One thing about the article is puzzling, though.
Without the scooter, he can’t get around at all.
But then...
I had fallen asleep for about 30 minutes, and when I went into the garage to get a soda, the scooter was missing.”
How did he get into that garage do you think?
Perhaps a small hand wheel-chair.
Scooters are indicated primarily for outside mobility...many disabled use them as street machines—hence the flags. If he was so limited that he couldn’t ambulate round the home he likely would have a power wheelchair, rather than a scooter. COPD would preclude walking great distances outside but not inside his home.
He may be like me, using a wheelchair for housework but using two canes to walk short distances. OR ... The electric may be the way the Vet gets in and out of shopping, but uses an arm powered job at home. Have you ever tried to wheel a chair up an incline, with something to carry? As someone posted earlier, losing mobility is no picnic and those in the midst of it try everything they can to keep what mobility they have.