Power Chair or Scooter? How I Help Baton Rouge Families Decide
I don’t evaluate potential power chairs and scooters in Baton Rouge based on their features. I analyze the routes taken by families in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas and consider indoor turns, doorways, routes to parking, distance covered outdoors, errands, where the device will be stored, charging, and transporting the vehicle.
When describing the features of power chairs and scooters, I omit the technical terms and focus on the needs of the user. I encourage families to bring their children so I can better understand their needs.
At 101 Mobility of Baton Rouge, I have the authority to make decisions about positions and functions on power chairs and scooters based on the family’s needs and lifestyle. However, if a physician, occupational therapist, physical therapist, assistant, or other allied health professional has specified positions or required controls, those will be added as well.
| Route Question | Power Chair Consideration | Scooter Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Constraints on turning radius | Ability to make tight turns | Long front wheel portion makes turns wide |
| Fitting through doorways | Alignment and width | Alignment and width |
| Ability to travel over varying types of terrain | Depends on motors and wheels | Generally designed for off road use |
| Controls | Joystick | Tiller |
| Space Required to Transport | Scooter | Chair |
| Ability to transport user and chair | Some models can be disassembled; larger models usually require additional transport means | Some models can be disassembled; larger models usually require additional transport means |
Where a Compact Power Chair is Best Used
A compact power chair is best used to negotiate turns through doorways, or other locations where turning space is a primary concern.
A narrow width does assist with turning, but there are other considerations, as well. For example, can the chair turn and line up with a doorway? Does it have a clear line of site to a table or other surface?
Like the Pride Go Chair, one-hand feather-touch disassembly allows the Compass Series chairs to be taken apart for transport and storage. If a seat requires frequent transport outside of the home, this feature becomes very convenient.
I can also compare Golden Power Chairs when their dimensions and drive systems are better suited to a given route.
As mentioned, the Compass Series is available in center-wheel drive configurations. The turning radius and overall width of the chairs vary by model. For example, the Compass HD has a 20-inch turning radius and an overall width of 25-inches, while the Compass Short has a turning radius of 19.5-inches and an overall width of 24-inches.
Turning radius becomes important when negotiating tighter spaces.
I evaluate other factors such as seating, weight capacity, and transfer position. If charging the seat is not convenient, or it is not easy to transport and/or use the seat outdoors, then turning radius is not as important.
A seat may turn very easily in tight spaces, but if if creates a burden when transported and used outdoors, then it does not meet its intended purpose.
A Scooter May be More Appropriate
As mentioned, a route that incorporates more out-of-house activities may call for the use of a powered scooter.
Pride Power Scooters offered by 101 Mobility allow for steering and driving using tiller controls. These scooters also allow for powered storage and travel. The Victory 9 and Victory 10 scooters have a driving range of 13 and 15.5 miles, respectively. Each scooter is 22.25-inches in overall width.
I consider these features as minimum requirements. Meeting these requirements does not automatically make a scooter better for use outdoors.
Actual fitness of a scooter for use outdoors will depend on the terrain covered.
Someone considering a mobility scooter in Louisiana may want to consider the following.
From what point will the scooter leave the house? Is there a step or threshold at that point? How does the scooter get to the car? What surfaces are on the route? How long is the route? Where will the scooter be parked? How will the scooter get back to the charging location?
A scooter may be well suited for one transportation task and totally unsuitable for another.
If the main problem is getting around the house (particularly if the house is large and/or has many levels), a scooter may work better than a power wheelchair. However, if a mobility aid is needed to navigate the community, a scooter may not work well because it is not designed for use over uneven or soft surfaces. Power wheelchairs can be specially designed to improve their mobility on difficult terrain. I take all of these factors into account before making a recommendation on the use of mobility aids.
A mobility aid is of no use if if there is no place to charge and store it. A charging location may be blocked by a doorway. These considerations affect the location of the charging equipment.
Getting a powered chair through doorways can be tricky. It isn’t just the width of the doorway that creates an issue. Turns after a doorway can be constraints as well.
Storage
Where will the charged powered chair or scooter be stored at the end of the day?
I like to store the powered chair or scooter in a way that is convenient to the end user, avoiding the need for an extra trip to retrieve it.
However, the storage location must also be convenient to the rest of the members of the household.
