Powered wheelchair

[cbparker]

Battery Powered Wheelchair? My husband is an Amazon shopper. He is struggling with his PSP, and having a hard time with the walker, bumping into everything, and thinks getting a wheelchair he can operate himself is the answer. I'm terrified. Has anyone had any experience with this? His balance is terrible, and he is bound for a wheelchair soon, I'm afraid, but he thinks he can manage on his own. Although he will still need help in and out each time. I'm having a hard time talking him out of it.

[JA10]

I don't know how your husband is with vision and dexterity. When my Mum first went into a wheelchair we tried a powered chair but mum found steering it really difficult. She crashed into the walls, other furniture and never made it through a doorway (they are wide enough as my Dad is in an electric wheelchair due to MS), she even nearly ran the cat over. We were not sure what the issue was, possibly because she seemed to have lost spacial awareness, maybe it's because her vision is very affected so could not see the control properly or where she was going. We gave up and swapped to a manual wheelchair even though she lost her mobility because of that. But at least the cat was not run over!

[Hidden]

I haven’t tried Larry in one because he would be hopeless controlling it. That brain function is gone. He can’t use the TV remote at this point.

[Brenive]

Why don't you go to a disabled shop and ask if you can try one , they will tell you if they think he will cope , or ask your occupational health visitor, they should have one you could try....Brenda xxx

[SewBears]

My husband has CBD and for the moment he can still operate a power wheelchair/scooter. We found a Senior Donation center who will loan them out. Unfortunately I had already purchased a used one 😂. Maybe there’s a place you could go just to see if he can control one first, before purchasing? Not sure how mobile he is to be able to do that but it’s a thought. Also, after we brought the chair home I had to turn one cement step into a ramp and I purchased a rubber mat for the front door. He can go outside and keep up with me while I walk our dogs. I won’t let him outside without me right there with him. This type of chair is operated with one hand. He doesn’t have to lift his arms at all to steer it left and right. It’s like a joy stick where pushing the little lever forward, otherwise known as up, will make the chair move forward. It’s pretty easy to operate. Sometimes he needs a little help but like I said. I won’t let him out of my sight. I would suggest letting him try one before committing to a purchase. I hope this helps.

[Dadshelper]

Dad lost the dexterity to run something like that early on. At about what I'll call midway to end his vision depth perception was off. I'd see if you test one before buying.

Ron

[Marie_14]

Well I can only tell you what happened to my husband. The NHS provided him with one which I struggled with! So we went back and got a lighter one. I asked about one he could use himself and they said they don't provide them. So you would have to buy it yourself. They can be quite expensive and he might not have long in it? Certainly I agree with you! My husband was the same but he got used to the one he eventually used. I think he only had about 12 months in it. There is no time scale with this sadly.

I have to say knowing what I do now I would be very reluctant to advise anyone to get one for a person to use alone but I totally understand why he would want that. It's another part of his independence going? A sad time for him? Indeed for both of you?

Marie x

[kenh1 in reply to Marie_14]

I agree, with PSP or CBD they cannot be safe on their own. My wife prior to being diagnosed with CBD crashed the car. She was given a choice of prosecution or surrendering her licence. She handed over her licence straight away.

[Marie_14]

Ken

I lived in fear of that happening! My husband went from being a really safe driver to doing the strangest things! We had a few rows about it but I was always in the wrong! Anyway he then broke his right arm and couldn't drive. He almost got his license back though but I was shaking my head at the doctor! Thankfully he picked up on it. He was very sad and upset, as I think everyone on the site reports their loved one was when they had to stop driving. Better that than killing someone? Your wife I hope didn't hurt herself or anyone else? Frightening when you think how many people are on the roads who really shouldn't be?

