair may reduce the physical effort used in traveling longer distances.

3. Handle Daily Activities With Greater Ease

At other times, being self-reliant involves making daily tasks easier. You might feel quite confident in buying groceries for yourself, paying for things at the cashier's, and taking a companion out for a coffee drink. The difficulty is getting around inside a busy grocery store or parking area. Therein comes the importance of having a proper mobility aid in order to ease your physical difficulties, so that you can become independent in performing daily activities.

Which One Should I Choose: Power Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter?

The power wheelchair and the mobility scooter give you independence to move around, yet they are different in structure. Understanding the difference is important because it will help narrow down the options to compare.

A power wheelchair may also prove to be a better pick if there is a need for the use of a joystick and increased maneuverability in tight spaces. In case a user finds it easy to operate a tiller and requires mobility in large areas, a mobility scooter could serve as an appropriate choice. Neither of the two will prove to be an automatically better choice, as many factors will be at play.

What Should You Look for When Choosing a Mobility Device?

The mobility aid does not necessarily need to be the lightest or the one with the most battery power. The best mobility aid is one that suits you and your everyday routine. Five things that you should consider when purchasing a mobility aid include:

1. What Kind of Environment Will You Use?

Determine whether your mobility aid will be used indoors, outdoors, or both. If used indoors, check its dimensions and turning capabilities. If used outdoors, take into consideration the terrain and operational restrictions imposed by the manufacturer.

2. Is It Easily Transportable?

If you venture outdoors by using a car, a collapsible model would be useful. Consider the weight of the mobility aid, its collapsible size, and whether it can fit into your car trunk.

3. How Much Battery Range is Required?

Determine battery range depending on your usual routine. Your battery range won’t be required much for shorter distances, but for longer trips, it would definitely be required more. You should also know about the fact that there could be a number of factors reducing the battery range.

4. Is the Chair Comfortable?

Make sure to find a chair that fits your needs and offers sufficient comfort. It is especially important if you are going to be using your device for hours on end.

5. Is the Chair Safe to Use?

Evaluate the safety controls on the chair, its braking system, stability system, and weight capacity. Ideally, test drive the chair before purchasing one to ensure that it is right for you. For more information, read our selection guides on buying the right wheelchair or selecting a mobility scooter.

Which Aotedor Power Wheelchair Is Right for Your Lifestyle?

Mobility requirements vary from person to person. One person might want to have a portable wheelchair because he/she wishes to travel with it. For some other individuals, the range, comfort level, and terrain capability of the wheelchair can be the important factors. In Aotedor power wheelchairs, all the wheelchairs come with a foldable mechanism, but the specifications are different from each other.

1. For Everyday Use and Budget-Friendly Mobility

If all you need is assistance while going shopping and on other errands within the community, you do not necessarily need to buy the most expensive one.

One such mobility scooter is the Aotedor 220, which is fairly light, weighing about 39 lbs and can go up to 22 miles on dual batteries. Its easy folding makes it portable to carry around.

Another mobility scooter from the same company is the Aotedor A07, which is fitted with a 500W motor system and goes up to 15 miles.

2. For Frequent Travel and Easy Transportation

In case you frequently move around with your car or have to lift your chair quite often, weight and material may become very important.

Aotedor N5513A  chair is made of full carbon fiber material and weighs about 35 lbs, which makes it one of the lightest chairs from Aotedor.

If you want an option that is slightly heavier but gives a wider range, the Aotedor 213 chair, weighing 37 lbs and offering a 30-mile range, is for you.

Although carbon fiber chairs usually cost a bit more, their lightness may help a lot during frequent transport.

3. For Longer Outings and Extended Battery Range

Enjoy spending the day outdoors, visiting large attractions, or taking longer trips? Battery range may be one of your top priorities. The Aotedor 5526 offers up to 35 miles of advertised range, making it worth considering for extended outings. The Aotedor 213 is another option, combining up to 30 miles of range with a lightweight carbon fiber design. Remember that real-world battery performance depends on factors such as terrain, rider weight, and speed.

4. When You Require More Space in Seats and Extra Weight Capacity

When you seek extra space in seats and weight capacity, then first priority should be given to comfort and fit, rather than portability. The Aotedor 203 is a 21-inch seat that can hold 330 pounds of weight capacity, along with a range of 30 miles. This product weighs around 65 pounds, which makes it a heavy option among the light products from the same brand.

What About Different Outdoor Terrains?

If you intend to drive your electric wheelchair in parks, on roads, or through trails, make sure to keep an eye on such parameters as tires, engine, stability, and terrain conditions recommended by the manufacturer.

Several all-terrain wheelchairs have been produced by Aotedor company, which includes such models as 220 and 213. Nonetheless, just because a wheelchair is considered all-terrain does not mean that it can cope with any kind of terrain.

Aotedor Power Wheelchairs: Quick Comparison 

Getting Started: Make Your Mobility Device Work for You

Selecting the right mobility device is not all there is to it. Becoming comfortable using it is equally significant. The WHO Wheelchair Provision Guidelines stress the importance of individual assessment, appropriate fitting, training, and follow-up care. [2]  Here are some tips that might assist you at the start:

1. Start with what is comfortable. Practice navigating, maneuvering, and stopping in a safe and open environment before going someplace busier.
2. Plan your first outings. See if the place you plan to go has good access points, appropriate terrain, and if you require any charging or storage points.
3. Get to know your device. Go through the instruction manual to learn about the braking system and how far and on which terrains it can be used according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
4. Learn things gradually. Begin with short trips to build comfort around your device.

There is no pressure to learn everything on the very first day. Learning takes time, and so does getting used to it.

Final Thoughts: Independence Is About Having Choices

The use of a mobility aid does not necessarily mean the renunciation of all that was possible before. On the contrary, the purpose of mobility aids is to ensure your access to activities and experiences which you value. This could be grocery shopping alone, hanging out with your family or even spending more time outside.

At Aotedor, we are of the opinion that mobility should come from within and fit your life perfectly. Browse through the models of folding electric wheelchairs at Aotedor to find the most suitable one. And remember, it is not the distance you are able to cover that shows your independence.

References

1. Auger, C., et al. Conceptual Mapping Proposed to Comprehend the Effect of Wheelchair Mobility on Social Participation and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology.
2. World Health Organization. Wheelchair Provision Guidelines. 2023.
3. World Health Organization. Assistive Technology.