Have you looked closely at wheelchairs recently? I'm familiar with the standard manual wheelchairs with the large wheels, but today there are a wide range of wheelchairs, including motorized electric chairs with a variety of amazing features!
We anticipate that I will be in a wheelchair the resr of my life, so it's important to get a good one. We also want to maximize my tindependence, so a motorized chair is appealing. Luckily for us, the Ontario government heavily subsidizes the purchase of wheelchairs. Yesterday we went to get measured up.
We've chosen a motorized wheelchair, with a large tilt mechanism, so I can tilt back and go to sleep - very helpful to avoid skin sores and muscle atrophy. You can tilt almost horizontal!
But that's not all! This wheelchair has a lift mechanism that will raise the eat platform by about 18" so I cen be eye-to-eye with someone else. It uses small scissor jacks under the seat to do this, and it will even work while you are moving. You can guess what we decided on. I look forward to still being able to get dishes out of the kitchen cupboards. I am NOT just going to be a helpless invalid!
Of course there is a price tag for all this, would you believe about $25,000! Not even a good sewing machine costs that much, though some come close. With the subsidy and health insurance, we'll only pay a few thousand - still a lot, but I'm going to live in this chair 12 hours a day for the rest of my life.
One thing I realized as we've gone through this process is that we will never be able to visit friends or stores again if they have steps or a curb leading up to their front door, a serious limitationof a wheelchair life. Haven't solved that one yetbut I think I'm about to become a advocate for wheelchair accessibility!
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Our friend has a portable ramp he keeps in his van. When there is a curb or step to house his wife is able to get it out and unfold and set it up. He also uses the feature to rise up and talk eye to eye.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware of the rise-up feature in wheelchairs, but it does sound like it's something you'll need.
ReplyDeleteWow, that sounds like a really great setup; wheelchairs have come a long way -- of course with a price tag to match. Hopefully there are some well maintained or paved rail-trails up your way so you can get out in the natural world. We have one that's over 60 miles long with a fair number of access points (big woods plus eagles, bear, deer, lots of wildflowers, birds and small mammals); it's suitable for motorized wheelchairs. A few years ago a woman failed to check her battery's charge and ran out of power in the most remote part of the rail-trail, about five miles from a road, she was OK after a wait for a ranger. Watch your charge.
ReplyDeleteGet a good cusion too. Like about $400 worth. Your butt will thank you.
ReplyDeleteWell worth every penny for you to get your independence back FG. You are making good progress by the sound of it.
ReplyDeleteThere are workarounds for everything. Maybe visiting friends can lift you into their home chairs for just brief visits. Yes, you will find ramps are not everywhere. It is a challenge but you seem to be wise and energetic going forward in this next act of your life. I am so please to find the technology so good and a good medical program for you.
ReplyDeleteWow that sounds like a fantastic wheel chair and sounds like a good choice for you.
ReplyDeleteIt will keep you active and independent.
God Bless You.
My mother had a lift seat installed on the outside of her motorhome. IT was motorized so that when she wanted to come out, she would sit down on the inside top step, swing backward into the lift seat and operate it in such a way she could push it backwards out over the outside steps and then the motorized lift would lower her down so she could switch to her wheelchair. Worked like a charm.
ReplyDeleteBe sure to get yourself a steady camera mount for that new Rolls Royce of yours and some pockets for camera gear and peanut butter sandwiches. Might be needing some off-road tires and a solar panel. Maybe a spot for one of those long pole scissor handle things for picking up things of interest on the ground along the way. If it was me I'd have my Sirius Satellite Radio installed somewhere as well. Oh yes and you might need an onboard GPS system in order to keep track of yourself once you get rolling:))
ReplyDeleteReading Al's words,you might need one that tows a small trailer. We have ramps, so if we go out and take Hugh's mobility scooter, we can tilt the seat forward, use the ramps and load it into the wagon. Luckily, he can still drive. That price, a good long arm quilting machine down here would be all of that and maybe more. A good cushion is sound advice, memory foam or similar is what is down here. You are SO positive, I am in total awe.I guess , like Hugh's scooter, they check your height and weight to get one that suits perfectly. Waiting for a photo.
ReplyDeleteI like your attitude. Keep at it. My Dad was a large man. we had to buy a special wheel chair for him.
ReplyDeletealmost all public places are accessible these days and you will be amazed at all the portable items that are available to get you in and out of places. you appear to have an amazing outlook on the future, keep that up and the sky's the limit. i did it for 6 months, then regained the use of my legs. we towed mine on our bike rack but most are pretty compact these days and fit real nicely in a trunk or the back of an SUV! you got this!!
ReplyDeleteAs someone who used to work for 25 years with people who used wheelchairs I get really annoyed at the price-tag on some of the equipment available, some of the prices are quite unjustifiable. Kerb-climbers do exist for most powered chairs and are not that expensive. They won't climb a set of steps but are ideal for that kerb or small step that non-wheelchair-users overlook. Tilt mechanisms are brilliant, particularly if you need to be hoisted in and out of your chair as it enables you to be sat back properly in the seat. Beware of using the lift mechanism of rough ground as chairs can tip! Hope everything goes well and you are soon zipping around - they are very rapid these modern chairs!
ReplyDeleteHello, sounds like the Cadillac version of a wheelchair. I think a camera mount would be a great idea.
ReplyDeleteMostly you should feel comfortable. That price is higher than what I paid for my Toyota Corolla, lol. Have a happy day and weekend!
Rule number one...don't scrimp on the important things
ReplyDeleteLove the positive attitude, you are choosing your new wheels, just like the rest of us do. It sounds great and why not get the best?!
ReplyDeleteEnjoying all the suggestions too so you might just as well go with the sidecar for Mrs. F.G. too. You can still be in charge of some of the driving that way. On a beautiful day, you can visit us, no steps required to sit outside and enjoy nature up here. :)
glad that you have come up a useable solution , sounds like a great mobility chair for you.
ReplyDeleteThat does sound a very good wheel-chair, a good choice for you.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
My daughter spent a good chunk of time in a wheelchair after a serious motor vehicle mishap. The first time we went to the local mall she went into each and every shop to check out accessibility. She let the vendors know where they were lacking. Since then our province has put rules in place and the world has become a much bigger place! Never hesitate to speak your mind when you get out and about Stew.
ReplyDeleteYour chair sounds like a gem.
That is some price tag. Mrs. FG is why you know about the cost of sewing machines!. A friend of ours wrote about his life spent in wheelchairs, https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Wheelchairs-Life-beyond-Polio/dp/1587296934. Will be checking in on you along way on this new journey of yours.
ReplyDeleteWow- at least you'll be able to be on-the-go to some extent. Hooray for accessible places.
ReplyDeleteGood that you went for the cadillac of chairs you deserve it! :)
ReplyDeleteSo much to think about when one is faced with such decisions. Go for the best option that gives you the best quality of life you can get.
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