Hi, I have both my mother and mother in law living with me. One has Alzheimers and the other has physical disabilities. I already have to push my mother in the wheelchair because she has alzheimers. I couldn't push both, so I researched scooters for over a year and stopped everyone I saw with one and asked questions. I am 5'1" 105 lbs. and I drive a Prius and have a bad back so I needed a scooter that was small, light and had all the functions lie automatic breaking, power reverse, long battery life and the biggest factor, one that we could afford. Most of the light weight scooters sacrifice the auto reverse and breaking functions and cost about $1600. I found a link on Walgreens.com with an ad for a small scooter. It has ALL of the features, is light weight and folds down very small. I am able to carry the collapsible wheelchair, the scooter and a walker in my Prius. Best of all the scooter was only $599 and they shipped it directly to my house. I can't remember but I think the shipping was free. It is WONDERFUL! Everyone now stops me and asks where we found it. The battery lasts for a long time and we've had no problems with it. Here is the link to see them... http://www.walgreens.com/search/results.jsp?Ntt=scooter&x=0&y=0 As for the financial help I don't know what Illinois has to offer as we are in New Mexico. But medicare will pay at least some of the cost. Unfortunately they will not tell you in advance how much they will pay. But on the medicare site there is a link to the rules and forms that need to be submitted for payment. Now, I was also told by several scooter manufacturers that medicare and insurance will only pay for a scooter if it can be justified by a Dr. that it is need for use INSIDE THE HOME! So hopefully you can get your physician to write it up that way. By the way this scooter has an incredibly tight turn radius so it is practical inside the home as well. I hope this helps. Good luck!

Hi, I have both my mother and mother in law living with me. One has Alzheimers and the other has physical disabilities. I already have to push my mother in the wheelchair because she has alzheimers. I couldn't push both, so I researched scooters for over a year and stopped everyone I saw with one and asked questions. I am 5'1" 105 lbs. and I drive a Prius and have a bad back so I needed a scooter that was small, light and had all the functions lie automatic breaking, power reverse, long battery life and the biggest factor, one that we could afford. Most of the light weight scooters sacrifice the auto reverse and breaking functions and cost about $1600. I found a link on Walgreens.com with an ad for a small scooter. It has ALL of the features, is light weight and folds down very small. I am able to carry the collapsible wheelchair, the scooter and a walker in my Prius. Best of all the scooter was only $599 and they shipped it directly to my house. I can't remember but I think the shipping was free. It is WONDERFUL! Everyone now stops me and asks where we found it. The battery lasts for a long time and we've had no problems with it. Here is the link to see them... http://www.walgreens.com/search/results.jsp?Ntt=scooter&x=0&y=0 As for the financial help I don't know what Illinois has to offer as we are in New Mexico. But medicare will pay at least some of the cost. Unfortunately they will not tell you in advance how much they will pay. But on the medicare site there is a link to the rules and forms that need to be submitted for payment. Now, I was also told by several scooter manufacturers that medicare and insurance will only pay for a scooter if it can be justified by a Dr. that it is need for use INSIDE THE HOME! So hopefully you can get your physician to write it up that way. By the way this scooter has an incredibly tight turn radius so it is practical inside the home as well. I hope this helps. Good luck!