Marie x

[NannaB]

Are you in the U.K.? If you are, and he is capable of “driving” a powered wheelchair, request one from the NHS now. Once he is unable to control it himself, he won’t be able to get one. I found it very back breaking pushing my husband around and was told by the occupational therapist to request an electric wheelchair. I was told if he got to the stage when he couldn’t control it, I could pay £150 to have the controls moved so I had full control. By the time we got the appointment at the wheelchair clinic, my request was declined as he didn’t have the control. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t push him up our drive or around our hilly village. I ended up paying many thousands of pounds for a made to measure one that also reclined. It turned out to be the best piece of motorised equipment we had, and we had many. I could once again get him over grass, gravel, up hill and over rough ground. Something I couldn’t do with a manual wheelchair and my back improved as I could control it with one finger.

I was annoyed I wasn’t loaned one and wished I’d applied when he could control it as they told me if he’d only had it for a week before being unable to use it, they wouldn’t have taken it away from us.

Best wishes.

XxxX

[AnneandChris]

Hello there

We have just had two visits from the NHS wheelchair assessment team. The first they brought a chair with small wheels, with reclining back and headrest which I could barely push as it was so heavy. Last week a second one with large wheels was brought out to us which was easier to push but wider so not suitable for our bungalow.

They want to futureproof what we have, so its back to the drawing board to see what they suggest next. They want to ramp the front which would be lethal in the winter as we are North facing, and it doesn't dry out and gets slippery.

If needsbe we'll buy or hire privately.

In the meantime I walk infront of the walker to steer it round the home, thus avoiding damage.

Chris gave up driving two years ago, without any battles which was a blessing.

So good luck, it sounds as though we're at a similar stage with our dear ones.

Keep on keeping on

Anne

[FoggyBay]

We started with a lightweight (aluminium frame) manual wheelchair when R could still get into a car. Then that wheelchair became indoor use only and we purchased a powered wheelchair (and a vehicle that we could drive it into) because it was too difficult to push him any distance in the manual chair. We use this whenever he goes outside the house. Initially he could operate the chair on his own with a joy stick until his lack of coordination and slow response times meant he was running into things. This happened within a year of getting the chair. Now, as Jeff said below, he cannot operate anything, including the TV remote. A couple of years ago we added 'operator control' to the powered wheelchair and R does not and cannot use the personal joystick at all. We had to buy our own chair and have one that will recline and also rise. These functions have proved invaluable in being able to still take him to the dentist (who says the chair is almost as good as his!) and other appointments because R cannot get out of the chair without stand-aid equipment which even hospital clinics don't have. The rise function is great when we go to galleries or museums when we can put R at eye level - essential the way some exhibits are arranged.

The bottom line is don't get a chair that only he can operate. It sounds as though he will lose that ability quite soon. To save your own body, a powered chair with controls that you (or someone else) can operate is essential, if you are going to be out and about. Hope this helps.

[cbparker in reply to FoggyBay]

Thank you so much for the advice. With my dear husband's poor eye sight and poor mobility, I don't think a motorized wheelchair is the answer. To make it worse, we just moved to a new state and have lost our doctors and can't get in to see new ones for several months. He must enlarge the print on his computer to jumbo to read, and hasn't driven in two or three years.

All the advice has been helpful. I'm afraid if I offer to bring him in for a test drive at a medical supply company he'll look at that as approval. I'll have to approach with caution. I don't believe he'll be able to operate one himself for very long. With the walker he crashes into everything. With power, well, I can't imagine.

[Playfair]

Tried a power wheelchair for my husband but he didn’t have the fine motor skill or vision to keep it on the road

[Fjrose2]

Hi my name is Frank and my wife had PSP I got her a wheelchair and the first only 3 and 1/2 to 4 years she could function with the wheelchair and it helped a whole lot at let her get out but when the disease starts getting worse their dexterity goes as with my wife and then she started having vision problems if your husband is still in a walker my own opinion is I think the wheelchair would help him but with this disease you never know when it's going to turn on you I wish you the best of luck with this disease

[grafixapn]

My suggestion is to take your husband to one of the store that had motorized carts. If he does well, you have your answer, that he can handle a motoized wheelchair. If however, he is like my wife, be ready for things to go bad. I had to take being run over, in order to save another customer.

