Who are transport wheelchairs best suited to?
Wheelchairs offer support for people with a range of disabilities, mobility issues and illnesses. They can be a short-term stopgap, or a long-term solution. This means they are suitable for a range of different individuals with varying needs, including:
– Elderly people requiring mobility support when out and about
– Individuals with disabilities or mobility issues who are unable to walk, or cannot walk long distances
– Individuals recovering from illness needing short-term or long-term rehabilitation
You may be reading this article because you have been advised by a healthcare professional that you may need a wheelchair. Perhaps family and friends have suggested it.
Even if you feel you don’t need a wheelchair, it may be incredibly beneficial to you. Often people who don’t want to use a wheelchair find it significantly enhances their quality of life in surprising ways.
What are the benefits of a lightweight fold up wheelchair?
Portable wheelchairs offer a variety of benefits for people with reduced mobility – some obvious, some less well known. Predominantly a fold up wheelchair would offer independence, freedom, flexibility and opportunity. They can also prevent further injury and alleviate pain.
Although there is a stigma for some surrounding wheelchair use, they offer multiple benefits for users. Most of all they can dramatically improve independence, which in turn has a positive impact on mental and physical wellbeing.
They can aid or speed up recovery from illness or a physical accident or operation. As wheelchairs come in lots of different shapes, sizes and specifications there is a model to suit every requirement.
How to choose the best portable wheelchair
When deciding which portable wheelchair is best for your needs it’s important to take several aspects into consideration. This will help you to make a sound decision that pays dividends both now and in the future.
1) Wheelchair price and budget
Wheelchair price will naturally influence your decision, too. It’s important to balance budget with quality – achieving the best possible value for money rather than acquiring the cheapest or most expensive model.
Wheelchair price can vary greatly – especially between high street and online retailers. Online retailers tend to be cheaper – but its best to try out the models you’ve shortlisted in person before you purchase.
2) Your needs – now
Once you’ve determined how much you have to spend, you’ll need to consider your immediate needs.
- How will a wheelchair benefit you right now?
- Will it help you to do shopping on your own?
- Cut down on care costs?
- Enjoy a better quality of life?
- Socialise more?
- How will it enhance your life?
- Then practically-speaking ask yourself what it will need to do and feature to help you to fulfil your needs.
If you need a speedy way to get to the shops, a motorised scooter or power wheelchair may be best. If comfort is important to you an ergonomic or customised wheelchair featuring foam lifting cushions and suspension could be perfect for you.
If you need help with this speak to family and friends, or consult with your general practitioner, healthcare professional, specialist or social worker.
3) Your needs – in the future
Once your immediate needs are covered it’s time to think about your future prognosis. If your condition is likely to worsen, will this wheelchair stand the test of time?
You don’t want to have to go through the costly and stressful process of replacing or changing your wheelchair at a later date, so it’s a good idea to be sure that your choice will provide adequate support for years to come.
4) Lifestyle – Wheelchair categories cater both to the needs of the individual, and their lifestyle. It might be useful to make a list of the things you like to do, and the activities a wheelchair would help you to enjoy. If you lead a very active lifestyle, you’ll need a different type of wheelchair compared with someone who spends most of their time indoors.
5) Preferences – Your personal preferences are important and should be taken into account during the decision-making process. For example, you may prefer to maintain full independence with a self-propelled wheelchair. Maybe a mobility scooter or electric wheelchair is best for you.
Perhaps you’d prefer a hybrid frame wheelchair for now. Match up your needs with your preferences to try and strike a balance between them for the best of both worlds.