How Accessible Are Foldable Electric Wheelchairs?

My mother-in-law is 89 years old and lives with arthritis, scoliosis, sciatica and a hip replacement. Following her artificial hip dislocated, the subsequent revised surgery has resulted in her requiring to use walking aids and has limited her mobility over longer distances. Whenever we visit places such as Harrogate, Kew Gardens or Chatsworth, we either hire a mobility scooter or a wheelchair. With the advances in foldable electric wheelchairs, my husband decided to investigate whether any models currently on the market would suit our needs and help her enjoy more activities outside the home.

The folding mechanisms currently available include:

· Concertina-style folding mechanisms, where the tiller bar and seat fold together.

· Designs that fold in half, similar to a toddler buggy.

· Folding seat and tiller-bar models.

Some even feature foldable shopping baskets, meaning there is one less item to remove before folding.

The lightweight concertina-style wheelchairs are relatively easy to fold for a carer with good dexterity, thanks to their simple mechanisms. However, models with folding seats often have two clips that need to be released simultaneously, requiring the use of both hands. I believe mobility scooter engineers could learn a great deal from the advances made in toddler buggy design.

Manufacturers of baby equipment understand the need for robust mechanisms that prevent children from trapping their fingers while still allowing adults to fold the buggy easily with one hand or even by using a foot-operated mechanism. These designers recognise that parents are often multitasking, holding a child while folding a buggy and managing several other tasks at the same time.

When designing mobility scooters, manufacturers should remember that many older users are in their 80s or 90s, while their sons and daughters, who often act as carers, may be in their late 60s or early 70s. Arthritic fingers and reduced dexterity are a reality as people age, meaning that small clips, catches and twist mechanisms can become increasingly difficult to operate.

Although these wheelchairs are described as lightweight, many weigh between 17 and 19.4 kg. For an average female carer whose upper-body strength is 40% less than a male counterpart, lifting this weight into a car willl be challenging. Engineers should note that the primary carers of older people are still predominantly women.

Most models have removable lithium batteries; however, the removal mechanism is not always straightforward. Some require disconnecting cables, which increases the risk of damaging wiring or the battery itself., and invalidating warranty.  Once folded, most models fit comfortably into the boot of an average hatchback and occupy a space similar to that of a large 20 kg suitcase.

The buggy-style folding scooters have a similar overall weight of around 19 kg, but are generally less compact and take up a larger proportion of the boot space. Typically, these designs feature a plug-and-play lithium battery that can be removed separately for charging, reducing the weight that needs to be lifted into the car. Without the battery installed, the scooter becomes light enough for many female carers to lift comfortably. However, battery removal mechanisms vary considerably. Some are easy to operate and require little strength or dexterity, whilst others I struggled to unclip as I have very small hands and limited upper body strength.

Models with folding seats and tiller bars fold very flat and are easy to manoeuvre once folded, as they can be pulled along like a wheeled suitcase. However, these are not the lightest option, weighing approximately 29.7 kg. They also require a vehicle with a relatively large boot.

In my experience of sitting in and driving each type, all felt stable and easy to control. I am 5'9" and weigh 10 stone, and I deliberately shifted my weight while driving to assess stability. The tillers were responsive and easy to turn. Operation was straightforward: squeeze the right lever to move forwards, the left lever to reverse, and simply release the levers to brake.

The scooters stopped effectively. However, it should be noted that an older user's reaction time may be slower when releasing the control levers. Pedestrians would therefore be wise not to walk directly in front of a mobility scooter being driven by an elderly user. I have witnessed this repeatedly at the Chelsea Flower Show at Chatsworth, where visitors became distracted by displays and stepped directly into the path of mobility scooters and stopping to admire a garden or flower. This is how people that day ended up with clipped heels and bruised ankles.

One feature that is not available on all folding mobility scooters is rear anti-tip wheels. These are particularly important when travelling up even slight inclines, as they prevent the scooter tipping backwards due to changes in its centre of gravity. Anti-tip wheels may not be necessary on completely flat surfaces, such as airport terminals, the six-mile seafront promenade at Lido di Jesolo near Venice, or the four-mile Brighton and Hove seafront promenade.

However, anti-tip wheels would be essential in places such as Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield, where there are gentle inclines along the floors. This is especially relevant in a city like Sheffield, with its famously hilly landscape of seven hills and valleys.

Summary

Overall, foldable electric wheelchairs have the potential to transform the independence and quality of life of older users. However, manufacturers could improve accessibility significantly by reducing lifting weights, simplifying battery removal systems and adopting more user-friendly folding mechanisms. In particular, draw from lessons learnt from manufacturers of baby equipment mechanisms.  As our population ages, designing equipment not only for elderly users, but also for older carers will become increasingly important.