Apollo HomeCare has the largest selection of powered wheelchairs and scooters, sometimes called power-operated vehicles (POV), in the Conejo Valley. Scooters are a form of assistive technology enabling individuals to self-propel and perform activities of daily living. Scooters facilitate the user in being independent and mobile.
Most insurers require a patient to be completely non-ambulatory, have upper body weakness (due to neurological or muscular disease or condition), and be unable to self-propel in any manual wheelchair. Insurance companies, especially Medicare, will not pay for a scooter if a patient can self-propel in a manual wheelchair.
Scooters come in many different shapes, sizes, and configurations. The two major types of scooters are 3- and 4-wheel models. All scooters are rated for a maximum user weight, and this weight capacity is determined by the strength of the frame, axles, and power ratings of the motors.
The 3-wheel models are the most common type of scooter. They are usually lighter, less expensive, and more maneuverable then their 4-wheel counterparts. Most 3-wheel models disassemble into 3 or 4 pieces (not including batteries) to facilitate transportation. Similar to purchasing a car, you get what you pay for; the more inexpensive the scooter, the more basic it is. Almost all standard scooters have a maximum weight capacity of 250 - 300 pounds and can only go up or down hills of 10 - 15 degrees.
The 4-wheel models provide greater stability due to their wider stance, but this benefit comes at the cost of decreased maneuverability. A 4-wheel model’s turning radius is significantly greater then that of their 3-wheel counterparts. Many 4-wheel models also come apart into 3 or 4 pieces. Just because a scooter has 4 wheels does not necessarily mean that it has an increased weight capacity. Most standard 4-wheel scooters can still only support 250 - 300 pounds.
As stated above, most scooters disassemble into motor, deck, and seat sections, plus the batteries. The motor section is the heaviest and is thus an important selling point. If a person cannot lift the heaviest section then the transportability benefit is lost. Scooter sections have locking devices to secure the sections together. Some brands make this mechanism easy to operate; other brands may be very difficult even for Apollo HomeCare Supply staff to operate.
Like most pieces of medical equipment, scooters can be equipped with many accessories or options. The most common scooter accessories are baskets and cups, oxygen tank, cane, and walker holders. Some scooter manufacturers also have power-lifting seats and many different driving light configurations. Canopies can be added to a scooter seat to provide wind and sunlight protection. These canopies can only be used when the wind is mild, and can even be justified for some insurance companies if the patient has a disorder that is worsened by exposure to sunlight or heat.
By stopping by our store, you will have the opportunity to touch and feel a variety of different options and colors that fit your style and needs.