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If you or anyone that you are close with are wheelchair bound, then you know the limitations that they encompass. All too often doorways are not wide enough; hills are too steep to maneuver alone, not to mention the sore arms and blistered fingers. Enter the electric wheelchairs. These newer chairs are equipped with electric motors that replace the manual tire rotation that you may be accustomed to. Electric wheelchairs offer a chair bound person a freedom that was never within their reach before. However, it is still important to choose the right electric chair for you and your personal situation.
1 - When beginning the process of selecting the correct electric wheelchair for your situation, it is important to know how much money that you have to work with. Call your medical insurance provider; they will be able to answer this question for you. You will also need to decide how much of your personal money will be available to add to the insurance companies figures. The average electric chair can run anywhere from $5,000.00 to over $30,000.00, keep this in mind when you are shopping.
2 - You will need to decide upon such features as the height and support of the back that you will want. You personal physical limitations will help you determine this, for example, if you have little or no upper body muscle strength, it is recommended that the back be tilted at a 45 degree angle. Speak with a physical therapist or with your personal physician to determine the correct angle for you.
3 - The control system that you choose will also be somewhat dependant upon your physical limitations. There are many types of systems to choose from, a joystick is very popular and works in much the same way as with a video game. However, if you do not have any arm control, you may need a chair that is equipped with a control system that is controlled by the head, the trunk of the body or through propulsion. Again, your doctor will be able to help you to decide which type of control system is right for you.
4 - Once you get these basics of the electric wheelchair decided upon, it is time to customize it specifically for you. You can choose how much or how little padding should be added to the back of the chair, the type of leg and foot supports, height of the chair, even the fabric and paint that you prefer. These options may or may not increase the overall cost of the chair depending upon what the manufacturer offers.
5 - It is very important that you take an electric wheelchair for a test drive before you agree to purchase it. Many companies will let you try it out for a period of time that ranges from a couple of hours to a couple of days. Taking advantage of this option will allow you to get the right wheelchair for you.
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