1. Get a Doctor's Prescription

When mobility becomes limited, most physicians will write a prescription for an electric powered scooter. (Whether private or Medicare, a prescription is required when filing for insurance. ) Once that has been done, the next step is to consult with an equipment specialist who is familiar with the home medical equipment business before you purchase a scooter.

2. Custom Fitting

A scooter can be custom designed to meet individual needs and requirements. The customization begins with important measurements including the patient's height, weight and arm length. Daily habits and use of the equipment are also important factors that need to be taken into account when choosing a scooter.

Other options such as full body support and type of speed control will be taken into account as well. Both comfort and utilization requirements need to be considered  scooter for kids when customizing scooters for individual users. On most mobility scooters you can choose:

• seat covering

• extra padding

• lumbar supports

• powered height adjustments

• armrests can also be added, removed or changed.

3. Mobility Scooter Models

Battery powered mobility scooters come in a variety of models including those resembling chairs and those with handlebars for steering. Scooters are categorized in several ways:

• Number of wheels (3 or 4)

• Weight Capacity (250 lbs. is standard, but some go as high as 350 lbs.)

• Turning radius

• Speed

• Degree of incline the scooter can handle

• Battery life

• Weight of Scooter

• Ease of transport

There is the option of a scooter suitable for combined indoor and outdoor use, or a special outdoor model with rear-wheel drive for rugged terrain. These scooters are covered under the A.D.A accessibility laws which means you can use your powered scooter inside public places such as stores, theaters, museums and on public transportation. Also, powered scooters for outdoor use usually have extra safety features, such as lights, horns and turn indicators. Other extra accessories may include portable battery chargers, baskets, oxygen carriers, sun shades and storage compartments.

Scooters range in price from less than $600 to more than $3200, depending on the above factors.

4. Take the Scooter for a Test Drive

Just like a car, it is important to test drive a scooter. This allows an individual to get a feel for driving around in a scooter and it provides the supplier with valuable information as to the buyer's needs. How a person maneuvers and handles a scooter impacts additional considerations such as controls for how fast the scooter can go and a seat belt to help with body support.

5. Home Accessibility

Another important factor to consider when purchasing a mobility scooter is home accessibility. Consider these factors for the greatest freedom in using the motorized scooter in a home.

• Is there ramp access from the vehicle to the home?

• Is the scooter going to be used in a home, and if so, is there handicapped access?

• Is there enough space in the home for a powered scooter to safely turn around and get through doorways?

• Will the scooter need to be used in the bathroom?

• Can a transfer be safely made from the scooter to the toilet?

6. Transporting the Mobility Scooter

Depending on the type of mobility scooter you purchase, a car or van will need to be modified in some manner to transport the scooter. If you purchase a travel scooter, they are compact and easy to fold and designed to fit in the trunk of a car. For all other scooters, a lift or carrier will need to be added to the vehicle.

For vans, a lift can be installed to transfer the scooter from the ground into the van. A second and less complicated option is to install a lift or carrier which mounts to the back bumper of a car or van. Take into account who will be moving the scooter and their  scooter for kids abilities before you make a decision.

The Department of Veteran Affairs provides these basic guidelines to help with making decisions about how best to transport the scooter.

Typically a person transporting the scooter needs to be able to:

• Lift up to 50 pounds

• Kneel or work at ground level

• Lift objects 2 to 3 feet off the ground

• Lift objects into/out of the back seat of a car

• Lift objects into/out of a car trunk (Note: This requires lifting the scooter over the trunk edge and down 4 to 6 inches into the trunk.)

Before making the important decision to purchase a mobility scooter, talk about all of the options with an equipment expert, assess the environment and find the best fit to give the disabled individual more independence so they can enjoy life.