There are many makes and models of personal mobility scooters to choose from. Break them down and they fall into the 4 following categories of scooters. Here they are:

1) Folding/Easily Transported Scooters: Your scooter won’t do you much good if you have to go onto a trip and can’t take it with you. That’s when this type of scooter comes into play. Usually this type of scooter can be disassembled into 3 or 4 pieces of lightweight parts – making the scooter easily transportable. Able to fit into the trunk of most cars.

2) Three-Wheeled Scooters: As the name implies, this scooter has 3 wheels instead of 4. And it usually has a maximum weight capacity of 300 to 500lbs. Offering comfort and durability, three-wheel scooters can get you where you want to go indoors and outdoors.

3) Four-Wheeled Scooters: If you plan on mostly using your scooter outdoors, then a four-wheeled personal mobility scooter is probably right for you. Obviously because this type of scooter has four wheels instead of three, it’s much more stable. With bigger tires than three three-wheeler, it’s able to go as fast as 10 miles per hour.

4) Heavy Duty Electrified Personal Mobility Scooters: This type of scooter can come with three or four wheels and can support a maximum weight capacity of 500 pounds.

The type of personal mobility scooter you buy will depend upon several factors. Including weight of the user, whether the scooter will be used mostly indoors or outdoors and the amount of usage involved. Make sure you inform your salesperson of these factors. Don’t get talked into buying a scooter you don’t need.

Are you trying to decide between a manual wheel chair and an electric one? Before I explain the pros and cons of owning a manual wheel chair as opposed to an electric wheel chair, here are some important considerations to take into effect.

A manual wheel chair requires you to use your own muscles to propel yourself forward. So if you have decent to good upper body strength, these may be ideal for you. You can get manual wheel chairs that are lightweight. You can also get sports chairs and outdoor chairs too.

Here are the pros and cons of owning a manual wheel chair:

Pros:
1. More affordable.
2. Great for temporary/short term use.
3. May maintain upper body strength and endurance, as it is a self-propelled wheel chair requiring upper body ability.
4. Most common models are lightweight and fairly easy to transport.
5. May require less maintenance.

Cons:

1. If you lack upper body strength or ability, and the ability to self-propel yourself throughout the day, on a daily basis – manually, then this may not be the wheel chair for you.
2. Harder to get around than in an electric wheel chair. You lose the luxury of “automatic” mobility the electric wheel chair offers.
3. Depending upon your condition, you may require a helper to push you around if you own a manual wheel chair.

When talking to a sales rep at a wheel chair store, it’s important to let him or her know your physical condition. What you will and will not be capable of.

Let him or her know if you have a nurse or someone available who can push you and if temporary, for how long you expect to be in the wheel chair. (If it’s not to long, you may want to look into getting a used wheel chair or even wheel chair rental.) With that information, he or she can better help you pick out the model and brand perfect for you.

Stair lifts provide more than just a means of getting from the downstairs floor of a house to the upstairs - they also represent mobility and independence to an ageing generation.

As time goes by, it is only natural that we find certain everyday activities, such as climbing the stairs, becoming increasingly difficult. For someone with limited mobility due to injury, disability or chronic diseases such as arthritis and angina installing a stair lift is a low-cost common sense solution.

And with today's advanced technology nearly every home can be fitted with a stair lift, even if it has a curved staircase. Before you go ahead and purchase your stair lift make sure you use a professional and approved company with experience in this field.

Here is a quick and easy stair lift buying guide:

-- If you are unsure about what kind of stair lift is suitable for your home get some independent advice from the Occupational Therapy Department of your local social services.

-- Ask questions about the models that a company sells.

-- Read sales literature and brochures, find out about the different brands of stair lifts and the models available.

-- Get several quotes from different companies, but make sure they are for the same or 'like for like' models before comparing the prices.

-- Make sure the quote covers the supply AND fitting of the stair lift.

-- If you have a curved staircase, ask the company to assess your staircase and give you a personalised quote.

-- Compare also the after sales service. What happens if your stair lift breaks down? Are you covered for repairs and maintenance or do you have to pay out extra for a service contract?

-- If you are thinking of purchasing from a non-manufacturer, check that the company is an approved supplier, otherwise they may not be able to obtain spare parts.

-- And never buy a stair lift from someone who tries to make you buy that day or is pushing a certain stair lift on you. Salespeople are paid to clench deals and will often discount the price heavily to secure the sale - but the model they want you to buy may not be right for you.

If you are considering having a stair lift in your home the website below contains free information and impartial advice on this topic.

You will find that installing a stair lift will give you access to the whole of your home with ease, comfort and convenience. It is also a much more cost effective when compared to the cost of converting your existing home having or having to relocate to a single storey accommodation.