Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T15:49:23.641Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Being mobile: electric mobility-scooters and their use by older people

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 July 2010

ESTHER MAY ,
ROBYNE GARRETT  and
ALISON BALLANTYNE
ESTHER MAY*
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
ROBYNE GARRETT
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
ALISON BALLANTYNE
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
*
Address for correspondence: Esther May, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Room C8-56, City East Campus, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

There is increasing use of electric mobility-scooters by older people in South Australia, the fourth largest state in Australia. Although various issues about their use have been raised by users, carers, urban planners and legislators, to date they have received little research attention. The purpose of the study reported in this paper was to explore the factors that influence and impact upon older people who use mobility-scooters, particularly from their own perspectives. Data were collected through a survey of 67 current electric mobility-scooter older users, and through two focus groups with other older South Australian people who were users. The data showed that more than 71 per cent of the participants had owned their scooter for more than two years, most had purchased the scooter as new, and 80 per cent owned a four-wheel scooter. The scooter was used predominantly for getting to and from shops, visiting friends and family, and to go for rides. Most respondents used their scooters three to five times each week and travelled between two and five kilometres from their home. The key findings from the focus groups were categorised into three major themes of ‘obtaining a scooter’, ‘the meaning of mobility’ and ‘issues around sharing spaces’. Each is exemplified. The implications for environmental and building design, for the better training of users, and for public education are discussed.

Keywords

older peopleelectric mobility-scootersmobilityquality of lifefocus groups
Type
Research Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 30 , Issue 7 , October 2010 , pp. 1219 - 1237
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006. Population by Age and Sex, Australia 2006. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra. Available online at www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/DetailsPage/3235.02006?OpenDocument [Accessed 15 October 2007].Google Scholar
Brown, J., McWilliam, C. and Mai, V. 1997. Barriers and facilitators to seniors' independence: perceptions of seniors, caregivers, and health care providers. Canadian Family Physician, 43, 3, 469–75.Google ScholarPubMed
Brownsdon, A. and Marcar, C. 2002. Scooter Safe. Use of Electric Scooters and Wheelchairs in the ACT: Policy Implications and Recommendations. Council of the Ageing (Australian Capital Territory), Hughes Community Centre, Canberra.Google Scholar
Bryant, L., Corbett, K. and Kutner, J. 2001. In their words: a model of healthy aging. Social Science and Medicine, 53, 7, 927–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cassell, E. and Clapperton, A. 2006. Consumer product-related injury: 2. Injury related to the use of motorised mobility scooters. Hazard (Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit, Monash University Accident Research Centre, Victoria), 62, Summer–Autumn, 1–11.Google Scholar
Charlton, E. 1995. Mobility with Safety: Use of Electric Wheelchairs and Scooters. Department of Main Roads, Perth, Western Australia.Google Scholar
Cheek, J., Ballantyne, A. and Roder-Allen, G. 2005. Factors influencing the decision of older people living in independent living units to enter the acute care system. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 14, 3A, 1–10.Google ScholarPubMed
Daus, C. 1999. Making the right choice: using a scooter instead of a wheelchair. Rehabilitation Management, 12, 6, 66–9.Google Scholar
Davey, J. 2007. Older people and transport: coping without a car. Ageing & Society, 27, 1, 49–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure 2006. Self Propelled Wheelchairs. Government of South Australia, Adelaide. Available online at www.transport.sa.gov.au/safety/road/road_use/self_propelled_wheelchairs.asp [Accessed 15 January 2007].Google Scholar
Easley, C. and Schaller, J. 2003. The experience of being old-old: life after 85. Geriatric Nursing, 24, 5, 273–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fried, L., Ferrucci, L., Darer, J., Williamson, J. and Anderson, G. 2004. Untangling the concepts of disability, frailty, and co-morbidity: implications for improved targeting and care. Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 59, 3, 255–63.Google ScholarPubMed
Hinck, S. 2004. The lived experience of oldest-old rural adults. Qualitative Health Research, 14, 6, 779–91.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jedeloo, S., Witte, L. D. and Schrijvers, G. 2002. A user-centred approach to assess the effectiveness of outdoor mobility devices and services. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 25, 2, 137–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jorg, F., Borgers, N. and Schrijvers, P. 2003. Client needs assessor and agency-related factors predicting allocation of electric scooters to community-dwelling elderly in The Netherlands: a vignette study. Disability and Rehabilitation, 25, 14, 761–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kirby, R. and Ackroyd-Stolarz, S. 1995. Wheelchair safety: adverse reports to the United States Food and Drug Administration. American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 74, 4, 308–12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lake Macquarie City Council, Newcastle City Council, Gosford City Council and Wyong Shire Council 2004. Scooter Survival Guide. Lake Macquarie City Council, Lake Macquarie, Australia. Available online at www.wyongsc.nsw.gov.au/communities/scooter_guide.pdf [Accessed January 2007].Google Scholar
LaPlante, M. 2003. Demographics of Wheeled Mobility Users: Space Requirements for Wheeled Mobility. University of Buffalo, New York. Available online at www.ap.buffalo.edu/idea/Space%20Workshop/Papers/Mitchell%20LaPlante/Demographics%20of%20Wheeled%20Mobility%20-%20Mitchell%20P%20LaPlante.pdf [Accessed October 2007].Google Scholar
Marcellini, F., Principi, A., Ciarrocchi, S., Mollenkopf, H., Tacken, M., Ruoppila, I. and Zsuzsa Szeman, Z. 2000. Mobility Aspects of Older People in Europe: Main Findings of the European Project ‘Mobilate’. Institut National d'Etudes Demographiques, Paris. Available online at www-les-lundis.ined.fr/textes/Marcellini.pd [Accessed October 2007].Google Scholar
Muir, N. 2004. Motorised Scooters and Wheelchairs: A Review of the Issues Associated with their Use by Seniors and People with Disabilities. Injury Control Council of Western Australia Inc., Perth, Western Australia.Google Scholar
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 2001. Human Research Ethics Handbook. NHMRC, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.Google Scholar
Parker, A. and Trittter, J. 2006. Focus group method and methodology: current practice and recent debate. International Journal of Research and Method in Education, 29, 1, 23–37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Patton, M. 2002. Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods. Sage, London.Google Scholar
Queensland, Transport 2008. Motorised Scooters (Motorised Wheelchairs). Queensland Government, Brisbane. Available at www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/Registration/Motorbikes/Motorised_scooters_and_wheelchairs/ [Accessed January 2010].Google Scholar
RoadSafe 2003. Stay Safe! The Right Way of Using Motorised Scooters and Electric Wheelchairs in the Community. Community Road Safety Council, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Google Scholar
Smith, R., Quine, S., Anderson, J. and Black, K. 2002. Assistive devices: self-reported use by older people in Victoria. Australian Health Review, 25, 4, 169–77.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wallin, M., Talvitie, U., Cattan, M. and Karppi, S. 2007. The meanings older people give to their rehabilitation experience. Ageing & Society, 27, 1, 147–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar