Scooter Rental For Your Out Of Town Guests

We’re heading into the time of year when we get to reflect on gratitude, catch up with family, and open our homes to guests. Hosting out-of-town visitors means being aware of food preferences, allergies, and, most importantly, mobility challenges. Mobility scooter rentals make it easy to provide an enjoyable stay for guests who need assistance getting around.

If you’re considering renting a scooter for the holiday season, keep reading for some tips to help you pick a scooter that meets your visitor’s needs.

Scooter Rentals: How To Choose The Right Scooter

There are many options for you to consider when choosing a transport aid, which can make it seem overwhelming. Hiring the right type of scooter ensures your guest will get around safely and comfortably, but how do you know what to look for? These are some of the factors to keep in mind as you consider the options:

How Much Mobility Does Your Visitor Have?

Before choosing a scooter, consider your guest’s movement ability by answering the following questions:

• Do they have enough torso strength to hold themselves upright in the seat?
• Do they have sufficient upper body strength to steer the vehicle and maintain a strong grip on the steering mechanism?
• Do they have adequate mobility to get themselves to the scooter?

If your visitor doesn’t meet these guidelines, hiring a motorized wheelchair may be more suitable.

What Will Your Visitor Be Doing?

Thinking about the activities you’ve got planned for their stay will help you determine what kind of scooter they might need. With the right scooter, your visitor will make the most of all the exciting things to do in Tamarac.

Outdoor Adventures

Are you considering lots of outdoor trips or journeys through rugged terrain? If so, opt for a heavy-duty scooter, equipped with four all-terrain wheels. These ready-for-anything vehicles take grass, gravel, and other outdoor surfaces in their stride.

Bus, Plane, Or Train Rides

Will you be using public transport for short trips? A fold-up scooter is ideal for traveling on public transport as they are light, easy to fold, and designed to be portable.

Shopping Mall Trips

Is shopping on the agenda? For indoor cruising through shopping malls, or use around the house, a light-weight, three-wheel scooter is ideal. The sleek design allows it to have greater maneuverability and tighter cornering than the four-wheeled version.

Helpful Scooter Features

Much like motor vehicles, mobility scooters come with different features depending on what model you rent. To help you decide, check these features:

Battery Charge Indicator

Much like a fuel gauge in a vehicle, a battery indicator tells your visitor how much charge is left in the battery, or how far they can still travel before needing to recharge. This allows the driver to plan their trips and minimizes the risk of being stranded with a flat battery.

Some scooters have the storage capacity to take the charging equipment with them, allowing for emergency recharges mid-trip.

Freewheel Mode

This feature allows you to disengage the drive mechanism to free the wheels when the scooter is switched off. Moving a switched-off scooter is hard work, but freewheel mode makes it possible to roll the scooter along as you would a wheeled suitcase. Useful for moving your scooter out of the way, storing it in small places, or taking it indoors.

Storage Space

Renting a scooter with storage gives your visitor the freedom to do some gift shopping without giving away any secrets. A basket is usually provided at the front of the scooter, with enough room for belongings and purchases. Baskets are open to the elements and can’t be easily secured.

Some scooters have an additional top box that fits on the back by the seat. A top box provides a covered storage area that is lockable.

How To Prepare Your Home For A Mobility Scooter

Once you’ve decided which mobility scooter to hire, you can check that your home is scooter-ready. There are two main aspects to think about: scooter storage, and scooter-friendly access.

Storing A Mobility Scooter

To keep the scooter in good condition, store it in a sheltered, secure area where it won’t be exposed to the elements. Garages, sheds, or lockable storage units, are all suitable protection for a scooter. Scooters aren’t designed to withstand heavy rain or stand in puddles of water as this can cause electrical issues.

Scooter Access Ramps

Take a walk around your property and look for any stepped areas that won’t be accessible for the scooter. Consider what type of ramp might work best in each area. To make it simpler for you, we have a full range of ramps and other medical equipment in-store. Some of the options include:

• Folding Wheelchair Ramps: Folding ramps are convenient for traveling. Bi-fold ramps fold down the middle, reducing their width by 50%, while retaining their length. Tri-fold ramps are four-panel ramps that fold in both directions. Folding ramps with carry handles are called suitcase ramps.
• Threshold Ramps: Threshold ramps are useful for curbs, doorways, small steps, or raised landings. Typically made from metal or rubber, they provide a smooth surface over small barriers.
• Van Wheelchair Ramps: These ramps make it easy to load a scooter into a van or vehicle for transporting.
• Solid Wheelchair Ramps: Solid ramps are usually wide, with a high traction, anti-slip surface that offers great stability for both wheelchairs and scooters. The length of the ramp varies depending on the height of the slope.
• Bariatric Ramps: Bariatric ramps have a large weight capacity for broader or heavier mobility devices. They are usually wider to provide a stable surface for wider scooters.

Note: Telescoping ramps aren’t suitable for scooters. They consist of two narrow channels that retract and extend to suit the height of the rise. Front and back scooter wheels often don’t line up, making them unsuitable for this type of ramp.

Convenient Scooter Rentals In Tamarac, FL

Keeping guests happy and comfortable is at the heart of every good host. Providing a suitable mobility aid for the duration of their stay is another way of making them feel at home. If you find scooter rentals a bit daunting, contact our helpful staff at Affordable Medical Supply. They’ve got the knowledge and experience to help you make the right choice.

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