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Best Practices For Wheelchair Safety And Selection

There are many things to consider before you purchase a wheelchair. Regardless of whether you want a manual or powered chair, consider the following:

1. Folding or rigid frames?

On manual chairs, folding frames are the usual conventional type having an X brace in the center allowing the frame to be folded sideways. Folding is simple, but a chair of this type tends to be bulky as well as quite heavy. New versions of lighter materials are now available, but regardless of this point because folding frames involve many parts, it is heavy compared to a rigid frame. Rigid frame joints are welded and a lightweight aluminum material is used, enabling one to transfer the wheelchair into the car without help.

2. It’s all about comfort: get the footrest angled perfectly

An angle footrest is measured from the horizontal or is regarded from the side, whereas tapered footrests are regarded from the front, and joins both feet at the bottom, providing more clearance when turning. However, if you have limited hip and knee joint flexibility, this can be uncomfortable.

3. Don’t overlook the handrim

Note that the overall diameter of a handrim will affect its propulsion. This means that having a large diameter climbs will be easier and with a diameter that is much smaller, it brings about a lot of speed on a flat surface.

4. It’s all about the wheels

While spoked wheels are lighter, they require extra maintenance with continued use. Composite wheels on the other hand usually wear out at the bearing escalations. Then, the zero camber gives a slender wheelchair measurement. When the camber is increased, the measurement at the wheels botton is also increased and the measurement at the top is decreased, providing steadiness and turning can be done with ease.

5. Wheel locks

These are of two types namely the under-seat and the side mounted. The side mounted type provides easy operation, though one has to be careful when pushing as thumbs can easily be caught in the wheel lock. Whereas the under-seat type can pas up to this problem, it is much difficult to use since it calls for reaching under the seat.

6. Front and back balance

Check the balance well – as if the rear wheels are very much far forward to the frame, the user can tip backwards. Also, the chair will be hard to push if the wheels are put too far backwards.

Wheelchair safety measures:

- Always make sure that your wheelchair is in good condition all the time.

- When using a power wheelchair, be certain to turn the power off when leaving it at a slope or inclined place.

- When pushing a patient, inform her first before you move the wheelchair.

- When not moving, use brakes.

- Do not attempt to go up or to go down on steep slopes.

- When pushing a patient on a manual wheelchair, be sure that your speed should not exceed that of brisk walking.

- When transferring a patient to a wheelchair, be sure to raise the footplates before doing so. Then lower the footplates after and place the patients feet onto the footplates.

- Avoid passing through grassy or pebbled plains.

- When crossing the street, be sure to stop, look and listen.

Safety on power wheelchairs:

- Choose a type with mechanical brakes that can be released or set by the user.

- For outdoor use, a power wheelchair must have power large wheels at the front and never free swinging casters.

- For the user with an impaired hand or arm, install an orthotic elbow or arm support so as to aid the hand when operating the controls.

- Shut off breaking sensors can detect when a wheelchair is moving out of control and quickly shut off the power.

- Mechanical brakes can bet set by the user with normal hand functions.

- Check the batteries before you go out that they are fully charged, every time.

- Always keep a cell phone handy. Youll never know emergencies might happen.

- A power wheelchair has many of the same parts as a car. Have it checked by a professional every three months for safety, and check it daily yourself.

Are you at risk?

1. Paraplegics

Fit & active individuals are on the average the safest users of a manual, power-assisted, and fully powered wheelchair. They are at very low risk.

2. Amputees

Individuals with missing arms or legs, having active upper bodies are generally safe power wheelchair users. Although it depends on the type of control device that is used, but when used and executed properly, they are at low risk.

3. People having weak upper bodies like people with Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson Disease, and many other conditions

A standard joystick is used to maneuver power wheelchairs. These disorders cause slowed reflexes, impaired eyesight, or impaired judgment. All must be carefully screened for their functional insufficiency. They are at moderate risk.

4. Individuals with little or no upper body movement

Individuals who uses a mouth a puff & sip breathe control, mouth joystick, or gyroscopic (inertial) wheelchair controls. They are at high risk.

5. Paralyzed individuals and children.

Children as well as very small adults that are using special seats need a power wheelchair, mostly with significantly paralyzed bodies. Depending on the mechanical operation, the individuals ailment, and personalized progress and safety instruction, these individuals are at high risk.