Most with PSP have poor control over braking, and stopping before running into things. Even a standard walker doesn't help. The stardard walker requires the user to squeeze the levers to brake (stop) the walker. In the past I made a post about the U-Step 2 Walker. This walker is always in brake mode. Those with PSP, when they have a problem can no longer remember to use the levers to apply the brakes. The result is the walker gets away from them, resulting in a fall. I run a PSP website for my local PSP Support Group. I invite tou to check it out. Everything is free. We don't ever ask for donations

The site just contains information. There is a section on the U-Step Walker. I'm in the USA and I include information on how to get insuance companies to pay for it. I understand from a member of this posting site that lives in the UK, that even in their system, you can get this walker.

A moterized device sounds good, but a very few that have PSP can operate it safely. Doing a trial in a store should provide you with much of the information you need.

Our local PSP Support Group websie is: supportpsp.com

Good luck,

Andy

[cbparker in reply to grafixapn]

Hi grafixapn,

We tried the U-Step 2. It was confusing at first, as it's the opposite of the regular walker, and you can't move without releasing the brake. But my husband had trouble with that one after a while. I think the many wheels bothered him, always rolling over the dogs toys, or trying to avoid them, and still crashing into walls. It is a good product though, and the insurance paid 100%, with the doctors rx. The disease is frustrating and he seems to just need to go back and forth between walkers. He has lost so much strength now and he has a hard time standing up.

[grafixapn in reply to cbparker]

The fact that you added that he is having issues standing up, you may be right about having to go to a wheelchair. If you have the opportunity to try a motorized shopping cart, you can without the expense see if he can handle it. In my case with my wife, she was unable to stop, and to save another shopper, I had to put myself in harms way to force her to stop.

I wish I could provide you with more options, but nothing more comes to mind. I wish you both the best.

Andy

[Marilyn_cbd12]

My husband , Robert, (CBD) was fitted for a power wheelchair this week and it will take about 6 weeks to customize and ship to him. We live in the United States. He was so excited; at the Veterans Medical Center, we spent about two hours working with two physical therapists, a prosthetic specialist and a disability engineer, who works for the power chair manufacturer, to assess what would work best for him. He "drove" it several times (under supervision) in the hospital corridor and lobby and it is going to be a special memory because everyone who saw him in it commented on his big smile and how happy he seemed in it.

He can walk with a rollator if I walk with him and function as his eyes, steering it for him, but since February has been unable to raise his head, which is droops forward, well below his shoulders. He has been looking at his shoes all day and can't see people's faces. It is very isolating, socially, for him and he is aware that it is hard for people not to notice his posture, which is a bit frightening. The chair has a power tilt mechanism to tilt his torso so he can look up and see people (and trees and birds and raindrops!) and a mechanism that will support his head and provide a passive counter force to the gravity which has been dragging his head and contracted cervical muscles down. The chair will also go "up in the air" so that he can be at eye level when he talks with people, if he wishes. He is so excited; just counting the days till it arrives. It was so gratifying for me to see his wonderful smile again! Before it comes, I will have to get three ramps put into the house (already had an outdoor, vertical lift installed) and will need to sell our current car and buy a minivan that can be converted for wheelchair use. It is too heavy at 450 pounds to carry on a wheelchair rack on the back of our compact SUV. Because he does have cognitive impairment, I am going to have controls that permit me to override his controls and we have an understanding that he will never be outside our home alone in this power chair. I hope that you can find something that works for both of you.

Marilyn

[kulasdm]

My husband has had one for about a year. He was able to use it outside, in open spaces for about a month. Due to his vision being what it is, he is unable to see where he is going. Anticipating that this would happen sooner than later, I had them provide an "attendant" control on the back of the seat. This way I can control the wheelchair when negotiating in the house and into the van. He is still able to use the other controls to lift his legs or recline if needed.

Diane