Powerchair

[Jacqui-A]

Hi all

When is the right time to use a Powerchair I go to town on my mobility scooter because I find it too hard and tiring to ‘walk’ back.

When I go out I always take a stick with me although I feel with lack of coordination I don’t ‘walk’ that well with it. I have the use of two sticks but I cannot use the two together.

I always leave my scooter outside shops and find it’s a real effort to get my balance to go inside if I had a Powerchair I would be able to take it into shops.

I hope there is someone out there who can guide me. Jacqui

[Veteran250]

Jacqui my lovely, I started out with a manual wheelchair which was ok, from there to an electric scooter, and it was difficult in confined spaces? As in shops.

But now I have progressed to an electric powerchair, it is fantastic in any situation, and I will never return to a scooter, in actual fact, I’m like a kid with a new toy at Christmas, go for the electric powerchair, mine is a MIRAGE made by Invercare!

Don 😀👍👏👏👏🌹 Xx

[Jacqui-A]

Thank you Don, I have been looking up several and one of the important issues is one for indoor and out😀

[Veteran250 in reply to Jacqui-A]

That would be nice if the entrance to your home is disabled friendly, sadly, my home is not, I have to put it in a lockup in my back garden to charge it, but I do have a six foot high fence around my garden....... go for it Jacqui, it will be the best thing you ever do for your mobility. 😀😘🌹

[springlove]

Why can't you take your scooter into shops? I use to. Maybe yours is too big?

As you say though, when we get off them it's hard to walk

Jean

[pinjem]

Thank you for asking this question, the answers are helpful to me too. It has dawned on me that if I don't push myself physically so much, I may enjoy what is around me more!

[Jacqui-A in reply to pinjem]

I am with you there and am always looking down and concentrating on what I am doing rather than seeing what is around me, to look behind, up or anywhere but down is a no no for me and no doubt you are the same, take care x

[tedjohnson]

Hi Jacqui

This is a problem we all experience and probably many of us have made mistakes The one I use in the house is a six wheel Salsa M and had I known, they make a narrower one which would be kinder to the door frames and skirtings in the house!!! There are quite a lot of second hand scooters and chairs on eBay so usually the only thing to watch is the batteries my scooter is 75% cheaper on eBay but 'too late' I paid too much!

I am very fortunate that I don't have to go in shops my wife and daughter do all the shopping ( I have always been allergic to shopping!!)

I wish you luck. If you can hire a chair then that would save you from buying the wrong one Ted

[Cuds]

Hi Jacqui,

It sounds like you have answered your own question...a powered chair would be easier. The other thing it would enable you to do is manage your fatigue - so you save energy for other functions e.g. walking around the house, doing everyday tasks. There are always ways to ensure you still use and work muscles so dont think using a powered wheelchair is a negative thing. Lots of people resist using a powered chair as they see it as 'giving in' but its not...its being sensible and maximizing your options to do more things for longer. There is no point doing an activity if it leaves you shattered for the rest of the day.

Hope this helps, good luck!

[Ihatespastics]

Hi, only you can decide when he's the right time to go into a power chair but I can guarantee when you do decide to go in a power chair you will probably berrate yourself for not using a power chair earlier. The difference is amazing!

Basically you will be able to do so much more more of the stuff that you enjoy the most.

I use one of the the Chinese lightweight foldable lithium battery power chairs on eBay. They are a great liberator because they are so small and narrow and short. I think they probably are the smallest wheelchair in the world!

You will be able to go around the house and they go outdoors just as well, you will be able to go into the shops and restaurants, you will be able to put in the back of any car and you will be able to take it on aeroplanes or cruises.

They make so much of the impossible, possible. I can't speak highly enough of these chairs. I've had 1 for 5 years now and I use it 24/7.

The difference between lithium power as opposed to lead acid batteries - you will feel like you have been living in Antarctica and moved to Hawaii. The difference in the battery is phenomenal and infinite. There's no way you would go back to lead acid.

And for those people that say lead acid is so much cheaper than lithium then the answer is you're not buying it from the right people!

[suzie44na]

Hi Jacqui, My local super market, says no scooters on the door but I think they mean toy scooters because I go in the shop all the time on my scooter. I also have an electric wheelchair. If you think you need an electric wheelchair get one and enjoy life and all you can do.

Suzie

[ww-wibblywobbly]

Hi Jacqui, I have a Kushal efix electric power chair. It completely changed my life. I love it. It also has a controller on the push handles so that I can walk while pushing it with the electric power on - so not too heavy.

I can now look around me and see things! Before the chair I had virtually stopped going out, except to visit friends.

It's a liberating source for life.

I think an occupational therapist should come to help you choose or at least advise you. And also you can test them from the shop with the OT. We'll at least that's what I did here in France

Love Alison xx

[Jacqui-A]

Thank you all for your valued input, your words have helped me and no doubt others too.