Power Chair

[Redjune1]

We recently got a power chair for my husband to use as he is now struggling to walk with his walker. I had thought that this would make a difference and we would be able to go out together again. Unfortunately he just doesn’t seem able to cope with it, he is constantly swerving from side to side, nearly going off the kerb onto the road and then today he drove it over my foot. It just feels like there’s no hope of having any kind of a life at all and everything that seems like a good idea just turns out to be a waste of time.

[Derkie54]

Hello Redjune1,

Sorry to hear about that, I had a mobility scooter for my wife and the results were the same.

You could give it more time or decide to call it a day, after a short while we decided against it and my wife now has a wheelchair powered by me.

Regarding you other comment " everything turns out a waste of time" we and I'm sure many others on the forum felt the same at times.

My wife has no mobility now and can do nothing for herself,

Advice I was given by someone on the forum was that with every change take time to adjust to your new normal and that's what we do.

Not the retirement any of us planned but what else can you say, we try our best, enjoy what we can and smile when we can.

I'm sorry I can't be more positive but this MSA runs differently for people.

Take care.

Derek

[Redjune1 in reply to Derkie54]

I don’t think I would be able to push a wheelchair with my husband in it. I’m under 5 foot and he’s about 5’ 10” and 17 stone so I don’t even know if it’s worth trying. I just don’t know how I will be able to cope with him as he gets less mobile, it’s already a struggle and I don’t have any family who can help. We have a carer in twice a week but have to fund it ourselves. I don’t know how we will be able to afford it when he needs a carer every day and possibly twice a day.

[AMBD in reply to Redjune1]

I believe you can get a battery to attach to wheelchair enabling you to push it.

[Redjune1 in reply to AMBD]

Thanks we didn’t know that

[AMBD in reply to Redjune1]

store.easylivingmobility.co...

[Hidden]

Hello, yeah, my Dad couldn't drive one of those things either. We were offered one by friends but turned it down because we knew his response times and spatial awareness weren't up to it. I think it's normal to grieve the life you would have had.My best advice is: allow yourself a few days of feeling overwhelmed and rubbish, and then come out fighting. Ask everyone you can think of for ideas and help to maintain some normal ish interaction with the world. (Maintaining social links is usually part of somebody's local authority care needs assessment, although councils tend to rely on charities to help with that bit).

Some shopping centres run a shop- mobility scheme that involves volunteers who can push the person around in a wheelchair. Maybe better than nothing!Your local carers centre should have some ideas too. If you have a community occupational therapist they might be able to suggest something that would be easier for you to push for example.

Fingers crossed!

Kx

[Redjune1 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Kay. We have a good occupational therapist so will see what she can come up with

[Columbia_Rocky]

Hi sorry to hear you’re struggling. My husband was the same with the little joy stick on the power chair but he is still able to drive a mobility scooter. You should try that - most mobility hops will let him have a go. We have a small fold up one which is great and gives him independence in the flat although he doesn’t go out on his own now. I can lift it and put it in the car and it’s small enough so he can drive it into shops and restaurants. I help him transfer on to a chair in restaurants and I fold it up and store it besides us. As Ian says please join a local support group. The in person ones are better, but the digital ‘zoom’ ones are great too if that’s better for you. You’ll pick up loads of handy tips and advice from them. And there are loads of MSA Trust fact sheets on most things you’ll encounter.

[Redjune1 in reply to Columbia_Rocky]

Yes we’re going to see if he can exchange the chair for a fold up scooter. I hope the shop will allow it

[Diane831]

Please try to get a wheelchair assessment done. We have a wheelchair service in Bolton and they can do the full thing of looking at his ability, yours, your home/car situation etc and give you the best advice. It's awful to spend money on something and find out that it doesn't do what you expected. We tried one at a shopping centre and 5 or 6 years later there is still a tiny dent in a wall where Geoff's spatial awareness and motor control failed!! He was a very safe driver but knew that he would never manage a powered chair or scooter. Fortunately I was able to push his chair and get it in and out of the car, so my heart goes out to you. Talk to the OT, physio, GP or absolutely anyone about getting an assessment even if he isn't needing a chair all the time at the moment.

[Redjune1 in reply to Diane831]

Yes we paid nearly £3,000 for the chair. Phil phoned the shop up today to see if he could send it back and it’s not looking very hopeful.

[mandg]

I decided a power scooter was not a good idea, as Graham would not have the co ordination and ability to manouver one, however, we have bought a wheelchair, and an add on power pack which gives me help on any inclines. Also it gives Graham the opportunity to walk a while if he wishes. l So far it has helped us have a good day out.

[Redjune1 in reply to mandg]

Eden Mobility are going to alter the sensitivity of the joystick to see if Phil can manage it then. Otherwise they have suggested putting the joystick on the back of the chair so that I am in control rather than Phil. I just hope that if they do that, that I can control it and keep it in a straight line.