Mobility Equipment for Leisure

"He enjoys true leisure who has time to improve his soul's estate." - Henry David Thoreau.

Duties and responsibilities are a part of life. It is our diligence in carrying out our respective tasks that keeps our individual worlds from spinning out of control. But as important as our responsibilities to others is our responsibility to ourselves. The pursuit of relaxation and happiness through leisure time is an important part of life for many. Even the medical profession agrees that leisure time is essential and contributes to our well being.

One of the most beneficial ways of spend leisure time is to maintain a healthy lifestyle through physical activity. The goal is simple; get out and enjoy life by taking advantage of the activities that are available to us.

But what if we rely on mobility equipment as our main form of conveyance? Is there equipment available that will allow us to take part in the activities that we wish to explore and enjoy? Are there companies and manufacturers that see the growing need for equipment advances and who are willing to produce devices that fulfill our changing requirements. Will this equipment afford us the same options and opportunities so we can do all there is to do?

The answer is Yes!

With today's expanding market of mobility products, it's become much easier to choose the right type of equipment for many different types of activities. Manufacturers exist who take the business of mobility very seriously and who make it their goal to provide suitable mobility equipment that helps to enrich the lives of those with physical challenges.

Form and Function
Feel like getting in the water for a swim in your local pool? We have a chair for that! Several companies now manufacture aquatic wheelchairs that are designed for use in and around water. This gives the rider complete access to appropriately shallow swimming pools and can even be used in various water spas and showers. The need is obvious and smart manufacturers are acting accordingly.

Perhaps competitive sports are more your style. If you wish to play basketball, softball, ping pong or even rugby, we have a chair for that too! For example, Rugby-specific chairs are designed and manufactured with the sport in mind. Manufacturers have even modified the chairs to be position-specific; forwards and offensive players have chairs outfit with offensive wings while defensive player chairs have no wings and are slightly elongated with added surface area to defend against opponents.

How about mobility scooters for the travel-minded? We have a mobility device for that! The Freerider Corporation makes the Luggie Portable Travel scooter that remains in one complete piece as you fold it down to fit inside its own travel suitcase. The need for a truly compact travel scooter was voiced by mobility scooter users and the manufacturer acted accordingly to bring it to market. Their innovation has resulted in benefits that are felt across the board -- from the rider who has expanded travel options right through to the manufacturer who has opened a new market for their products.

An Expanding Market for Mobility Equipment
In the year 2000, approximately 605 million people worldwide were 60 years or older. By 2050, that number is expected to be close to 2 billion. This represents both an amazing challenge and an amazing opportunity.

In the mid-1990's a small company was launched to support the growing need for mobility equipment rentals across North America. Scootaround Inc. began offering rental services to all types of travelers. Their approach was simple; encourage travelers to leave their mobility equipment at home and instead, have a rental unit delivered and waiting at their point of destination.

Now Scootaround has become the worldwide leader in accessible and mobility solutions and continues to serve the traveling public through an expanding suite of services. In additional to rental programs for North America and cruise ports worldwide, the company now offers equipment repair services for the airline industry through the Scootaround Optimum Service division (SOS). They also offer their Total Mobility Management program to convention and meeting planners and to the nation's largest Convention facilities. Their website (www.scootaround.com) allows for online bookings in popular tourist locations and provides tips and articles designed to enhance the traveling experiences for their customers.

What's Next?
As our population ages and expands, manufacturers must listen to the concerns being voiced by this community and continue to develop new products to meet their needs. Service providers like Scootaround must also continue to develop additional services to support the needs of their customers and for travelers at home and abroad.

Today's innovative equipment and mobility solutions help us deal with some of the physical limitations of "getting out there". These advancements really have given us the ability to better enjoy the activities we need to be fulfilled. Let's take advantage of these innovations to stay active, to keep moving and to keep building activity into our everyday lives.

Gerald Adams,
Manager, Online Services
Scootaround Inc.