Wheel chairs - any tips

Oldernotwiser

It's often a good idea to look at items in local mobility shops and then go away and buy them online. My husband suffers from COPD and we recently bought a brand new aluminium wheelchair from Ebay, for £64 and a cheap delivery charge. Worth looking on there.

Edinburghlass_2

Duplicate threads now merged.

Jake'sGran

margaretclare wrote: »

Hello Jake's Gran

There are 'mobility aids' shops in most towns now and there are people who can advise you and let you try different chairs, see how easy (or not) they are to collapse and get into the boot.

Part of the disability problems I'm left with now have been from trying to push people's wheelchairs outdoors, lift things into boot of car, lifting things I really shouldn't have, so I do sympathise, and also about the heart problems.

Best wishes

Hello Margaret. Yes, I did know about the mobility aids shops and have noticed in local towns like Oldham and Ashton that lots of people make use of the scooters. As a matter of interest we have already had a visit from a young lady from the Occupational Therapy Dept at the local hospital. She came about my having a chair in the bath but we were put off because she said there was a heavy battery on it. My husband takes showers and we did not want something that had to be lifted in and out. I am a bit disheartened (sorry for the pun) at the moment as, although my heart rhythm is normal now, my medication has been changed which is what I wanted but I do seem to be getting breathless more easily. Next time I see my cardiologist he might suggest more surgery. Just have to wait and see.

margaretclare

Jake's Gran, you might be better with showers and no bath. It's what we use. We got a slightly bigger shower cubicle so that, if it ever becomes necessary, we could put a plastic chair in there and shower sitting down.

Neither of us could climb into a bath nowadays and at times, after hip surgery and after my fractured pelvis, DH had to give me a lot of help even to get into the shower (because it's a step-in, not a walk-in). It will happen again with the next lot of hip surgery.

With best wishes

simgranny

If you are having problems bathing and do not want to make alterations to the bathroom you might find one of these useful

http://http://www.myco-uk.co.uk/products/sb/product.htm

It is a swivel seat that allows you to sit over the bath in order to shower.
My husband has one supplied by his OT and we find it very useful, we even take it away with us sometimes. It is not too heavy to lift out of the bath, but I leave it in there and sit on it myself if I only want a shower - it's so comfortable and no danger of me slipping on the soap!

Lorne

Hi Jake's Gran,

I would definitely agree with going down the NHS wheelchair route rather than purchasing one from argos. My advice would be to contact your local social work department for an assessment by a community occupational therapist who will come out to the house and look at all of your needs, mobility, bathing, etc. There are lots of things that can be provided at no cost to you and if you are looking at modifying your bathroom and you are assessed as needing this done they can help you apply for grants. They can let you try pieces of kit like the bath hoist with the battery already mentioned or the swivel bather discussed above. Give them a call and get popped on their waiting list - you'd be able to get some appropriate advice just for you

sujester

The Disabled Living Foundation website has a series of factsheet with advice on choosing a wheelchair.

I agree with the "try before you buy" approach; I bought an attendant propelled wheelchair for my Dad last year (he uses a walking frame but gets tired after a short while,) but it's hard work pushing it - and although it folds up and will go in my car boot it doesn't come apart so it quite heavy (I'm another 5'2"er). I'm about to buy a self propelled active user wheelchair as I understand they are much easier to push and manoeuvre and have quick release wheels.

Loads of on line

Lorne

Need to be careful about the widths of the self propelled wheelchairs, we often have clients who donate them to us as they are to wide to get through standard door widths with having the wheels side mounted and the rims on the wheels. If he side transfers just be aware of the position of where the wheel is and make sure that the side still comes off the chair. Just some things to think about before you buy.

Coupon-mad

I don't think anyone has yet mentioned the Assist-UK website, it is the umbrella organisation for all the Daily/Disabled Living Centres set up so far around the country. I believe all areas are supposed to be setting one up but not all have done so yet.

Daily Living Centres (sometimes called 'Disabled Living Centres', or even 'Assistive Technology Centres') are there to provide advice in choosing equipment for any disability or ease-of-living difficulty. They are free for anyone to use, carers/elderly, anyone, you don't have to be 'registered' disabled or have any referral.

Here's the link to find your nearest one - hope there is one near you, Jake'sGran, as they are a great service:

http://assist-uk.org/centres/

Depending on the one nearest you, it may even have bathing equipment to try out -fully clothed and without water of course - in a mocked-up bathroom. They may have stairlifts, hoists, kitchen equipment etc., all there just to demonstrate and for you to try out. Anyone can use the service but you may have to make an appointment as some Centres are quite low-staffed and are not open every day.

They will certainly have wheelchairs and walkers to try, with their agreement during your appointment, you can even test them for size in your car boot, although they won't normally allow them outside of the Centre otherwise.

These Centres do not sell items BTW, but they can let you try equipment at your own pace (usually with their own independent Occupational Therapist but you can also attend with your own if you wish). Your relative/carer can come with you of course.

They will give you advice & info on the nearest stockists without any selling pressure. I used to work in a Daily Living Centre BTW!

HTH

jaxw

Hi Jakes Gran

I wonder if it might be useful for you to ask the GP (or receptionist) to ask an OT to do an assessment of all your needs. We have gone down this route and she came up with lots of suggestions, some items were NHS funded & supplied which was great, especially as they would change them if & when my daughter's needs changed, also things could be borrowed to see if they helped, and given back if they didn't. Also the OT suggested things we hadn't thought about. We didn't have to take all her advice, but at least had ideas to come back to if we needed to. Some things were not too obvious or intrusive, like an extra bannister rail at the other side of the stairs, whilst I must admit some take a lot of getting used to, & it does all have to fit in with the whole family.

J