A Primer on Motorized Wheelchairs
Once upon a time, being dependent on a wheelchair provided a person two options; develop sufficient upper body strength to drive yourself, or employ another person to move you around every day. Unfortunately, not every wheelchair bound person can rely on a robust and capable upper body. Very few people have the finances to pay for a personal attendant, and it is even less common to have a family member or friend with the time and abilities required to be an attendant. Happily, today we have a motorized wheel chair that enable us to maintain our independence without compromising someone else’s.
Motorized wheelchairs are manipulated by mounted joysticks, so you merely have to enjoy the use of one hand to guide this chair. These wheelchairs are often more maneuverable than non-powered wheelchairs, seeing as the user doesn’t need to put their hands and elbows out past the sides of the chair. The motor permits the chairs to provide mechanical postural supports, such as power tilt and recline. These capabilities permit the rider to change their position often enough to halt pressure sores.
One or two models of motorized chairs are able to bring the rider to a standing position which lets them move around upright rather than seated. Motorized wheelchairs have more tire and powerbase possibilities, and typically include spring suspensions, which permit them to handle uneven surfaces effectively. While transporting a motorized wheelchair in a wheelchair accessible van, a motorized chair can be strapped to the vehicle and treated as a normal car seat; a feature which is not offered by the majority of normal wheelchairs. You may also need a wheel chair lift.
Motorized wheelchair have several problems, by the way. First, they can be very heavy. Motorized chairs are powered by powerful batteries which weigh a good amount alone, and when their weight is thrown in with the sturdy suspension in addition to the remaining support frame, you will own as much as 300 lbs of wheelchair before the rider is sitting in it. Thanks to the standard heft and bulk, even travel power chairs are not terribly convenient to travel with, and when it’s time to disassemble and store these types of chairs, you will definitely require an extra person.
Predictably, motorized wheelchairs could also be very expensive. They will are priced between $1600 and $7500, although in many situations, Medicare can pick up up to 80% of that investment. Many retailers are more than glad to help you with any required Medicare paperwork, fortunately, and many will turn in the paperwork for you.
Motorized power wheel chairs & lifts could be ideal vehicles for customers with very limited mobility who would rather not limit their activities. These chairs could offer any user the mobility and independence necessary to enjoy an active lifestyle.