Riding in a power (or electric) wheelchair will enable you to regain control in a world where you may until now have felt limited-not just in mobility, but in your choices.
These wheelchairs offer a potent combination that no other chair can:
- The freedom to move without assistance
- No need for continued physical exertion
Once you are ready to purchase a power wheelchair, there are several things to consider before deciding what type will best fit your needs and lifestyle:
- Will the wheelchair be used mostly indoors or outdoors, or both?
- Is this a "part time" chair, or will this be my primary means of getting around every day?
- How often will I need to transport this chair?
- What kind of options am I looking for regarding seating style and leg/armrest types?
- How important are speed and battery range to me?
If you need a transportable wheelchair that will also serve your full time needs, then the Folding Power Wheelchair may be your best choice. While it can be dissembled for vehicle transport when necessary, it also offers a wider range of comfort seating options than a true travel model, including "sling seating", which allows for pressure management padding. This chair will not get you over really tough terrain, but with a speed of up to 6 miles per hour and an 11 - 14 mile battery range, it is wonderfully suited for daily indoor and outdoor use. Bottom line: works nicely for everyday home and shopping needs, can be transported relatively easily when needed.
When ease of transport is your top priority, then the Travel Power Wheelchair should provide you with peace of mind. This chair is great at maneuvering in small spaces, can handle travel and shopping areas, and is as trim yet efficient as they come. These chairs will not offer the varied seating options of larger chairs; the Travel Power Wheelchair comes with a standard seat (including a removable, washable cover), and flip-up armrests with a flip-up foot platform. While great for travel, you will need to recharge the battery after 10 miles of usage. One more note: some of the dissembled components are quite light; the heaviest may weigh up to 35 pounds. Bottom line: great for the traveler, not for daily, full-time use.
The Medical Supply Depot also offers a variety of Heavy Duty Power Wheelchairs, which will accommodate up to 650 pounds, while still offering full comfort, speed and battery range options.
Beyond durability, today’s wheelchair consumer has more options than ever before-power wheelchairs now come in a Center Wheel or Rear Wheel drive variety.
Quite simply, this defines where the wheels that control your wheelchair’s motion are placed, in the rear or center-and there are benefits to both.
In terms of daily use, both chairs offer ideal options:
- Up to 6.5 miles per hour speed, 11-16 mile battery range
- Captain’s seating-either high or medium back, plush padding, flip-up armrests, choice of swing away foot platform or elevating leg rests
- Large wheels, “obstacle climbing suspension,” can handle 1”-2” curbs
- Some with “electric elevating”-great for reaching counters, cabinets, shelves
- A great chair for indoors, also for outdoor, rough terrain
Keep in mind that any chair with this wide range of options is what we like to think of as a “daily life” wheelchair-it is not easy to transport, nor is it lightweight-but you would never know that from its fantastic maneuverability.
So why choose Center Wheel versus Rear Wheel drive?
Center Wheel offers the astonishing ability to turn in its own space, much resembling human mobility. If you are new to impaired mobility, or simply want to be innately aware of when you can turn in any space-Center Wheel Drive will provide that comfort. And, many of these chairs are equipped with “surestep,” which ensures that you will still be able to mount curbs or obstacles, a concern in the past.
For the traditionalist who prefers what he knows best, Rear Wheel Drive is the way to go. It has the fastest possible speed, best suspension, and excels outdoors. But, it is not what some experts call “an intuitive driving platform”-you will have to check for room to maneuver or circle. Still, this is a great wheelchair that has withstood the test of time-an “oldie but goodie.”
Needing a wheelchair may not be something you chose, but finding the perfect chair that suits who you are and what you need is all about personal choice. The Medical Supply Depot thanks you for entrusting us with your wheelchair needs, and is happy to help find you the perfect wheelchair for your lifestyle.
