Wheelchairs

[Debbieann]

Has anyone got/tried a Rascal We Go 250?

Many thanks any advice appreciated

Love Debbie xx

[NannaB]

Hi Debbie,

I don't have experience of this chair but I've looked at it on the Internet and it looks good. What I would say though, it would be no good for Colin NOW. It would have been a couple of years ago. He now slumps to one side, arches his back and slips off seats or slumps forward. He has a chair built to fit him with lap belt, side pads and shoulder straps to keep him upright. The original wheelchair with a motor attached I bought was unsuitable a couple of years later.

Of course everyone progresses at a different rate and if you have the means to replace it later if necessary, it looks a good chair.

More decisions!

X

[Debbieann in reply to NannaB]

I was sort of hoping further down the line, dare I say!! Live in hope! etc, Social services MAY provide!!

Glad you, with your experience, thinks it looks good, I know it won't be the 'forever' wheelchair, but I did think it might do the next couple of years

I know I don't often say, but thank you for all your advice xx

[NannaB in reply to Debbieann]

Is there anywhere you can go and try it first? You'd get a better idea then.

I hope you succeed in finding something suitable to make life easier.

X

[Debbieann in reply to NannaB]

Yes I did wonder if we could try first xx

[Kevin_1]

Um, no, but

We went down to the local supermarket and Liz took the wheel of one of the electric shopping trolleys. She had a great time.

It was very easy to find her... I just had to follow the trail of angry faces and limping shoppers.

We decided not to pursue that option.

I hope you get more pertinent answers.

Warmly

Kevin

[Heady]

If I ever let S loose with one of those, I would never get near him, all the shelves would have emptied their wares on the floor!!!!

Lots of love

Heady

[Debbieann in reply to Heady]

I thought it was attendant operated xx

[Kevin_1 in reply to Heady]

I'm afraid I achieved that a few times pushing a wheelchair, until I got used to it.

Mind you the cardboard nail varnish stand in Superdrug was the best... have you ever seen 50 plus bottles of nail varnish splattering a white floor?

It made a superb piece of art...

So I apologised and when the assistant starting mumbling dark things I asked whether I should talk to the manager about wheel chair awareness.

Caring toughens you up a bit eh?

[Heady in reply to Kevin_1]

Touch wood, I have never (yet!!!) achieved that sort of turmoil! Very impressed!!!! You are right though, if they considered wheelchairs, or even pushchairs, layout of shops would be completely different. Love to take the boss of Marks and Spencer's for a push around the Bristol branch. Must have push S in and out of all the aisles before you reach the lifts to go upstairs!

Perhaps we should have a name and shame slot for some of these shops!

Lots of love

Heady

[Debbieann]

I thought it was attendant operated xx

[mthteach]

Debbieann, we have one of these in our barn, but I would not have a way to transport it in my car. I have heard people say it is very expensive to put one of those ramps on the back of your car.

We do try to go to the dog part 2-3 times a week, and that would be nice. I have to push him in the wheel chair places that have no sidewalk. My dog likes to jump in the lake, and there is only a gravel/dirt path.

[coldown]

Hi, I bought one for my wife because it has power and is attendent controlled. We used it about 4 times. It is great for a smooth supermarket floor or smooth US sidewalk or shopping mall but using it on uneven sloping UK pavement is hardwork and it shakes its occupant around and has no suspension. It did not take long before June felt unsafe in it and refused to use it. Her specific reasons were :the seat was too low and not supportive there was no headrest (essential as psp progresses) it threw her around and the footplate too small. It is also not easy to control as you are steering through one stick in the middle of the chair so need much more oomph to sreer it than a conventional chair.

With this illness this chair is not large or substantial enough as it progresses

In the end we got a referral to the local wheelchair services for our council (Glos) they new everything about this complicated topic. They brought a big proper electric to the house and if June had been able to pass the test of driving round the house by herself they would have supplied one with dual control so we could use it outside (for free I think). Unfortunately, we had left it too late and June failed the test and being deemed unable to control an electric they are not allowed to supply one even if dual control. They did however supply (free) a Invacare azelia which is a top of range manual with everything and fitted it to June. It is great and we have fitted a TGA 2 wheel powerpack to it.

Not as good as the posh electric we could have had which had suspension etc but pretty good.

There is a downside and that is you need a wheelchair friendly car as these proper wheelchairs don,t fold but sorry to say that with psp you are going to need this sort of car anyway.

If you live near Cirencester, Glos you are welcome to borrow the Rascal and try it out if you want to.

[Debbieann in reply to coldown]

Thank you for all that, it does look good for getting in car, although I realise will need a WAV at some point, I don't see the point in keep spending money so I guess go for a more suitable wheelchair (hopefully provided) but seem to be drawing a blank on how I go about that, and change the car, which I'm going to have to do sooner or later

Thanks again for the advice, maybe not as practical as it looks especially for 14st!!

Regards

Debbie

[Heady in reply to Debbieann]

Hi Debbie, I was told by the OT not to buy a wheelchair, they would provide, what sort S needed and keep upgrading as time goes on! At the moment, he doesn't need an all singing all dancing one, so the NHS one is fine. May change my mind when he needs a more specialised one, but at least I won't have a house full of unwanted wheelchairs! Apart from the second hand one I bought years ago and the two walkers. Saving them for me! If I last long enough to need one!!!

Lots of love

Heady

[coldown in reply to Debbieann]

A private neurological specialist physio advertised in our local mag. she is good and we now see her once a month to try to keep June as mobile as possible for as long as possible. It was her who completed the forms and made the referral to Wheelchair services for us.

They were slow but very helpful once on the case. The wheelchair is effectively on loan from them for as long as it is needed which means you get all the back up and repair services for free as well as the wheelchair.

[Debbieann in reply to coldown]

That's what I'd like to get in place, but it's HOW can I make it happen!!!!!

Many thanks Debbie xx

[toyota11]

We too had an Invacare Azelia newly supplied but while waiting for fitting and parts M was confined to bed, 5 weeks later she is now unsafe in a wheelchair, her lower legs bent back too far now. We are very upset. Peter.