Comparing Motorized Wheelchairs And Scooters

There are multiple factors to take into account when trying to determine what method will best meet your mobility needs. Choosing between motorized wheelchairs and scooters depends on your specific situation, your budget and insurance or Medicare requirements, and what your doctor or physical therapist recommends.

There are three different types of motorized mobility devices: scooters, power wheelchairs, and power-base wheelchairs. Scooters are longer platforms with a chair above a motor driving two wheels in the back, controlled by a steering apparatus with one or two wheels in the front. Some models can be operated using one hand. Power wheelchairs are based on the manual wheelchair design with a compact motor. Power-base wheelchairs are chairs attached to a motorized wheel base.

Scooters are the most economic of motorized mobility devices. These are best suited for people who are capable of walking short distances and getting themselves in and out of the scooter, but whose physical condition makes them unable to walk long distances. They are more difficult to use in confined areas than wheelchairs because of their larger size and turning radius. A person who is unable to get around in their own home without a wheelchair should not use a power scooter and should invest in a power wheelchair.

Power wheelchairs based on a motorized version of the manual wheelchair design are the most compact mechanized mobility devices. Lightweight versions are available which fold up and can be stored in a small space making them convenient for travel. A ramp or lift is necessary to load a scooter or power-base wheelchair into a vehicle. Power wheelchairs are the easiest to maneuver in small spaces and cover a smaller total area than power-base wheelchairs and scooters, although power-base wheelchairs do have a size and turning radius which are not much greater.