As older people start to have difficulty in walking many choose to use a mobility scooter to help them move around. Benefitting from improved design, mobility scooters are becoming an increasingly popular mobility device and are a common sight on many streets.

Most people might hear us talk about “power wheelchairs” and “mobility scooter” and think they were two different terms to describe the same thing.

But if you asked a person who needs a mobility device to handle day-to-day activities, they’d tell you there are some pretty substantial differences between a scooter and a power chair.

It’s important to understand these differences if you’re searching for a mobility solution for yourself or a loved one. Let’s look at some of the features, advantages and drawbacks of power wheelchairs and mobility scooters.