I don’t use a mobility scooter fulltime, but since I can’t manage distances I use the loaner one in the grocery store. My son and I are planning to attend a family reunion in Tennessee this summer, and because the reunion site is so large with a lot of distance between the cabins and the common areas, I think I will need a scooter. We are driving up to Tennessee, so I’d like to rent one here in Mobile and take it with us. Do you think this is a good idea, and if so, can you offer me any scooter rental resources?

I think it’s an excellent idea, and I applaud you for being proactive about the situation. If you can’t manage the grocery store, I don’t think you will do any better with a large reunion site. I’ve known many folks who have tried to tough it out in similar situations, and they ended up too tired to enjoy any activities or even visit with family members. So yes, renting a scooter and taking it with you is the best plan of action for you.

So how do you go about finding a rental scooter? Well although there are several large medical equipment rental companies, I suggest looking at local medical supply places first. You will most likely get a better price, and it’s always nice to deal directly, so you know exactly what you will get. And many of the national scooter rental companies just contract out with local dealers anyway, so you may as well just cut out the middleman. So shop around locally and find your best price.

It’s also a good idea to contact the reunion venue and inquire about the accessibility of their public spaces. If you have a choice of meeting areas, make sure that you get one that doesn’t have any steps, so you can manage it in your scooter. Also, you mentioned cabins, so you should make sure that there are no steps up to your cabin.

I’m sure you will enjoy your reunion much more with a scooter. Have a great time.