Help in choosing wheelchair cushion

Kelv011

Hi, I would be grateful if other wheelchair users could give me any advice on buying a cushion.

I have a Quickie Helium wheelchair and I use a Jays basic cushion, which is okay but not great. I'm looking to buy a new one and cant decide on what to buy. I dont know of any local retailers so up until now its meant a 100 mile round trip just to go and look at some, otherwise internet.

Does anyone know of the Harley Designer Super V, which is a memory foam cushion and sells for £86 on line? Ive spoken with the on line retailer and it sounds good enough but its never an easy decision. The shop I bought the chair from sells a whole range of cushions, foam, inflatable but I dont really want to spend £200 - £300 + if I don't have to.

On a more general note, does anyone know of good wheelchair shops in and around Hampshire?

Many thanks,

Kelv

Chorlie

A cushion is a very personal thing, what's right for one person could be wrong for another; the wrong cushion can not only be a waste of money but can lead to pressure sores.

Have you spoken to your local Wheelchair Assesment Centre, they should have several to try and will be better to advise on the current one since they can see you and how you sit in your chair.

I use a Jay Active (get them free via the Wheel Assesment Centre), but also have a friend who sells wheelchairs, so he's lent me a different Jay (Easy, I think) which I find better.

You could try to go to the Motabilty Roadshow, they will have a number of stands with all type of cushions, once you know the right one than start searching for the best price.

Kelv011

Hi Chorlie,

Thanks for posting back to me so quickly, I really appreciate that.

I quite agree that it is a personal thing, I guess I was (am) hoping someone might know of the Harley Super V or have other recommendations nontheless.

What I find frustrating, much like when I replaced my wheelchair this time last year is that it’s very hit or miss. In an ideal world I’d like time to try these things out before buying, but you just don’t get this luxury it seems when it comes to wheelchairs and their accessories. With cushions, sitting on one for a couple of minutes, which I've done isn’t quite the same thing as trialling one for a couple of days.
I was assessed by the local NHS wheelchair Service last year and when I got back in touch with them to talk about a new cushion, they weren't overly forthcoming. They did supply me with one but it was even more basic than the one I have and offered little or no comfort at all.
Regards,
Kelv

sunnyone

Kelv011 wrote: »

Hi Chorlie,

Thanks for posting back to me so quickly, I really appreciate that.

I quite agree that it is a personal thing, I guess I was (am) hoping someone might know of the Harley Super V or have other recommendations nontheless.

What I find frustrating, much like when I replaced my wheelchair this time last year is that it’s very hit or miss. In an ideal world I’d like time to try these things out before buying, but you just don’t get this luxury it seems when it comes to wheelchairs and their accessories. With cushions, sitting on one for a couple of minutes, which I've done isn’t quite the same thing as trialling one for a couple of days.
I was assessed by the local NHS wheelchair Service last year and when I got back in touch with them to talk about a new cushion, they weren't overly forthcoming. They did supply me with one but it was even more basic than the one I have and offered little or no comfort at all.
Regards,
Kelv

The mobility roadshow and other disability shows are the best place to try cushions and things because you can try them for a couple of hours or more, cushons are very expensive so its a waste buying them if they are no good for you.

Your wheelchair service must offer you a cushon review, you have a right to it and they should provide you with what you need free of charge, cheap cushons are a false economey because they dont provide enough pressure relief and pressure sores cost much more than a decent cushion.

I cant get on with my new cushion despite it being a very expensive one (jay 2 with the climate cover) so Ive gone back to my loewzones, memory foam on its own isnt widely used on wheelchair cushions for fulltime wheelie today (it was a few years ago and it still is for basic cushions) because its not as good as other materials.

I hope you find something suitable before long.

Kelv011

Sunnyone, thanks.
I shall certainly keep an eye out for disability shows within reasonable distance of here.

It’s interesting what you say about the Wheelchair Service. A year ago, they gave me an allowance towards the cost of my new wheelchair, in the form of an NHS voucher. My old chair was 7/8 year’s old and in need of replacing.

The wheelchair shop told me I should go back to the Wheelchair Service because they felt that they should give me a cushion too, again my Jays Basic had more or less worn out. After persevering, I was given a cushion but a very basic flimsy foam in a black vinyl sleeve, not at all supportive and uncomfortable in warm weather too. I was more or less told that the allowance I had receieved for the chair was to include whatever else I needed, there was nothing more in the budget. I think I might go back to them again and raise the issue with them once more.

When you say that memory foam isn’t as good as other materials, are you comparing them to other materials in particular, gel for example? From the long conversation I had with the shop this morning, they sell plenty of the (£81) memory foam cushions, they say. Although I have tried them and would like one I can’t afford the valve operated inflatable cushions as they run into £2/300 and more, so I was looking at the memory foam as being better than less expensive foams, am I wrong?

sunnyone

Kelv011 wrote: »

Sunnyone, thanks.
I shall certainly keep an eye out for disability shows within reasonable distance of here.

It’s interesting what you say about the Wheelchair Service. A year ago, they gave me an allowance towards the cost of my new wheelchair, in the form of an NHS voucher. My old chair was 7/8 year’s old and in need of replacing.

The wheelchair shop told me I should go back to the Wheelchair Service because they felt that they should give me a cushion too, again my Jays Basic had more or less worn out. After persevering, I was given a cushion but a very basic flimsy foam in a black vinyl sleeve, not at all supportive and uncomfortable in warm weather too. I was more or less told that the allowance I had receieved for the chair was to include whatever else I needed, there was nothing more in the budget. I think I might go back to them again and raise the issue with them once more.

When you say that memory foam isn’t as good as other materials, are you comparing them to other materials in particular, gel for example? From the long conversation I had with the shop this morning, they sell plenty of the (£81) memory foam cushions, they say. Although I have tried them and would like one I can’t afford the valve operated inflatable cushions as they run into £2/300 and more, so I was looking at the memory foam as being better than less expensive foams, am I wrong?

You should get a new chair every five years and the voucher is for the wheelchair and maintainance for five years only, you are entitled to a decent cushion on top.

My maintance company get me whatever I want eg. a wheelchair tray, a diffrent head rest etc. but my powerchair was supplied by wheelchair services (so is maintaned by them) as is my active user chair and they got me my jay 2, google it and you will see the composition and cover options for your information to help with your search.

Clima cool (sp) covers is great when its warm, I find plain black rubbery covers are terrible in warm weather, I am going to put that cover on my lowzone but Im not supposed to use that cushion for anything other than getting around the house but its sooooooo cumfortable.

Air and multiple componant cushions do cost a lot but they prevent pressure sores, I have had them and you deffinatly dont want them but wheelchair services should provide what you need to prevent them.

The jay 2 does use memory gel and memory foam btw along with other things and the one I have costs over £450 in the shops.

Are you a fulltime wheelie?

Kelv011

I use my Quickie Helium every day to get out and about but can manage without it indoors. Thanks again.