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Choosing the Right Motorized Wheelchair For You

23rd April, 2010 - Posted by health news - No Comments

Not long ago, being reliant on a Motorized Wheel Chair gave a person two options; maintain sufficient upper body strength to propel yourself, or have an assistant to move you around constantly. Needless to say, not every wheelchair owner can rely on a robust and capable upper body. Very few of us have the money to employ a professional attendant, and it is even more unlikely to have a family member or friend with the time and dedication needed to be an assistant. The good news is, today we can acquire motorized wheelchairs that permit us to enjoy our independence without curtailing another person.

Motorized wheelchairs are steered by specialized joysticks, so you just require the use of a single hand to maneuver this chair. Motorized wheelchairs are generally more maneuverable than standard wheelchairs, seeing as the owner doesn’t need to put their arms further than the arms of the chair. The motor enables the chairs to offer mechanical postural supports, including power tilt and recline. These features permit the rider to alter their position routinely enough to prevent pressure sores. One or two kinds of motorized chairs are designed to bring the rider to a standing position which lets them spend their time standing instead of seated. Motorized wheelchairs are made with more tire and power base choices, and often include spring suspensions, which permit them to handle unpaved surfaces safely. While transporting a motorized wheelchair in a wheelchair accessible vehicle, this chair can be belted to the vehicle and used as a attached car seat; a possibility which is not available with most standard wheelchairs.

Motorized wheelchairs have a few problems, however. First, they can be very heavy and may need a Wheel Chair Lift. These chairs are animated by heavy duty batteries which weigh quite a bit without any help, and when that weight is added to the well-built suspension as well as the overall support system, you could own as much as 300 lbs of wheelchair before the user is even in it. Thanks to the involved poundage and bulk, even travel power chairs are not really convenient to go through an airport with, and if you want to break down and pack these kinds of chairs, you will very likely need another set of hands. Naturally, will also be particularly high priced. They will cost between $1800 and $8000, yet in many situations, Medicare will subsidize up to 80% of that investment. Quite a few retailers are more than willing to aid you in completing your Medicare paperwork, by the way, and many will submit the paperwork for you.

Motorized wheelchairs are ideal products for customers with severely limited mobility who choose not to limit their lives. These chairs could give any user the mobility and independence needed to maintain an active lifestyle.