Dad has mild memory loss (can’t work a washing machine or remember where he’s going), cataracts, poor hearing and is unsteady on his feet. He had his driving license taken off him 10 years ago. He’s now decided he wants a mobility scooter to cruise the narrow, steep roads with fast cars to go down to the shops. Very uneven pavements too. Should we discourage him? Do you need medical approval?
How far away are the shops?
Why won't your sister take him shopping? And why is he so keen to go?
If this is shopping as recreation (terrible timing for it, by the way) then you could have a look for community networks and volunteer associations in his area, and see if anyone has set up a seniors' minibus service or similar idea.
Could he use Uber?
He couldn’t use Uber, but could get a cab if he wanted.
Isolation is a real problem for our seniors. They can not help but feel bad by being cooped up and being by themselves most the time, it does start eating away at their wellbeing. Find a way to change that for him.
I think COVID has reduced his visits and visitors this year.
I might see if I can organise something now.
Are you speaking about the motorized scooter where the elderly person is seated and drives? They are very expensive without insurance. It’s difficult to get approved for insurance for these.
My mother’s neurologist said that people are turned down all of the time when trying to become approved for a scooter.
Best of luck to your dad. This must be so hard for you and your sister to witness.
I suppose that your dad wishes to be more involved in his life and feels like he has lost control of his life. That’s a tough position for him to be in.
Your sister probably only has so much time to devote to shopping and it’s hard for her too.
It’s frustrating for everyone. So sorry that you are dealing with this situation. Hope that you can find a viable solution soon. Best wishes to you and your family.
I have watched a man on a scooter riding on the sidewalk fall over almost in the road. This was from my office window. The sidewalk was uneven. TG a couple of people stopped immediately to help. After that he road in the road. We had a couple of clients who because of disabilities got them free. Only to find out that when the battery could no longer charge, it was $100 or more to buy a new battery. They could not afford it, so the scooter just sat.
If your Dad can't drive a car, he can't drive a scooter. I would also check the law in your area to see if they are allowed on roadways.
Using a mobility scooter to get safely around is one thing. Using it to ride down busy streets, zipping through parking lots without paying attention to cars moving, backing up without checking behind you, racing down aisles in stores where people have to jump out of your way to avoid getting hit....
So...very long story short lol...if the only purpose of the mobility scooter is something dangerous.. I would discourage it. The tires aren't really road-rated, it isn't safe to ride in traffic, it causes sightline problems for drivers, it is very dangerous. And unfortunately you may see an actual decrease in mobility if he becomes dependent on it for other things and stops walking on his own with the walker.
My elderly dad would run to one of those in the store. Could barely get on it. Practically ran me and sales lady over. Would confuse back up and foward. Funny I have not seen the scooter at our local home depot any more. Maybe thats the reason lol.
My mom would take him to the drug store as his outing for the day. He would have to walk that. A nightmare at grocery store. So those outings stopped.
When he asks, redirect the conversation to something else. Heh its lunch time, we better go in lol
If you do get a scooter, avoid a 3 wheeler. They’re prone to tipping.
At age 67, I bought a scooter for myself from Israel - the Moving Life Atto. Researched it on the internet. Good you tube videos help with instructions. Comes apart in 2 pieces and I could get it in back seat of my Toyota Corolla (one part weighs a bit, but I managed). I have spinal arthritis issues, overdid exercising my legs in the pool and wound up with chronic hip bursitis. Never knew from day to day if my legs would work for any distance, so I got the Atto scooter. Used it a few times in the shopping mall, taking it on the DC metro to see museums. Thankfully and unpredictably, my bursitis started to resolve after two years. So now I walk everywhere (too much doing steps will give me hip pain though - and no pool exercises again). I charge the scooter battery every couple months to keep it usable. The Atto folds up and looks like a carry-on suitcase. I keep it in my coat closet. When needed, I really like the Atto. There are still times when my legs stiffen if they’re tired . I think my dad would’ve enjoyed the Atto on trips with me to the mall or outside. I had no bursitis when I was caregiving for them and the Atto was not available then.
