I’ve just posted details of two wheelchairs on Gumtree. One is a wheeled armchair which is not easy to find and particularly useful in a nursing home as most do not provide this sort of chair. The other is a new wheelchair that I bought when mum got CHC funding and I no longer needed to pay nursing home fees. Sadly it was too late and she barely used it before she died. These are really expensive so I’d like to recoup some of the money.
For both I will consider offers from those on this forum and will also consider transporting it to you if that would help.
Hi Messier, Thanks for posting. Not right for us at the mo but hope someone will be interested. Just thought I should highlight the wheelchair is advertised for £14000 and think this may be in error. Best wishes Milli dog
Sadly it really is that much. It was £19000 when bought so this is a £5000 discount despite being barely used. The cheaper wheelchairs didn’t provide the level of support for mum’s trunk and didn’t give the flexibility for reclining and tilting with the memory settings so the nursing home staff could put it in the right positions for different purposes, and be used all day both inside and outside. I hope it finds good use for someone!
We've only just had our first wheelchair assessment (via video call) - it's 17 months since we bought our first wheelchair (and we've purchased a second one as well) - this is the first time we are getting professional advice on the topic. The GP and the neuro physio both said "OK you've got your referral to the wheelchair service but don't expect much and don't expect anything soon".. Now we are about to get a wheelchair personalised to my husband's needs and measurements, but I'm a bit concerned; for those of us who really need a wheelchair it seems very difficult and slow (and expensive) to get what is needed - does anyone have good advice on this topic? We are looking to buy a wheelchair accessible vehicle and were told you need to have the right wheelchair first...
We had an assessment before Christmas, we were refused outright so I queried the decision with the local NHS Integrated Care Board who decide on funding and below is the reply:
EPIOCS (Electrically Powered Indoor Outdoor
Wheelchair)
In order to be eligible for the provision of an EPIOC users must meet ALL of the following criteria.
a. The client must be unable to walk at all and unable to self propel a manual wheelchair as a result of a long term and permanent medical condition.
b. The client will need to use the powered wheelchair constantly both indoors and outdoors which therefore means that they will have a significantly improved independence and quality of life.
c. The client will have no cognitive , perceptual or other medical conditions that would endanger themselves , pedestrians or other road users
d. Have the ability to comply with current DVLA requirements for motor vehicle drivers regarding the loss of consciousness (e.g. epilepsy )
e. The user should have the visual acuity to read a car number plate from at least 40 feet. Users must also have a field of vision of 120 degrees in a horizontal plane and 20 degrees above and below this plane. This is equivalent to Class 3 vehicle visual standards. The GP or consultant of the patient will need to take responsibility for this and signing the appropriate form that is sent to them.
f. The client will undertake a driving test to demonstrate that they have cognitive capacity, intellectual ability and dexterity to independently operate an EPIOC without assistance, ensuring safety to themselves, other people and property. The user must demonstrate that they can use the EPIOC without assistance and this includes climbing a kerb.
g. The client’s home environment is appropriate for the use of an electric wheelchair and has suitable facilities to enable independent access to the outdoor environment. The environment external to the client’s home must be accessible and compatible with use of an EPIOC. The user must be able to charge the battery indoors and must keep the wheelchair and its accessories hygienically clean.
We live in a flat so won't be able to use it indoors, there are cognitive issues, she cannot keep her eyes open and they will not entertain the idea of an assistant controlled wheelchair!
I have health issues and am not always in able to push her up hills etc but this made no difference.
I am now having to save up to fund a chair myself but it is all time wasted and with PSP we do not have much time in the first place.
(Rant over! sorry Messier for hijacking your post)
I'm quite shocked that they don't appear to understand the scenario - perhaps they believe that someone with a neurological condition doesn't want to or need to go out anywhere? I was comfortable with self funding a simple lightweight wheelchair when my husband broke his heel in 2022 - but with more complex needs I would have naively believed the wheelchair service was there to assess what was needed 😔
I believe the criteria the local ICB set for funding varies, hopefully your area won't be as difficult. There are charities that can help but I don't know if I want that myself.
It seems they only have a concept of powered chairs operated by the user! Don't they realise you can have attendant operated powered chairs? Wheelchair services seem to all be designed to avoid giving out wheelchairs and ensure that people have no quality of life! I took part in some research for an organisation looking at issues with wheelchairs. Will be interesting to see the results.Do you have a lift in your flat Zerachiel or how are you managing already?
At the moment I walk her everywhere she needs to go in the house, she has no balance at all and a very weak and clumsy gait, she goes downstairs backwards with me behind her. She spent months in hospital or bed last year with pneumonia, a broken hip and clavicle so had lost the ability to walk in that time, myself and the physio have got her leg strength back and walking again but it is not going to improve any more.
There is a story here where a boy was refused a wheelchair as he preferred a walker in home and they are insistent it must be used in the home, luckily for him they made an exception
We are in Australia and had to fund our own electric wheelchair. We purchased a lightweight chair from Abbicare in Joondalup and it is terrific. I am able to lift it in and out of car and it means from partner can get out of the house. He can no longer walk to the bathroom but the wheelchair gives him great mobility options. He has taken it to Exmouth and Rottnest Island and we are going to Tasmania in 2 weeks. Travelling with PSP is very challenging but also rewarding. I would encourage anyone who can afford it to get and electric wheelchair. They seem frightfully expensive in UK ours only cost $3400 aussie dollars and I can't fault it.
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