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How To Choose A Wheelchair For Your Handicapped Dog

If you say wheelchairs, the first thing that comes to your minds are the elderly or handicapped persons. But guess what dog wheelchairs also exist to help your beloved dog recovers from accident or breed related joint ailments.

Dogs are known as mans best friend. Dogs are very adorable and very social animals. When it comes to stories of loyalty and service dogs are always the lead characters. Yet sadly they are not invincible. Yes they get injured sometimes. Sometimes it leads them to being handicapped.

For it is not uncommon for elderly, injured, or disabled dog to lose their back and front mobility. For this situation, this does not be the end of a dogs life. A dog cart or maybe a dog wheelchair can bring the dogs life better again as it can result to a wholesome and healthy life.

These are the common reasons why dogs need wheelchairs:

• Hip Dysplacia

• Disc disease

• Ruptured discs

• Spinal cord injuries

• Fractured back

• Arthritis

• Chronic leg weakness

• Front and back leg amputation

• Paralysis

• Neurological disease

• Limb paralysis

If one of these affects your dog, especially the overall mobility performance, there is now an easy way and affordable solution to finally help your dog to move around just like before. You can now be at ease in seeing your dog in better shape despite suffering from illnesses or ailments. For in a dog wheelchair you too can have the time to enjoy playing with your pet again either indoors or outdoors.

In finding the right dog wheelchair or cart for your disabled dog, you must buy the perfect one to fit the condition for there are different kinds of dog wheelchairs available in the market today. Is your dog having a back or front problem? Different wheelchairs and carts support the back, front, or all four legs. Dog wheelchairs are designed for specific conditions; these include stirrups, training wheels, counterbalanced carts, and counterweights for amputees.

There are many dog wheelchair designs made by manufactures with the advantage of proving the effectiveness to handicapped dogs. The right way to understand dog wheelchairs is to properly examine to how it is to be used by the animal. For in some dog wheelchairs, the dog wears a harness that is attached with its clips framed to the cart. In another way, the dog sits on the saddle.

How to purchase a dog wheelchair:

1. Measure your dog- once you finally chose which type of wheelchair you want, complete the entire owner/dog questionnaire and measurement chart for the manufacturers design.

2. If you want to order, go personally to the manufacturers office. If you want to order online make it sure you know the procedure and the cost which will usually be displayed on the website.

3. If there are problems with your order, directly discuss it to the manufacturer. Sometimes, before you order, they will ask for information or photos regarding the case your dog is experiencing.

4. After finally purchasing your desired wheelchair and your dog is wearing it, give your pet time to adjust to their new condition.

Finally, helping your dog become what they used to be is very important factor that you should consider. Make sure what you want for your dog meets your expectations. Bringing your dog to their usefulness is what you really ask for.

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Wheelchair Clothing

Clothes made for wheelchair users must be suitable for the unique needs of the wearers.

No matter what occasion you need the clothes for, work, recreation or general wear; you need clothes that look and feel good.

As the well known saying goes, “if you look good, you will feel good”.

Everyone has the right to wear stunning comfy clothes, being in a wheelchair does not mean you have to settle for anything less.

Clothing adaptions needed for wheelchair users.

Your posture will determine how your clothing will hang.

When you are seated you will observe that clothing made for non wheelchair users will bunch at the back and waist.

Garments than hang near the brakes or wheels, can be very hazardous.

Shirts can be made too tight around the shoulder area. This restricts the arm movements, not good when arms are needed to be able to operate the wheelchair.

As you can see, clothing needs to be cut differently to ensure, mobility, independence and safety.

What to look out for.

One thing to make sure you do is to buy from a company that specializes in making adaptive clothing, especially for wheelchair users.

Specialist companies will completely understand the adaptions needed.

There has never been a better time to buy fantastic products. There is abundance available.

Fashionable garments and quality fabrics will leave you spoilt for choice.

Waterproofs for wheelchairs

Products specially made to enable you to dress quickly and go out in any weather.

Waterproofs are made conveniently so you can take them out and carry them on your chair.

I hope this has provided an insight to A free wheelchair clothing available.

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Medicaid Wheelchair Overview – Does Medicaid Cover Motorized Wheelchairs and Scooters?

Many disabled people are in need wheelchairs in America and simply can’t afford them. One way to obtain a wheelchair, powerchair or scooter is through the Medicare/Medicaid insurance programs. It is possible to get a wheelchair through a combination of coverage by Medicare and Medicaid at no cost to the recipient, it is not guaranteed. Medicaid wheelchairs are available if you know how to get them.

