Buying guide
Choosing a wheel chair does not have to be traumatic task, although it should not be taken lightly as well, since in most cases users change wheel chairs less frequently than cars. In other words - you will be stuck with it for some time, so choose wisely and carefully. The major consideration will be the price tag of the device, since the covered value depends on your insurance policy.
Buying used or refurbished electric wheel chair from secondary market is also possible, but this market is unfortunately not as developed as one might think.
What to consider?
Apart from main parts already described in the DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WHEEL CHAIRS (what you should read if you are not yet sure which type of wheel chair you want) you are now ready to choose between different options and details in your chosen model. Manufacturers offer wide array of options and different features of a wheel chair.
- bear in mind: total weight - before choosing all the options, consider the wheel chair final weight, including you on it. The lighter the wheel chair, the easier is on most models to navigate, turn and to accelerate. Also the batteries will get you farther, and if you live in a hilly city, that can become crucial.
- choosing: weight capacity - standard wheel chairs usually have a 250 lb (125 kg) user capacity. If user requires stronger chair, a so called heavy-duty or "bariatric" wheel chair which can support from 500 to 750 lbs (250-375 kg) should be chosen. If user just requires more space to sit comfortably, also bariatric model of a wheel chair is suggested.
- choosing: battery type -
- choosing: seat size - Seat size is measured in width and depth. Standard size is 18×16 inches (18 wide and 16 deep, that is 46×40 cm). All chairs offer several sizes, and in order to choose the right one, you should do the measurement. To do a accurate measurment sit down on tape measure, and to get the width read the distance from hip to hip - then add additional 2 -5 inches (5-12 cm) to this value (depending how comfortable you wish to sit - even in cold days when heavy coat of thick clothes are worn). To get the depth, measure the distance between back of the seat to behind the knee, and subtract 1-2 inches (3-5 cm).
- Choosing: a Seat Height - Seat height is one of the vital elements for long hours of comfort siting. This is the measurement from floor to seat. If the seat is too high user may have problems exiting the chair, and if the seat is too low, user's feet may drag. To get the right height for the seat, measure the length from heel to bend in the knee when user is seated in the upright position. Add 1-2 inch to this length to accomodate for clearance, but if you are using thick pillow, subtract its height from final height. Seat pillows are recommended for users who are likely to spend many hours every day in their wheel chair.
- Choosing: Armrests - Basic function of armrests is comfort and safety. They provide support for upper torso, arms and shoulders. There are many types of armrests, which mostly come in two standard lenghts: full legth and desk length. Full length is longer and provides support for whole arm, while desk length is shorter and allows users to sit closer to a table or office desk, while still offering support for elbows. Armests types are: flip-back, fixed (permanent), adjustable, removable and permanent. Sometimes we can also see combinations of these, like Adjustable-removable one. As the name suggests fixed aka permanent armrests can not be adjusted or removed. Adjustable armrests allow user to adjust the height. Flip-back armrests can be removed from the wheel chair in order to allow for easy transfer and exiting the wheel chair - same function for removable armrests.
- Choosing: Legrests aka Footrests - Support for chair user's legs comes in two standard types: footrests and legretsts. Footrests provide leg support in a seated position and do not move (elevate), while legrests elevate and mostly also include a "calf pad", which enables chair's user to raise or lower their legs and lock the legrests in a desired elevation. For both types the swing-away option is possible - allowing legrests to tuck out of the way from their position in front of the wheel chair. This comes handy when entering or exiting the wheel chair, or when accessing a wheelchair lift or entering the car or van.
