I will be getting my power chair hopefully this Tuesday afternoon November 15th, 2005 and just wanted to share some things that will hopefully help those in the market for one.

I started this process in the beginning of September, and I did a lot of research before I actually went into this process.  First I found a very helpful site "Wheel Chair Junkie" and I will post the link on my links page.  They have a forum there where you can go and ask questions of other wheel chair/power chair users. Very helpful and informative site.

Although I have nothing against The Scooter Store or Hoveround, I still think you should think about many things before purchasing one.

For instance is this ALWAYS going to be a part time power chair and if so would you benefit from a scooter?  I say this because if you have a condition that will never get any worse then it is right now, then maybe a scooter would be right for you.

But if you have a disease like MS or any other condition that could possibly change for the worse, then maybe you should think long term.  I personally don't think a scooter would be a good thing in the long run, especially if your condition could mean that at some point you may not have the strength to hold your arms up in front of you for long periods of time in order to steer it.

Also if you do get a power chair.......there are a lot of questions you should be thinking about.  First of all you should have an Occupational and Physical Therapist evaluate your condition to see what you may or may not need in a power chair now, or possibly in the future.  In cases like this you should, in my opinion, think ahead to all possibilities.  This is a big expense, even if your insurance coverage pays for the whole thing.  They won't pay for a new one or upgrade for a certain amount of years, 7 years I think for most insurance coverages.

Sometimes, or actually most times, it is best to get measured for a power chair or manual chair, either at a wheel chair clinic or in your home by your local DME (Durable Medical Equipment) Supplier.

Although right now I will not need to be in the chair full time, I will need to use it a lot.  And I don't know what the future will hold.  I got some things that are not standard to any power chair, like swing away joy stick, very handy when getting up close to a table or something like that where the joystick might get in the way.

I am also getting elevating leg rests so my legs don't have to be just dangling there even though there is a platform there on all power chairs.  After a while of sitting, your legs start to ache, and the elevating leg rests will be great for that.  They are also detachable if I don't need them.

Also would you like a power elevating seat?  The chair I am getting comes standard with that, raises 6" to be able to get things out of reach.  However not all chairs come standard with this feature, it is usually an option that you have to ask for and be RX'd for.  That is why a PT & OT should be consulted and they will send their recommendations to your dr. who will then RX it.

Some of the reasons for being measured for a power chair are these:

They will have you sit on something with arm rests.  I had this done in my home and sat on the seat of my 4 wheel walker and rested my arms on the bars on either side of the walker.

They will measure the width of your arms apart to see how far apart the arm rests need to be on the chair in order for you to be comfortable.  They measure your legs from your knees to the floor, also in a seated position, this way they know how high or low the seat should be to the floor for your legs to be comfortable in a seated position for a long period of time.  Some people have longer or shorter legs than others.......we are all different shapes and sizes.  So just like an expensive suit, we wouldn't go and just buy that off the rack, although I am not a man, but if I were, I would want to be properly measured for one.

They also measure your back side width.  They do this so they can properly fit you for the chair.  Although you don't want it to be a tight fit, you also don't want the width of the seat to be too large so that when you are moving around in it there would be too much jarring of your body.

Once I get my chair and have had it for a little while, I can post more tips.  But here is another one to consider.  On the drive tires, the large one's on either side of the chair, do you want them filled with air or do you want the flat free tires.  The flat free tires are filled with foam, bumpier ride I am told, but I told them I didn't want to have to carry a jack around with me incase I got a flat... and I didn't think Triple A would come out and change a tire for me on my power chair....!  They also have Semi-Pneumatic tires, which I believe is what I got, that are partially filled with air and partially filled with foam.  Smoother ride, but not as smooth as all air.  Those are personal choices, and also are different in expenses. 

Also do you want a transportable chair?  One that can be taken apart for ease of transport.  That also is a personal choice, but one thing to keep in mind about that is that the more things that can be taken apart the more things that can break on the chair.  Although I don't have a mini van and can't afford one at this time, I have a 1992 Lincoln Town Car, still too small for transport.  But my husband has a full size truck and has the means to build a ramp for the truck so I can get the chair into the back of the truck and strap it down for transport. 

Much to think about, so don't just run out and say I need a power chair or scooter without researching first.

November 17, 2005.  I got my power chair Tuesday afternoon, the 15th.  It is very nice.  I have a very small house though and will have to get used to maneuvering it in these tight quarters.

My one other suggestion to all of you is this: If you are seriously thinking of getting a power chair or even a scooter, if you don't have a ramp, have one built even before you start the process of getting one.

I don't have a ramp yet, and our carpenter neighbor was going to build it Labor Free.  But he fell off of a ladder and broke his arm in several places and needed to be operated on and have pins put in.  So he needs time to heal, and I live in New England and winter will be setting in very soon.  Actually it is too cold even now to build it.  So it is going to have to wait until Spring now.

I wish we had have had it built ahead of time now so I could enjoy the outdoors with my new power chair.  Because of my very limited mobility I have not been out of the house in over 4 months now.  I am going Stir Crazy.

So build a ramp well in advance, you will be glad you did!  If anyone has any questions, you can go to the Share your Ideas forum and either post there or send me an e-mail by clicking on contact the forum administrator, that's me of course  

Also, if anyone would like me to put a link or just post the address for their local DME (Durable Medical Equipment) Supplier please contact me by sending me an e-mail the way I stated before.

Once I have some DME addresses I will make a new page for them so that it will be useful to others to help them to find their supplier in their area.  Also, always check with your insurance first to see if they will deal with that particular supplier.

Some insurances will only deal with certain ones.  Thanks for visiting my site and I hope it has helped or at least given you some ideas.  Best Wishes to you all.