How An Electric Wheelchair Can Improve Home Mobility

Filed under Disability, Wheelchair

Electric wheelchairs are a more comfortable and independent alternative to traditional wheelchairs. By eliminating the need for an additional person to push the chair and saving precious upper body strength, electric wheelchairs are beneficial to those who suffer from limited mobility. Even though you will be sitting in a chair, the comfortable cushions in electric wheelchairs are filled with foam, air, or a gel that contours to the body, allowing for a personalized fit.

Benefits of Electric Wheelchairs

1. Psychological Benefits

Many individuals who have limited mobility feel sad or depressed. An electric wheelchair will increase their mobility and independence. Often, those who use an electric wheelchair can maintain their lifestyle several years longer than those who do not use electric wheelchairs. An increase in mobility can lift the spirits and boost confidence in many people.

2. Independence

Many who suffer from limited mobility rely on the care of others. An electric wheelchair can allow for independence by having the ability to move freely about the home. Many individuals who have limited mobility but do not choose to use a wheelchair can suffer from falls, resulting in factures, breaks, and other harm. When using an electric wheelchair, people are less likely to fall or fracture a bone. Electric wheelchairs are powered by a rechargeable battery pack. This battery virtually eliminates the need for another person to help around the home. If your preference is traveling independently outside the home, a better choice is a handicap scooter.

3. Gaining Access into Small Spaces

In a home environment, it can be difficult to maneuver around corners and tight spaces using the traditional wheelchairs. Electric wheelchairs have a tight turning radius that allows for more mobility and access to items located in small spaces.

By allowing access into small spaces, gaining independence, and improving attitudes, an electric wheelchair is a great way to improve mobility within the home. An electric wheelchair can help the individual quickly and almost effortlessly go from room to room in the home without the help of someone else. With all the healthcare options and discount retailers, it is important to consider just how important an electric wheelchair is in improving mobility in the home.

There are special programs that can help you pay for most or all of the costs of an electric wheelchair as long as you have insurance or Medicare. In addition, it is easy to apply for a wheelchair if you have a medical need as documented by your physician. If you yourself or a friend or family member is having limited mobility or having trouble walking, perhaps it is time to suggest an electric wheelchair to assist them in their lives.

Tags: Electric Wheelchair

Wheelchair Stair Lifts

Filed under Wheelchair

There have been many accessories invented to help alleviate some of the obstacles faced by those who are wheelchair bound. One of the most useful of these accessories is the wheelchair stair lift. Wheelchair stair lifts are used in homes or buildings where stairs are a permanent structure and not easily accessed by those who have limited mobility due to being wheelchair bound. For taller buildings or places with more space, wheelchair elevator lifts are the better solution to go up multiple stories.

Wheelchair stair lifts can greatly increase the mobility and physical independence of those who are wheelchair bound on a daily basis. By employing the use of a properly installed wheelchair stair lift, the wheelchair bound homeowner is given the opportunity to stay in their current living situation without the need for costly home renovation or having to leave their multi-storied home.

By adding a lift, wheelchair users are better able to move about their environment without the specific aid or assistance of others. Accessibility to all levels of a home is gained when a lift is added, thus giving the wheelchair user more opportunity for independent living and sense of personal choice.

Wheelchair stairlifts can be installed in any number of ways to suit the particular needs of the user. Most people would prefer a renovation of their home rather than choose an assisted living arrangement.

Home Wheelchair Stair Lifts

Wheelchair stair lifts are available in a variety of models designed to fit the needs and structural requirements of the home. Attached to an existing staircase structure, a wheelchair stair lift provides comfortable seating attached to a drive assembly which safely and smoothly pulls the seated user up or down the staircase as needed.

Users have a choice of either electric or battery operated models. While both offer reliable service, preference would dictate choice of purchase. Battery operated models, which can be charged anywhere along the track, are convenient in that during power outages, the stair lift will still be operational.

Still others may prefer an electric model. With the purchase of an electric model, there is no need for users to charge or replace the battery when needed thus making an electric model preferable for those who choose a simpler service from their wheelchair stair lift. The more features you opt for, the more expensive the wheelchair stair lifts prices will be. Curved stair lifts are also more expensive because they must be customized to fit specific staircases. Mass manufactured straight stair lifts require less installation time and are more affordable.

Whether electric or battery operated, those who suffer from limited mobility on any physical level will benefit from the independent use of a wheelchair stairlift.