Best Power Wheelchairs for Aging Seniors
A wheelchair that is electric generally referred to as power wheelchair, offers the benefit of mobility for those trapped in their homes because of illness, stroke or other injury. "I have one in my garage right now for zooming around the yard and doing yard work," says Bill Forting, the Virginia Beach-based director of the United Spinal Association Resource Center. These devices usually have at least four or six wheels which provide stability as well as powered by lithium-ion batteries that normally last about 10 miles before needing to be recharged.
To pick for the Best Portable electric wheelchair for older adults, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data on approximately 50 products from the top brands, and rated their prices capacities, weight capacity to maximum, travel range, top travel speed and portability. Find out which Electric wheelchairs for sale are on our list. Note: Prices are accurate at the time of publication.
What Is an Electric Wheelchair?
A portable electric chair, also known as a powered or motorized electric wheelchair rental near me--is an eight- or six-wheel chair powered by a motor which runs on one or two batteries. They are operated by an electronic joystick, and don't require muscles in the upper part of your body. Powered electric wheelchair rental varieties include basic wheelchairs for short-term use to highly customized options for the more difficult and lengthy-term requirements.
Cory Lee, 31, from Georgia has been using a wheelchair since he was four years old. In addition, he's hot air ballooned in Israel and floated on the Blue Lagoon in Iceland and had a run-in with an elephant in South Africa. He's also an expert in travelling in wheelchair. In the course of his career, Lee is a frequent user of kinds and sizes of wheelchairs, and is aware of selecting the right one.
Prices for electric wheelchairs that are comparable to the ones used by Lee fall into a category called complex rehabilitation technology, also known as CRT. "These wheelchairs are measured and built specifically to meet each individual's unique needs," says Angie Kiger, a clinical education and strategy manager with Sunrise Medical, a California-based wheelchair manufacturer. This type of technology comes with multiple positioning options, advanced electronics , controls, adjustments for orthopedic problems, and even accommodations for ventilators.
What is a Power Wheelchair?
Power wheelchairs (also called power chairs) are incredibly maneuverable in small spaces and tight corners, making them an ideal choice for mobility both inside and out of your home. The power chair also lets you to pull close to counters, tables, and other work surfaces to carry out routine tasks and stay within your home. They are prescribed by physicians for users who require full-time mobility assistance to carry out daily tasks at their home, and are available for rental or purchase by those who would benefit from the new freedom and mobility that an electric wheel chair gives.
Electric Wheelchair Basics
If you're looking for the best electric wheelchair prices there are certain terms that are frequently used on dealer websites. Here's a list of the most basic terms below to make shopping much easier.
Front-, Mid-, & Rear-Wheel Drive
All Medicare electric wheelchairs have up to six wheels, however only two wheels in the chair receive power direct from the motor. Other wheel ("casters") are used to support the chair. Mid-wheel drive is ideal for complete turn-around within tight spaces. In contrast, front and rear wheel drive wheelchairs provide the most comfort and ease of use and manage outdoor terrain best. It is recommended to speak with an occupational therapist to determine the type of wheel drive that is suitable for the daily usage.
Turning Radius
The radius of turning is the smallest U-turn the electric wheelchair moves near me. The narrower the radius the better the chair will perform suitable for indoor or tiny spaces. A turning radius of between 20" and about 35" is the norm. Bulky chairs will have large turning radiuses. However, other aspects such as the angle of your footrest and the wheel drive also affect the turning radius.
Travel Range
A wheelchair's range of travel- often simply called "range" - is the miles it can travel before it requires its batteries to recharged. Range varies widely, from 4 to 5 miles for some chairs , and up to 20 miles in other chairs. The range can be shorter than claimed if a person is a heavy person, the terrain is not smooth, and the battery becoming old. Finding an electric chair with high range is essential for those who intend to travel or often take their Electric wheelchair for sale outdoors for solo trips to stores or other locations.
Warranty Limits
Electric wheelchairs typically come with "limited" warranties and not all wear and tear is protected by their manufacturer. The majority of warranties cover structural parts such as the frame of the chair for five or ten years, and generally cover other parts for shorter periods of time as specified in the warranty contract. In the overview table and in the company profiles below, the amount given next to the word"limited" (for example, "5 year limited") is the most extensive extent of coverage under the warranty, which usually for the frame.
How to Choose a Power Wheelchair Store
Whether you are searching for a store selling power wheelchairs near me or an online retailer, there are always certain things you should research prior to doing business with any company. When you invest in a wheelchair, it could easily go over $1,000.00or more, so you'll need to make every effort to ensure that you're going to end up working with a business that offers outstanding customer service, low prices for new products, and the expertise to guide you to the most suitable Electric wheelchair.
Here are three main things that you should think about prior to buying a power chair:
Online Reviews - Crowd sourcing data is the best way to evaluate the quality of customer service that is provided to the previous customers. Not one business can operate completely without error, therefore when something wrong does happen you should make sure that the business has your back and will do all that is essential to ensure that you wind in a positive experience as a customer. Currently, MobilityScootersDirect.com has a 4.7/5.0 which is a very strong rating. Any company with lower than a 4.0 rating could be deemed average. Any company with less than a 3.0 rating might be considered poor.
Pricing - One of the most important factors is the price. Why would you want to pay more for the same identical product? Some local retailers are forced to offer higher prices because they have expenses and rent to pay for. Overhead can typically run in the hundreds of dollars per month for a brick and mortar firm, therefore these needs to be accounted for in the pricing. At MobilityScootersDirect.com, we're an online store so able to offer you these products at the lowest price the manufacturers will allow us to sell them for. This is called MAP pricing.
Expertise of products Electric wheelchair portable All of our sales personnel are certified in electronics and are able to physically fix mobility scooters and electric wheelchairs. Our sales team members have a passion for aviation, and the flying of electronic drones. Their passion for electronics can translate into an amazing understanding of products which is uncommon elsewhere. One reason why our reviews are so excellent is because our sales team collaborates with us so that our customers are able to purchase the product that not just matches their needs but even exceed them.