These are not road safe.
My Dad had 1 and after the second time, with the police bringing him back in a police van with the scooter we donated it to the VFW. He would get lost, go on the roads that speed limits were 55mph. He used his arm to signal lane changes 😱😱.
No No No
Why does your sister always have to take him? Is there any other family members close that could take him? Maybe he just needs to get out of the house. I can relate to that.
Could you or someone else devote a day to get him and take him for a ride somewhere? My daughter does that for her dad. She told me that after church today, she is taking him out for lunch and they are going to go to a nearby lake so he can take photos. He loves playing with cameras and videos. Then during the week he can play with the photos he took today. It gets him out of the AL and also gives him something to do during the week.
As others noted, the more he can ambulate on his own, the better. One thing my mother harped on my dad about was Use it or Lose it! When her turn arrived... even after mentioning this to her, she just laughed and said yeah. Didn't change anything. When she moved into MC she was fully mobile and could do more self-care on her own (moved due to memory and safety issues, after she refused to let aides into her place.) Over time, sitting too much (her big thing, even before the move, was to sit and read stuff - newspapers, magazines, and her favorite - sales flyers!) led to non-use, which leads to weakness (AND weight gain!)
It was probably around the2 year mark that she asked for a rollator. I had the walker and rollator dad used stored here, so brought it to her. She did fine with that for over a year, but STILL would spend most of the day sitting and reading. Others would walk after meals, at least a few loops around the place. Not mom. Eventually this has resulted in refusal to stand or walk without help, partly due to weakness and weight gain, partly due to fear of falling. Even worse, too much sitting along with her (treated) high BP, she recently had a stroke. Made moving her even more difficult.
Find ways to get him up and walking, even with a walker or rollator. To the store is probably too far, but there must be places he can walk that might at least be interesting or fun. If someone can drive him to the store, make sure he WALKS around in the store - don't let him use one of the store scooters, if they have them!
requires a license or
requires a doctor’s note or
can’t be driven on the streets or
whatever else you can think of that he would accept.
My dad had one that he used around the house when he was too weak to walk (Parkinson’s) and he would sit in the driveway. But he never wanted to go any further. His interest in it faded and there it sits.
Dementia gives you permission to tell white lies for their safety, because reasoning no longer works.
I didn't live near my mom, but when I went to visit, I saw a lot of evidence of her having many many many accidents with that scooter in the house. She would be sitting on her scooter, fall asleep, and accidentally turn the speed up...then she'd halfway wake up and her hand would hit the throttle and she'd crash into the wall. Or she wouldn't realize her leg was dangling off the side of the scooter and she's scrape it along the wall causing it to bleed. There were marks all over the walls where she had slammed into them, blood everywhere. She destroyed the house with the scooter...it was pretty terrifying.
One time she wanted to go to Disney World with me and my kids...she rented a scooter...she wasn't on the thing for more than 10 seconds before she ran me down and knocked me over. This happened SEVERAL times that day. She also hit other people. I still don't know if that happened because she was impaired or because she just didn't care. It is really sad to see someone lose their independence. I don't look forward to it myself...but we have to be careful with things like that...getting run over by a dang scooter is not fun!
Encourage him to give it a chance, after the 1st time they are not so new and as time goes on perhaps they can become friends.
One thing that I have learned, parents like, some love, to complain about everything and anything, so not responding or acting upon the complaints they have has been very helpful and usually it isn't a complaint that they want me to address, they just want to make sure that I never forget how mistreated they are by me. Misery loves company is so true with my parents.
If he says he doesn't like the idea of being with someone new, tell him that it is a friend he just hasn't met yet and keep encouraging him to find things that he does enjoy about the person.
Best of luck. I do feel for your sister, shopping with a senior is very difficult for me. The slooowneeessss makes my body hurt, I just let them get ahead of me and catch up or visa-versa, I always have something that I am looking for, something new that I have never tried before, so that does help, but it is brutal. Give her a big thank you for doing what she can.
Bless You! Dr Jack Grenan