Help finding electric wheelchair with lithium batteries AND a leg rest

Rodders53

Rock and hard place.
Mobility aids are an arm and a leg, and they have us over a barrel oftentimes.

Lithium batteries will not be as big a weight saving as one might hope.  AND they are expensive and need a special charger supply.

Our folding lightweight chair doesn't seem to go quite the same distance as our shopper scooter (10/13 Ah Lithiums vs 18/22 Ah lead acids.  Despite what some mobility lithium battery sellers suggest.  The battery weighs 2kg lithium (cased, 24 V job) vs 12.4 kg for the two 12V lead acids (excluding any carrying case).

It takes up more floor space in the boot than the scooter, although it is a smaller volume occupied when folded.

You really need to hawk around the bigger mobility shops (or a smaller, trusted, local one you use now) to get them to see what is available that could be adapted for the leg support needed.

Also check out if there's free advice locally from people such as Red Cross https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/hire-a-wheelchair/find-your-local-wheelchair-service or similar Charities?

NB When changing car last time we ended up with another Galaxy (not on Motability) as that was almost the only one with a tall enough boot opening to accommodate the scooter without folding the tiller/removing the seat or similar faffing.  Even a hoist transfer from vehicle to vehicle costs a not insignificant sum (and the fixings/frame is always different - extra cost - as they 'facelift' the cars).

boots_babe

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Are you able to post a picture of the type she currently has (not necessarily the exact model, just a general idea) and does she specifically need a powered wheelchair, or could she perhaps have a lightweight manual frame with a power add-on (so driven like a power chair but much much lighter, and able to be taken apart if need be)?

I don't have a photo but I'll ask mum to take one. I don't think it's anything special per se, it's over 10 years old though. 

When you ask if she could have a manual frame with a power add on, this is not something I've heard of at all, nor has mum. I don't suppose you could link an example so I can see the sort of thing you mean? Then I can do some research. 

Ultimately she doesn't need a chair which will cover huge distances on one charge, as she doesn't go that far. Important thing is that it's comfortable (obvious I guess, but she has lots of back issues etc so can't be being jolted around), fits in the car and in a 'normal' price range as they don't have much money.

boots_babe

Torry_Quine said:

Have you got in touch with an occupational therapist?  

She hasn't done no. Apologies as this sounds like a stupid question I feel, but how would they help with sourcing a wheelchair?

boots_babe

theoretica said:

How much of the problem is just the batteries?  You could maybe swap out the lead acid ones for lithium.

There's nothing fundamentally wrong with the wheelchair, apart from being about I think 14 years old, but it still works just fine. They had no reason to change it, until the car issue cropped up - although also now that my dad is starting to struggle, that's an issue too. 

But just the weight is the problem. If it were actually possible to replace just the batteries, then that would be great. I will suggest my mum asks the specialist places she's been in touch with, about that.

boots_babe

MouldyOldDough said:

boots_babe said:

Hi,

Posting to try to help my mum. She's been wheelchair bound for a few years, and as she cannot bend one of her knees, her wheelchair needs to have a single leg rest as an add on, to keep that leg elevated. For years she's had her existing electric wheelchair, but it weighs 60kg and my dad has always struggled with lifting it in and out of the car, and now he's been diagnosed with Parkinson's and just finds it a lot harder. 

So we suggested she looks into lithium battery wheelchairs which are much much lighter. However mum says she's spent ages online, called around lots of specialist places both locally and nationally, and hasn't yet actually found a lithium powered wheelchair, which has the option to buy a leg rest that fits :-(

I'm posting on the off chance that someone on here may know of something that exists somewhere? She can't be the only person with this requirement.

Many thanks.

Does your Mum receive PIP mobility ?

If so - it may be worth investigating the option using (part of) the mobility component to lease a light weight lithium powered wheelchair on motability

or try your local council adult services OT for one

Unfortunately all her allowance already goes on the car, and even then they have top up with their own money, as the only cars that work for them from a practical standpoint, are a bit more expensive.

boots_babe

Rodders53 said:

Rock and hard place.
Mobility aids are an arm and a leg, and they have us over a barrel oftentimes.

Lithium batteries will not be as big a weight saving as one might hope.  AND they are expensive and need a special charger supply.

Our folding lightweight chair doesn't seem to go quite the same distance as our shopper scooter (10/13 Ah Lithiums vs 18/22 Ah lead acids.  Despite what some mobility lithium battery sellers suggest.  The battery weighs 2kg lithium (cased, 24 V job) vs 12.4 kg for the two 12V lead acids (excluding any carrying case).

It takes up more floor space in the boot than the scooter, although it is a smaller volume occupied when folded.