The Medicaid Program:

Medicaid is a government subsidized healthcare program designed to assist people who fall into the low income category to receive adequate healthcare by providing supplemental insurance coverage to Medicare, the primary government subsidized insurer. Within both the Medicare and Medicaid programs are sub-programs with coverage for durable medical equipment. Wheelchairs, power chairs and scooters are considered durable medical equipment and therefore qualify for coverage most of the time.

How it Works:

Most people, who have supplemental Medicaid insurance, also have primary coverage under Medicare. Medicare will generally cover 80% of the cost of a medically necessary wheelchair, if the Medicare recipient has Part B coverage, which covers outpatient services including doctors’ visits and durable medical equipment, and has undergone a full physical examination by an approved physician. Conditions that warrant a medically necessary wheelchair include: spinal, brain or muscular conditions that prohibit the normal use of the patient’s legs, an inability to build upper arm strength due to spinal, brain or muscular conditions, or any other condition that would render a patient bedridden when not in a wheelchair.

Whether or not the supplemental Medicaid coverage will pick up the tab for the remaining 20% will depend completely upon an independent review by Medicaid. Medicaid is under no obligation to approve coverage, even if Medicare has.

The Result:

There is no guarantee of a free Medicaid wheelchair, power chair or scooter and those companies who make such promises should be regarded with caution. Since 2003, Medicare and Medicaid have imposed much stricter guidelines in determining who qualifies for medically necessary wheelchairs and the amounts they will cover for such equipment after being the victim of several unscrupulous companies who bilked the insurers for thousands of dollars in fraudulent claims and astronomical prices. Medicaid recipients who have been deemed disabled and requiring a wheelchair should work closely with both Medicare and Medicaid to understand what costs will be covered and what limits will be imposed when looking for a wheelchair as well as whether or not their condition falls under a covered condition category.

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What is the Pivot Point on Your Power Wheelchair?

If you already own a power wheelchair, then you will already know how it maneuvers indoors. However, you may not know why it maneuvers that way.

The drive wheel on your power chair is the reason the chair maneuvers the way it does. There are several other factors that determine how your power chair maneuvers, but the main reason is the drive wheels.

Power chairs, like vehicles come in rear wheel drive, front wheel drive and center or mid wheel drive. They each have a different pivot point, which determines how the chair will maneuver. The pivot point is where the drive wheel axle line and the power base’s centerline cross. The chair maneuvers and turns around this point.

On a rear wheel drive power wheelchair the pivot point can be found in the rear of the power chair behind where you sit. The majority of the power chair is in front of the pivot point. This is the old stand-by and the most stable chairs in most cases. If you own one of these types of chairs, you may have noticed when going up steep hills, the chair will lean back on its anti-tip tubes to prevent the chair from tipping backwards. The top speed for this chair is about 6 mph. Because it is rear-wheel drive it has the largest turning radius. If you have owned one of these types of chairs and are planning on replacing with a different type of drive wheel, keep in mind the tie-down you use in your van will need to be replaced to accommodate the new style chair.

On a front wheel drive power chair the pivot point will be in the very front of the chair with the majority of the chair behind it. This means you will be sitting behind the pivot point on this type of chair. This chair is very stable in uneven terrain with up and down hills. Of the three types of chairs, the front wheel drive power chair will move over obstacles well. Since most of the chair will be behind you, you will need to adjust the way you turn to accommodate the rear of the chair. This type of chair drives a lot like a forklift. The maximum speed for this type of chair is slower than all of the others. It will range from 5 to 5.5 mph because the front wheel drive chairs have a tendency to “fish tail” at a higher rate of speed. The turning radius is only slightly smaller than that of the rear wheel drive chair.

On a mid wheel drive or center wheel drive power wheelchair the pivot point is directly beneath you. It is in the middle of the chair with the chair on top of the pivot point. You will have equal parts of the chair in front and behind you and your center of gravity is about the same as the pivot point. With this type of chair you will have a much smaller turning radius than the rear wheel and front wheel drive chairs. The speed of this chair is limited to about 5.5 mph. If you ride on uneven terrain on a regular basis, you may want to reconsider buying one of these chairs. These chairs have a tendency of getting stuck if you are riding on uneven terrain or up and down steep curbs. The front or the rear wheels will get stuck, which will suspend the drive wheel so they cannot touch the ground.

Your specific lifestyle and needs should determine the chair you buy. So consider your choices carefully.

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