Wheechairs

[westernind]

Does anyone know about wheelchairs? My mother has asked me to find out prices for 'a bog standard non motorised wheelchair'. The situation is that having lost a huge amount of weight rapidly through undiagnosed diabetes, muscle wastage means that her legs sometimes collapse beneath her without warning and she falls and hurts herself. Although physio makes things a bit better, she wants a wheelchair because she doesn't feel safe. Her arms are also not strong enough for sticks.

Finding out the basics isn't so hard, a google search brings up the Help the Aged site and Wheelchairs-R-Us(!). What I'd like to know is what makes a good wheelchair? Any review sites? She'd be pushed rather than propelling herself. In the meantime, Venice in four weeks' time arrrgggh. Finding a chair that can cope better with cobbles would be good. bigger wheels? But lightweight and transportable also necessary.

PS
Do not go on crash diets, kiddies. :-(

Comments

[doglets.livejournal.com]

Hi, I came via Boglins LJ. You already have lots of good advice here.

The price for a new wheelchair (small wheels/outdoor suitable/foldy up but bog standard) seems to be about £150-£250. Though I expect we get ours VAT free.

In making your decision - consider how far you want it to go, how long is your Mum is going to be sat in it - the very lightweight models aren't so good for the person pushing, as the chair is carrying less of the persons weight. Inflatable wheels are better at coping with rougher outdoor terrain rather than the hard ones, and give a bit of suspension. Big wheels tend to caught up in other peoples shopping. If theres no self propelling expected - then certainly smaller wheels, much easier for the pusher to handle. Although you can cushion, some padding in the wheelchair is preferable, again to absorb some of the bumps.

I am not back at work till Monday but can dig out the brochures -

[doglets.livejournal.com]

http://www.essentialaids.com/

I think its here we get ours from