You really need to hawk around the bigger mobility shops (or a smaller, trusted, local one you use now) to get them to see what is available that could be adapted for the leg support needed.

Also check out if there's free advice locally from people such as Red Cross https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/hire-a-wheelchair/find-your-local-wheelchair-service or similar Charities?

NB When changing car last time we ended up with another Galaxy (not on Motability) as that was almost the only one with a tall enough boot opening to accommodate the scooter without folding the tiller/removing the seat or similar faffing.  Even a hoist transfer from vehicle to vehicle costs a not insignificant sum (and the fixings/frame is always different - extra cost - as they 'facelift' the cars).

Yes it seems to be surprisingly difficult doesn't it. Distance isn't too much of an issue for my mum, she doesn't go far - although more distance of course would be helpful to have.

Mum has already spoken to all of the local mobility shops (there are a LOT where she lives, as lots of people retire there so rather an older demographic). She's also looked online and called some national ones, but none of them seemed to be able to help with the leg rest issue. 

Red Cross or similar might be a good idea, I will suggest she looks into that - thank you.

Torry_Quine

boots_babe said:

Torry_Quine said:

Have you got in touch with an occupational therapist?  

She hasn't done no. Apologies as this sounds like a stupid question I feel, but how would they help with sourcing a wheelchair?

They are the ones who supply NHS wheelchairs. If she isn't deemed eligible for what you want they should be able to help point you in the right direction. 

Spoonie_Turtle

boots_babe said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Are you able to post a picture of the type she currently has (not necessarily the exact model, just a general idea) and does she specifically need a powered wheelchair, or could she perhaps have a lightweight manual frame with a power add-on (so driven like a power chair but much much lighter, and able to be taken apart if need be)?

When you ask if she could have a manual frame with a power add on, this is not something I've heard of at all, nor has mum. I don't suppose you could link an example so I can see the sort of thing you mean? Then I can do some research. 

Ultimately she doesn't need a chair which will cover huge distances on one charge, as she doesn't go that far. Important thing is that it's comfortable (obvious I guess, but she has lots of back issues etc so can't be being jolted around), fits in the car and in a 'normal' price range as they don't have much money.

There are a few different types
Smart drive https://www.activemobility.co.uk/smartdrive-mx2-wheelchair-power-attachment-2973?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpPKiBhDvARIsACn-gzBrbsuvPxP1_yjGo_SmkmjwcJJX1r66KeVDt_jfy8VFeIYD3tX_IdQaAuZbEALw_wcB
E-fix wheels with joystick https://store.easylivingmobility.co.uk/shop/wheelchairs/powered-add-ons/alber-e-fix-e35-power-wheels?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpPKiBhDvARIsACn-gzDsb9hloMKemn1i5j-mM-UMqww6988RyWD4ZYDjPF5EwcexU1AKg_caAj_rEALw_wcB
U drive system https://www.independencemobility.co.uk/u-drive-power-add-on-kit.html

There are also attendant power add-ons and powered front wheel attachments, but the ones linked above are probably the most relevant types.

A manual chair would likely have a back that folds down, the wheels come off and if it's a folding frame it'll fold in the middle too.  Leg rests are readily available.

Unfortunately most of the power add-ons are really expensive, even second-hand can be still pretty pricey.  A decent manual chair can be quite expensive too.  However if she can get anything prescribed by NHS Wheelchair Services that would help (if she's a full-time wheelchair user then she stabds a chance of meeting the strict criteria, although they may not prescribe anything actually suitable and so she might have to use a voucher from them towards the cost of something that works for her), plus grant funding may sometimes be an option, or 0% finance.

Does your Dad currently lift the whole chair in and out of the car?!

Cyclamen

I was going to recommend the efix mentioned above.. We bought mine as we need to be able to usetaxis there arent whellcair taxis here and we donnt drive. 

You can add the efix to many different frames so can customise a frame to suit your needs.. including leg lift etc. 

The nmotors are in the wheels, the battery hangs under seat and joystick clips on.. 

They are pricey but have given me freedom.. i've just bought a second hand one tto use for spares as servicing involves being sent to germany sadly.. and new batteries are £££.. so i have a spare second hand battery thats light enugh to go out with for longer days

MouldyOldDough

theoretica said:

MouldyOldDough said:

theoretica said:

How much of the problem is just the batteries?  You could maybe swap out the lead acid ones for lithium.

You can't just swap batteries - they run on different voltages and are physically not compatible

This place says they supply ones which are compatible https://www.lifelightmobility.co.uk/Lithium+Mobility+Batteries/0_CAAA039_CAAA041_CAAA061.htm

Maybe the connectors are standard - but the physical size won't be

Check......Check and double check because they may not refund if the fault is yours