<p class="userway-s14-active">Dad has moved to AL this week, mom to adjacent locked memory care wing. Dad has back probs, but for the last 2 yrs sat watching tv refusing to be active thus weakening. Stopped going to PT which I set up (which he said was helping his pain, stability, balance.) Now he complains b/c using walker hurts his back (hunches) but is nec b/c instability. He is _just_ strong enough to walk that far down the hall. He wants a scooter. Won’t that just further weaken him & enable him to be lazy? I think he needs to adjust & get stronger by walking over to mom. Or maybe an upright walker? Or should we get a scooter? Or should we just get an electric wheelchair so we don’t have the expense of both? We do have a doc appt to test mobility. If we do get a scooter we are asking Medicare to help pay for it, so we have time consider (time for him to adjust & maybe gain strength) this issue for several weeks before making a decision. <p class="userway-s14-active">Has your family been in this situation?? Your ideas and suggestions are appreciated. Thx!
My mother’s physical therapist chose and fitted a walker to suit her needs.
An "upright walker" MIGHT solve some of those problems. If it will be used.
Using a scooter will not improve his problems.
I doubt that walking down the hall a few times a day using a walker will greatly improve any of the conditions he has.
If he has poor gait he is at risk of falling. (I know there is a risk at any time)
He is rejecting PT so chance of improving stability, mobility and gait are slim to none.
If you have to get him out to appointments or to go shopping or even for a lunch what piece of equipment is going to be easier for you to get into your car?
A scooter or an electric wheelchair? (there are carriers that you can mount to your car that will hold either)
Now that I have firmly planted myself on the fence....
Discuss the options with the doctor when your dad goes for mobility testing.
If there is a way to rent an upright walker for a few weeks while you make your decision that might be the way to go. That will give you and idea if it improves anything.
By the way if your dad is a Veteran it is possible that any of the equipment might be covered through the VA.
Every now and then I have seen expensive scooters in consignment shops that sold for significantly less than buying one new. The same thing for expensive exercise equipment.
If you are lucky enough to find an item like this, you have to grab it right away because chances are if you wait until later to purchase it, it will be gone when you return to the store. That’s the nature of thrift shopping.
At least pay for the item and they will mark it as sold until you can go and pick it up.
But in a residential living situation - they are going to be more strict about it than out in the world. They have to know that the person is physically and mentally capable of managing the scooter because in the wrong hands - it can also be a weapon (meet my FIL unfortunately).
If he qualifies for one - BEFORE you do anything about purchasing you need to talk to the facility and find out what their requirements are. Because just because he gets one doesn't mean he can keep it and use it in the facility - which would defeat the purpose.
If they are like the SNF (which I realize is somewhat different) he will have to take a "driving test" - and that's not a joke. It is to test his physical reaction time, To test his ability to deal with obstacles under normal circumstances and in emergency circumstances (just like on the road). But also the mental aspect of it. Does he understand when to stop, when to slow down, etc. How to manage it properly.
If they were to feel like he might be a danger to himself or the other residents - they can and will disallow the scooter to be on their property. (My FIL lost his after using one for 10 years - he's now using a manual wheelchair).
It can be a great option for him if he really genuinely needs it. But you have to weigh a lot of things - because yes - to some extent - in a lot of cases - once they have the scooter - you do lose a lot of opportunities to get them to walk. But in a lot of cases that option isn't on the table anyway.
The AL has others on scooters, Dad has pointed out ones he likes. Thx for the heads up about depo$it fee$!! & the possible damage!
Will a scooter just increase his muscle loss? He has NO other physical activity.
The current walker is at its max height but he is over 6’ & the walkers are all too short. He won’t use a cane or even two hiking poles (suggested by PT to take weight off his painful upper back.) I’ve looked into the upright walkers. Anyone had success with those?
I’m just afraid if he loses more strength, then can’t walk, the staff won’t be able to get him in & out of the scooter (6’3, 275) then they won’t allow him to stay there. Keep in mind this is where mom is too, in the MC wing. They both want to be together, it’s our TOP priority!! But if he can’t be transferred or get in/out on his own—we would be in a world of disappointment.
Thx for ideas about used scooters! And the story about going too far—I can see dad making runs to McD’s for fries & ice cream. Hah.
3 wheeler mobility scooters are recommended for people over 6' because of the better legroom over the 4 wheel model.
If your Dad has to hunch over to use a walker, its not adjusted correctly. And people tend to push it ahead of them. What you do is push it forward a little and walk into it. Maybe getting PT in to make sure he uses the walker correctly.
The senior apartment building where my oldest brother once lived had residents who would drive their scooters on the sidewalk to the nearby Walgreens. Sometimes they would call my brother to rescue them because of engine problems.
One crazy resident drove his scooter for miles to reach the French Quarter to get a beer with his friends! He was sorry afterwards. He blew up his engine! They aren’t meant for long distance travel!
Next, when my dad used electric scooters at times, we quickly found that some were far more stable than others. One of his nastier falls was when a scooter tipped over in a parking lot. I’d get the advice of a physical therapist for the best kind for your dad.
What WE may think is best for our elderly loved ones is not necessarily the right answer.
Perhaps dad "refused" to be active and watched tv for the past 2 years because he felt no pain while doing so. My elderly father had a bad back and all my mother did was poke fun at him for what he couldn't do. She accused him of not knowing what REAL pain was......until she wound up in a wheelchair for 3 years and "refused" PT due to her inability to remember instructions. She lost all core strength and had to be pulled up out of bed even. But it was part and parcel of her age and health limitations, nothing else.
Medicare Part B sometimes covers electric scooters or wheelchairs after a face to face meeting with a doctor if medical records support it, and if all other manual durable equipment have been deemed unusable. But normally, electric scooters and wheelchairs aren't allowed in AL anyway, for obvious reasons. Between wrecking drywall and running into residents, there would be chaos with elders pushing the gas button when meaning to push the brake. My dad wrecked all the walls in their AL apartment with his manual wheelchair, and my mother ruined the walls in her Memory Care ALF with hers, and put literal holes in the walls with her electric recliner by not realizing she was continuing to push the recline button after the back had hit the wall.
Best of luck sorting out what's best for dad.
I understand & know how to work with people who have severe chronic back pain. It’s real & limits decisions. The story you shared about loss of muscle is exactly what I fear. But it doesn’t have to be like that. He’s super healthy. Just making poor choices. What do we do??? Thx
Some people are able to use scooters. Others can’t.
Best wishes to you.
Just saying, maybe take your Dad to a pain clinic. He won't move if he's in pain. He's young enough where maybe there are other therapy options for his back (and having a stronger core may still be possible, too). Also talk to the admins and staff to encourage them to encourage your Dad to get out and participate in activities. Talking to his doc (or orthopedist or genotologist) about the need for a wheelchair or scooter will help you make a decision. You can call Medicare anytime to find out what types of wheelchairs or electric scooters they will cover. If your Dad is declining in memory and cognition, he may not be able to retain something new, like how to run an electric scooter. Maybe find used ones on craigslist.org or Nextdoor.com.