How to Find the Right Wheelchair for You

  • By Jennifer Mulder
  • 24 August 2020
  • 3 minute read
How to Find the Right Wheelchair for You | The Health Sessions

This article is written by Kian Jonas. 

Wheelchairs offer unbeatable support and freedom for those who may find it difficult to walk on their own two feet. It is for this reason that so many of us decide to purchase one at some point in our lives. There are a number of wheelchair hire services out there, but like many things in life, it’s nice to have one for yourself. A wheelchair which is suited to your needs, one which is designed to keep you comfortable regardless where life takes you. 

That is the exact reason we have decided to create this blog post. We want to help you find the perfect wheelchair. We have put together some great tips to make the selection process that little bit easier. 

Selecting the right size 

Wheelchairs come in all shapes and sizes. This may have come as a surprise to those first-time wheelchair buyers. Unfortunately, it’s not a case as on size fits all. This variety in size allows us to find a wheelchair model which suited to our needs. One that can navigate the tight spaces around the house with ease whilst still being perfectly suited to coving long distances when your out and about with friends. 

Prior to heading down to your local mobility product shop, we recommend that you measure the width of the doorways in the home and any other tight spaces that you regularly encounter. This ensures that the wheelchair provided can manoeuvre effortlessly around the places you visit most. It’s also important that you take into consideration your own size and weight. Make sure you are comfortable in the wheelchair and not feeling squeezed in.

How to Find the Right Wheelchair for You | The Health Sessions
All images by Marcus Aurelius via pexels.com

Choosing the right functionality

There are two main types of wheelchairs out there on the market, self-propelled wheelchairs and attendant propelled wheelchairs. Both options have their costs and benefits. As this is easily one of the most important decisions you have to make when purchasing a wheelchair it’s important you take your time and get it right. 

Self-propelled wheelchairs are perfectly suited to a fit individual who have the upper body strength to keep the chair moving. Using the handles found along with the frame of the wheels allow you to keep the chair rolling all by yourself. This type of chair also had rear handles meaning that you can still have a friend or family member push you along.

Attendant propelled wheelchairs do not have handles on the wheel frame. This means to actually operate the wheelchair you will need a friend or family member with you. A great option for those who may be living within a care home or with friends and family members as someone should always be about. 

Transportation and storage options  

An often overlooked aspect when it comes to purchasing a new wheelchair is the ability to transport. What do we mean by transport? Well, transporting your wheelchair is when you load it up into a car and take it with you on your travels. Many of us really enjoy travelling so it’s important that your wheelchair makes it easy to travel.

It is highly recommended that you chose a wheelchair in Somerset that is able to fold down nice and flat. This means that you can easily bring your wheelchair with you, regardless of how far your travelling. When arriving home after a long day out you will also want to be able to pack the wheelchair away and put it into storage. By choosing a foldable wheelchair you can be sure that packing it away will be painless, saving precious space within the home.  

We hope that our wheelchair buying guide tips help you find the perfect product for your specific need and requirements. If you have any further difficulties finding the right wheelchair we always recommend that you speak to your local mobility store They will be able to help advise you on the right model for you. 

Author bio: Kian Jonas works for Independent Living Minehead as a content specialist. He takes great pride in creating quality blog posts about a range of mobility products.

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