Power wheelchair / scooter rental: pros, cons?

First are you aware of the system of walkable corridors, under street level? scooters/power chairs are welcome and usable there. You can rent one in the subway level, just down from cafeteria.

@lofturthunk, Thank you for starting this discussion- it's going to be helpful for future Mayo Clinic patients that visit Mayo Clinic Connect for infomation.

Mayo offers an escort system free of charge to patients- When you arrive at Mayo your first stop will either be the front entryway at the Gonda Building or the entrance in the subway level from the parking ramp. Both doors have general service attendants that will call for an escort to take you to your first destination. When ready to leave your first appointment, simply let any desk know that you will need someone to take your to your next appointment and so on. If needed, the same services apply to your Mom if she is planning to travel with you.

I hope that helps! 🙂

@lofturthunk,
My only experience is with the manual wheelchair. When the transport shuttle arrived at the Gonda entryway, the driver signaled for a wheelchair, and the attendant immediately had one for me. My husband pushed it most of the time. Occasionally, when he was not available, I needed an escort to push it, and that worked well, and even took me to different appointments. I don't know if that is any help, but that is my only experience. He is a fit healthy person, and my wheelchair need was only during my illness.

There is help and assistance available whenever you need it. You just have to let someone know.

I want to add , also, that the escorts know exactly how navigate around the Mayo complex. With your fatigue, that is something that I encourage you to consider.
Rosemary

More that I don't necessarily want to just go around the hospital and my hotel and that's it (although it does seem like there aren't a lot of things in Rochester that aren't the hospital or hotels) -- on bad days (which I suspect these will be because of the pace and the earliness of the appointments) having wheels helps me be able to not be a) exhausted and b) bored out of my mind. Although I guess that's a follow-up question: *is* there anything in Rochester during the winter to do other than hospital appointments and huddle up at home with 3 sweaters on?

@lofturthunk, I do not know what there is to do in Rochester for a young person in the winter.

The following people might be more familiar with Rochester. Maybe one of them can shed some light on this question about winter and activities in Rochester, that you could navigate with your wheels.
@waterboy, @jamienolson, @lisalucier, @JustinMcClanahan, @kanaazpereira, Do you have any resource or suggestions to share?

Thank you,
Rosemary

Hi @lofturthunk,

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. offers a skyway system, and subterranean walkways (called the "subway" system), all accessible by wheelchair or scooter. A variety of galleria shops and businesses are located along the underground subway, and hotels, shops and dining are all accessible without ever having to step outdoors in the winter.

Here's the Mayo Clinic Patient & Visitor Guide, which you might wish to view:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota/becoming-a-patient/accessibility-services
This webpage, http://www.rochestercvb.org/play/event-calendar/, is another great resource for things to do in and around Rochester in winter. I've copied a few links for your convenience, as well:
– Enjoying SocialICE 2018 http://blog.rochestercvb.org/post/rochester-mns-ice-bars-are-back/
– 7 Fun Things To Do During WinterFest 2018 in Rochester, MN http://blog.rochestercvb.org/post/fun-things-to-do-during-winterfest-in-rochester-mn/

Wishing you the best of luck.

Hello @lofturthunk, I was going to share a few of the same links as @kanaazpereira. The SocialICE event is a fun way to celebrate Minnesota and is located right in the heart of downtown and Mayo Clinic. There are plenty of heaters outside so it remains somewhat comfortable even if it is a cold evening.

In the winter, I also enjoy going to Rochester Ice Hawks hockey games, http://www.mnicehawks.com/. Even if hockey isn't your sport, it's still fun being in the atmosphere since hockey is such a big part of Rochester culture. I also enjoy going to the movies at Paragon Cheateau Theatres. It is an accessible theatre with many screens and they also have leather reclining seats, so it is a very comfortable viewing experience. These are just a few things I can think of for now. I will post more if I can think of any.

I am glad you asked this questions because I don't always get around easily myself and I will be there alone.I called my hotel w/my concerns for my upcoming visits and the lady got pretty annoyed with me and hung up without even ending our conversation. I mean, this is the first time I will have had to use the underground subway system etc and I have no clue. I reach for any clues etc anyone gave me as to how to navigate my way around. I was told there are signs and benches. Not one person told me there would be escorts available. Even the shuttle is a bit of a walk from where some of us will be staying and the fact that many appointments start at 7 am and the shuttle starts at 6:45 I wonder if I would get there on time. Even if I walk am I going to get there on time being that I walk slowly because I tire quickly from one disease and have knee problems due to arthritis. The woman at the hotel and the woman at the hospital who also seemed annoyed that I would even ask, off handedly say, "its only a 10 to 15 minute walk!" For a healthy person thats well and good, but if one struggles its hard, sometimes too hard. And what Uber or taxi service is going to want to drive someone 2 or 3 blocks? My biggest concern is how Im going to get to my last two appointments app a mile and a half away. How good is the taxi service? Does anyone know? Why do they schedule appointments so early when the shuttle starts at 6:45, the subway opens at 6:30? Not everyone has someone with to get them around. Quite honestly Im almost afraid to go at all because of the experience Ive already had with the two ladies. Will they treat me as an annoyance when I get there? They have to realize number one that it is kind of scary and overwhelming for someone who has never been there. Number two why don't they tell us about this site where we can get questions answered so we don't have to 'bug' them?

@dazesaday Are you going with a group of people? You mentioned something like that. Would they help you and push you in a wheelchair or transfer chair? The Mayo guide with the campus maps show the subways and walkways. Here is a link https://www.mayo.edu/pmts/mc1600-mc1699/mc1663-55.pdf
If you are going now in winter, walking outside isn't probably a good choice. Some hotels have subway access and some don't. The general information number from this campus map guide is 507-284-2511 if you wanted to ask for more specific information about convenience of particular hotels or how to get assistance at Mayo.

No I am going to be driven there the day before. I will have someone with for my first appointment then they will be going home and returning on Thursday of the same week. (I will be there Sunday to Friday). I was pretty discouraged at the way the two ladies treated me like they did. Why didn't they tell me about this site where I could probably have gotten all my transport problems answered? Why did the one shut me off from asking questions via the Mayo message center? I thought they were my 'go to' person?