– by Deborah Rogers –
This is part of a rotating series of articles on members of Sidney Meet Up Women’s Networking Group, featuring women in business on the Saanich Peninsula.
When Barb Brunlees was recovering from foot surgery she had to go all the way to White Rock to get the special knee-scooter that her doctor recommended. This clever device, that Barb admits was quite fun, enables the user to keep one leg completely non-weight bearing, allowing great movement without the balance issues of crutches. After her full recovery Barb was struck by the fact that more of these mobility aids aren’t seen on the Island. Now Sidney Scooters ensures everyone on the Saanich Peninsula has access to the latest mobility products around.
There can be lots of reasons why mobility aids are needed: post-accident or surgery, or sometimes due to longer-term health and mobility issues. As the population gets older we see more people losing driver’s licenses, sometimes after decades of driving. It’s a real blow to self-confidence and can be very hard for people to deal with.
The problem for many older people is that their world and horizons can start to narrow as mobility becomes an issue. For people who have always been active and independent, getting out less can cause poor mental health as well as the physical vicious cycle of not moving. With a scooter, or even just a walker, people are able to resume their social lives, do their own shopping and broaden their horizons once more.
Looking at the website www.sidneyscooters.ca will give an idea of the types of products available, but you really need to go into the store to see which options might suit you best. Barb is adamant that even the most reluctant scooter user can be turned around once they’ve had a test drive and felt the wind whipping through their hair.
In fact, Barb is surprised by the resistance she meets sometimes. There can be lots of reasons that stop people from enjoying the new lease on life a new set of wheels can bring. Barb is reassuring though, and willing to take the time to find the product that is right for a particular customer. There’s no need to worry about using your scooter on the road either. A scooter-user is classed as a pedestrian and should always use the sidewalk if there is one available. This requires consideration from all sides, but in Sidney, with our lovely wide sidewalks, there’s room for everyone. The three-wheeled electric scooters are even permitted on city buses.
Maintenance is not a problem either. Sidney Scooters has someone on staff who deals with any mechanical issues, though they rarely have them. Other than keeping the battery charged and inflating the tires, there is very little maintenance required. You can also rent walkers, wheelchairs and scooters from the store on Beacon; maybe it’s time to give one a try.
For more information call 250.654.0021.
