A power wheelchair, frequently referred to as a powered wheelchair, can provide the benefits of mobility to those who are bound to their homes due to stroke, illness or injury. "I have one in my garage right now for zooming around the yard and doing yard work," says Bill Fertig, the Virginia Beach-based director of the United Spinal Association Resource Center. These machines typically have up to six wheels which provide stability as well as powered by batteries that usually last about 10 miles before needing recharge.
To select one of the Best Electric wheelchair for older adults to use, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data on approximately 50 products of top brands. They evaluated them on the basis of price the maximum weight capacity, travel distance, top speed of travel and portability. Check out which Electric wheelchair for sale made our list. The prices listed are correct on the date of publication.
What Is an Electric Wheelchair?
A Portable electric wheelchair--also called a powered or motorized electric wheelchair near me - is a six or four-wheel chair that has a motor that runs on one or two batteries. The wheelchairs can be controlled with the joystick and do not require upper body strength. The electric wheelchair rental options powered by electricity vary from basic, standard wheelchairs intended for use for short periods of time to highly customized models for longer-term and more intricate needs.
Cory Lee, 31, from Georgia has been using wheelchairs since 4 years old. In addition, he's hot ballooned in Israel, floated in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland and encountered an elephant in South Africa. He's also an expert on how to travel in the wheelchair. Through the course his career, Lee experienced many various sizes and kinds of wheelchairs--and knows the importance of purchasing the correct one.
Prices for electric wheelchairs that are comparable to the ones that Lee uses Lee fit into a group known as complex rehabilitation technology also known as CRT. "These wheelchairs are measured and built specifically to meet each individual's unique needs," says Angie Kiger, a clinical education and strategy manager of Sunrise Medical, a California-based manufacturer of wheelchairs. This is a technology that offers multiple position options, high-tech electronics and controls, adjustments to accommodate orthopedic issues , and accommodations for ventilators.
What is a Power Wheelchair?
Power wheelchairs (also called power chairs) are incredibly maneuverable in narrow spaces and around sharp corners, making them an ideal solution for getting around both inside and out of your home. A power wheelchair can also permit users to pull up to tables, counters and other surfaces that you use to perform your daily activities and live independently at home. They are prescribed by medical professionals for people who require full-time mobility assistance to accomplish daily activities in their homes, and are also available for rent or purchase by those who could benefit from the increased mobility and freedom that the powered wheel chair can provide.
Electric Wheelchair Basics
If you're trying to find the best electric wheelchair prices there are certain terms that are frequently used on dealer websites. We've listed a few the most basic terms below to make shopping easier.
Front-, Mid-, & Rear-Wheel Drive
All Medicare electric wheelchairs are equipped with up to six wheels, however, only two wheels on the chair are powered via the motor. Other wheel ("casters") are used to support the chair. Mid-wheel drive tends to be the best choice for turning completely within tight spaces. In contrast, rear- and front-wheel drive wheelchairs usually provide the most comfortable rides and can handle outdoors terrain with ease. It's a good idea to talk to an occupational therapist to determine the type of wheel drive that is suitable to use in your daily life.
Turning Radius
The radius of the turn is the smallest u-turn that the electric wheelchair that is near me. The smaller the turning radius, the better the chair will be ideal for indoor use and smaller spaces. A radius that is between 20" and about 35" is the norm. Chairs with a lot of weight will have big turning radiuses. However, other factors such as the angle your footrest and the wheel drive affect the turning radius.
Travel Range
The travel range of electric wheelchairs- often simply called "range" - is the miles it can travel before the batteries have to be recharged. The range of the chair varies, ranging between 4 and 5 miles for some wheelchairs to nearly 20 miles in others. It is possible that the range will be lower than what is advertised, if the driver is particularly heavy, the terrain isn't as smooth and the battery becoming old. Finding an electric wheelchair with high range is crucial for those planning to travel or regularly take their Electric wheelchair for sale outside for solo trips to stores or other locations.
Warranty Limits
Electric wheelchairs typically have "limited" warranties and not all daily wear and tear can be taken care of by the maker. The majority of warranties cover structural parts such as the metal frame in the frame for at least five and ten years and typically, they cover other components for shorter amounts of time stipulated in the warranty agreement. In the overview table as well as the company profiles below, the number that is next to the word limited (for instance, "5 year limited") indicates the highest amount of coverage included in the warranty, usually for the frame.
How to Choose a Power Wheelchair Store
When you're searching for a store selling power wheelchairs near me or an online store There are always certain things you should investigate prior to signing a contract with any company. A purchase of a power chair could easily go over $1,000.00plus, and so you'll have to be sure that you do everything possible in order to ultimately work with a company that has excellent customer service, low pricing on new units, and the ability to help guide you into the most suitable Electric wheelchair for sale for your needs.
Here are three main things you need to think about before buying a new power chair:
Online Reviews - Crowdsourcing data is the best method to gauge the quality of customer service offered to historical customers. Every business is not able to run flawlessly without error, so when something goes wrong you should make sure that the business has your back and will do what is necessary to make sure that you end up being a happy customer. Currently, MobilityScootersDirect.com has a 4.7/5.0 which is a very strong rating. Any company that has lower than an 4.0 rating could be thought of as average. Any business with lower than 3.0 ratings could be considered poor. 3.0 rating might be considered poor.
Pricing - A critical factor is the price. Why would you want to pay more for the same identical product? Local stores are sometimes forced to increase prices due to the fact that they have expenses and rent to pay for. The cost of overhead can be in the hundreds of dollars per month for a bricks and mortar enterprise, so this must be considered when determining their prices. At MobilityScootersDirect.com, we're an online store so able to offer you these products at the lowest price the manufacturers will allow us to sell them for. This is also known as MAP pricing.
Expertise of the products Portable electric wheelchair - All of our sales representatives have been trained in electronics and able to physically repair mobility scooters and power wheelchairs. Some of our sales representatives are interested in aviation as well as the flying drones that are electronic. Their passion for electronics has translated into a fantastic understanding of products which is uncommon elsewhere. One reason why our reviews are so excellent is that our sales staff collaborates with us so that our clients receive a unit that not only matches their needs but even surpass their expectations.
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