13 May 2020
On Sunday 10th May Boris Johnson announced that the UK government was taking its first careful steps to ease some of the lockdown restrictions – including the ability for fit and healthy people to spend an unlimited amount of time outside each day by either walking or driving to places such as local parks.
If you’re looking forward to getting more fresh air, but need some additional support while walking, a mobility aid, such as a rollator or mobility scooter may be a good investment to help prevent falls outside. Mobility aids offer invaluable support which can help you to stay independent and active on paved and smooth terrain outdoors, but with such a wide variety available how do you know which one is right for your needs? Below we look at the differences between rollators and scooters, whilst also highlighting the useful features of each to help you choose wisely.
Please remember, if you do decide to enjoy more of the outdoors, it is vital you do so only with members of your own household and continue following social distancing rules and hygiene measures with friends and relatives outside of your household. The government guidelines are constantly being reviewed and may change in the coming weeks.
A rollator can offer you stability when you’re walking, giving you the confidence and support to get out and about safely. There are many different styles available, which can feature three or four wheels, and all include brakes to ensure you’re safe when getting around outside.
Rollators help you get your steps in – if you are able to walk, but need an aid to support your balance, a rollator is a great option. Designed to give you a strong framework to lean on whilst moving, it can enable you to stay active by increasing your number of daily steps.
Their seats can be used anywhere – we all need to take a short break when we’re out and about, and many rollators, including the Nitro Rollator, feature a handy seat, which can be used with your brakes locked, enabling you to rest.
They feature handy baskets – baskets and bags are common features of rollators and often appear underneath a seat, as it is with the Mobility Care Aluminium Rollator. You might consider storing items in the basket when you’re walking outside, so your hands are free to grip the handles of your rollator and steer safely.
Many rollators can fit in the car – some rollators, including the Compact Easy Rollator, are designed with a folding mechanism, that makes them ideal for transportation and storage. You might consider a folding rollator if you are travelling in a vehicle to visit somewhere, such as a park, and need to pop your walking aid in the boot or back seat.
REMEMBER: before enjoying a rollator outdoors, it is important that you can apply enough pressure to safely use the brakes to ensure you can stop the aid whenever you need to.
Mobility scooters offer seated support and are powered to transport you where you need to go. They feature a comfortable seat and backrest, a platform to rest your feet on and sturdy handle bars to help you steer confidently outside.
There are many similar benefits that come with owning a rollator or mobility scooter, but it’s important to know some of the key differences that could help you decide which one would be better suited to your needs.
Scooters help you to stay independent – if you find it difficult to walk long distances, a rollator may not be able to give you the full support you need, A mobility scooter on the other hand, such as the Drive Scout 4 Wheel Mobility Scooter can support your weight and give you back your independence when going out and about on your own or with a member of your household.
They offer a supportive seat – unlike a rollator, a mobility scooter enables you to stay seated at all times, which is ideal if you find it challenging to stand for long periods. Scooters such as the Envoy 8 Drive 4 Wheel Mobility Scooter, feature a padded seat, backrest and even armrests, to ensure you are comfortable and supported when outside.
They have storage options – a similar benefit of most rollators and mobility scooters is that they feature a handy basket to hold your essentials when you’re outside. Mobility scooters, including the ST1 Boot Scooter, typically feature the basket on the front, below the handlebars.
You can fit some in the boot – it can be surprising to learn that some mobility scooters, like the Lightweight Folding Mobility Scooter, can actually be folded at the press of a button or are easily split into parts to fit inside your boot. This feature is ideal if you’re driving to somewhere nearby for some fresh air.
REMEMBER: mobility scooters are powered by batteries which will need to be charged with a mobility scooter charger. The maximum distance a mobility scooter covers will vary, depending on the battery included. It is important to consider your own health needs before purchasing a mobility scooter, to ensure you will be able to safely use, charge and store it.
Please remember that people who are in highest risk group to COVID-19 are still being asked to shield to protect themselves and therefore stay at home.
If you are considering purchasing a mobility aid, Complete Care Shop offer a wide range of mobility scooters and rollators that you can browse to find the best model for you. Don’t forget to stay safe outside by continuing to follow social distancing measures and using hand sanitiser to keep your hands clean if soap and water aren’t available.
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