Wheelchairs
For those who are dealing with a disability
that keeps them from being able to walk with ease, a wheelchair
is a real blessing. While all wheelchairs were pretty much the
same a hundred years ago, differing only in size, there are now
many options to choose from. Manual wheelchairs are those that
must be pushed by hand or propelled by the occupant. Motorized
wheelchairs are moved by electricity.
Manual wheelchairs come in several key styles. For basic ease of
transportation, a person has a choice of a rigid chair or one that
folds up. The folding style can save room in the car and in the
home when it is not in use, but it has some disadvantages. For one
thing, it might not be as solid and secure as the rigid frame style,
and it is likely to lack the durability, too.
The folding frame is useful for families taking care of a disabled
individual, but for those disabled people who want to take care
of themselves, the rigid frame chair has definite advantages. For
one thing, it is much easier to get the rigid frame chair into a
van with a lift. They are designed to be lightweight, being made
from aluminum. They are safer for getting in an out of, for instance,
to get into the driver's seat of the car.
Disabled people benefit from activities such as sports, and a whole
new breed of sports wheelchairs are on the market these days. A
rigid frame chair can be used, however, until the person is sure
they need the extra features of a sport chair. These features include
quick maneuverability and light weight. A new sports wheelchair
can cost $2000 or more, so it is a sizable investment.
There are also special manual wheelchairs on the market that are
designed for showering. A disabled person can wheel themselves into
a wheelchair accessible shower for independence in bathing. Depending
on the level of disability, some of these chairs have removable
arm rests for accessing the sides of the body, and some have an
opening in the seat, like a toilet, so those areas are accessible,
too. Of course, a wheelchair designed to be used in the shower will
be resistant to damage from water.
Electric wheelchairs start at around $1600 in price and can cost
much more. For some disabled people, however, these motorized
chairs can be a real life saver. The mechanism used to power the
wheelchair varies from chair to chair with belt drives being common,
but gear drives also being used. The belt drives tend to be quieter,
but can require more maintenance. The gear drives, on the other
hand, tend to wear out faster.
Electric wheelchairs also differ according to what wheels have
the drive attached. Rear-wheel drive chairs have been popular for
a long time, but can be difficult to turn. Front wheel drive chairs
are gaining in popularity because they are easier to turn. They
tend to be a little slower than the rear-wheel drive chairs.
Some electric wheelchairs have additional features to make the
chair more comfortable to live in. For instance, some comphy wheelchairs
have a power seat that will help a person rise up from the chair.
Others have a power reclining feature that reclines the back and
lifts the feet.
Special care needs to be taken when designing or using the seat
of a wheelchair. Pressure points can form, making pillows or padding
necessary. In cases of special orthopedic problems, the chair might
need to be individually designed to fit the owner. Fortunately,
there are good technicians around who can customize a chair to fit
you or your loved one to a tee.