Charging
The charging location must also be convenient to the end user.
Pride scooters have charging features, while some of the Golden Power Chairs also have charging features depending on the model.
The Go Chair by Pride has an off-board charger.
Prior to the completion of the transaction, I make sure that the charging feature and location works for the end user.
If charging a powered chair or scooter creates an obstruction at a hallway or doorway, it needs to be addressed.
How Vehicle Transport Effects the Decision
Transporting a powered chair or scooter in a vehicle can restrict the types of powered chairs and scooters that can be used.
I consider vehicle transport and the features a powered vehicle has to load and unload the chair or scooter, in my assessment of the powered vehicle.
The Go Chair by Pride has a feature to disassemble the chair, and the heaviest piece is 36 lbs.
That number doesn’t reveal whether the household will be able to comfortably manage the transport. Someone will have to manage the disassembly and loading of the chair to the vehicle, as well as unloading and reassembly at the destination.
Disassembly is sometimes provided by the manufacturer as a feature to facilitate transport of the scooter.
Just because a scooter is designed to be disassembled, does not mean that will work for this household.
I evaluate:
- The type and size of vehicle used for transport.
- Cargo capacity of the vehicle.
- Weight and quantity of scooter components.
- How frequently will the scooter be transported.
- Where will components be stored.
- Will the household be able to realistically manage the repeated assembly and disassembly of the scooter.
Considering the demands of the household and transport requirements, it may be more reasonable to look at other alternatives, including a wheelchair or scooter transport lift. 101 Mobility offers such lifts and/or carriers.
This illustrates that although a power scooter or power chair may function well within the household, there may be other issues that need to be taken into account.
i. For a user learning a power chair, identify the characteristics of the control interface and model the maneuverability of the chair.
ii. For a scooter, review tiller controls and learn how to properly operate, park and charge the scooter.
A house’s familiarity with the equipment and transport/loading process is critical prior to the first outing.
Equipment requires maintenance. Once your mobility equipment is purchased, you can rely on 101 Mobility for service and support, including maintenance and repairs.
If you are considering your daily mobility options between a power chair and scooter, contact us for a free in-home consultation. We will determine the best equipment to maneuver indoors and outdoors, including parking and transport considerations.
Power Chair vs. Scooter FAQ
Which is best for indoor use, a power chair or scooter?
A power chair is better for indoor use because of its joystick control and maneuverability. However, there still may be obstacles that a power chair would have trouble navigating.
Which is better for outdoor use, a power scooter?
A power scooter may be a better option for outdoor use because of tiller control. However, consider the distance you would need to travel and other factors such as the surface, storage and transport.
How big of a space does a Pride Go Chair need to make a turn?
According to 101 Mobility, the Pride Go Chair needs about 25.5 feet to make a complete turn. While that figure is good for general course planning, I consider other details. The 25.5 inch width means the chair may not fit through 30 inch wide doorways, and there may not be enough space to fit the chair and turn it after every others. I also look at the furniture. The Golden Pursuit has a 30.5 inch turning radius.
In what types of situations are the Golden Power Chairs good?
As I mentioned before, there are models that are made to maneuver through tighter spaces. Like the Compass Short that has a 19.5 inch turning radius and is only 24 inches wide. When comparing chairs based solely on turning dimensions, it’s also important to look at the length of the route and how long the batteries last.
Are there ways to transport a power chair or scooter?
If the power mobility device is too large to take apart and fit in a car, it may need to be transported on a tow behind vehicle. There are a variety of factors that go into determining the best method such as the size of the vehicle and who will be helping with the load.
What should I do if the power chair or scooter can fit in the vehicle, but not through the entrance?
An entrance that poses a mobility problem means that there are still barriers that prevent use of the rest of the route and that issue should be resolved separately. There is little use in being able to travel around the house if you are still unable to travel beyond the house.
About the Author
Jonas Boutte is the owner of 101 Mobility of South Louisiana and has hands-on training from accessibility-equipment manufacturers including Bruno, Harmar, Stiltz, Staying Home, EZ-ACCESS, National Ramp, and others. He helps families throughout Greater New Orleans evaluate accessibility and patient-handling equipment based on their homes, daily routines, caregiver needs, and mobility priorities.
