6 Questions to Ask When Buying a Motorized Wheelchair

Did you know that independence of mobility is one of the most important determinants of quality of life for people with disabilities? There are 2.7 million wheelchair users in the United States currently and this number is going to keep on increasing due to the aging baby boomer population and increasing longevity.

If you are looking to purchase a motorized wheelchair soon, you are probably overwhelmed by the variety of options in the market out there. That’s why we have created this power wheelchair buying guide for you below.

1. What Weight Capacity of the Wheelchair Do You Need?

This might be a crass question to ask right at the beginning, but your weight will dictate greatly what kind of a wheelchair you would need. For example, if you weigh close to 200, you should go with a wheelchair with a capacity of 250 lbs or 300 lbs. But if you weigh 300 lbs, you cannot choose a power wheelchair with a 300 lbs capacity.

Think about the grocery bags and other equipment you will be carrying around with you as well. That has to be accounted for.

2. Where Will You Be Using the Wheelchair?

If you are planning to use your wheelchair mostly indoors in your home, you are going to be purchasing a very different electric wheelchair than someone who plans on using their wheelchair outdoors, zooming away to grocery stores, bingo meets, and other events.

When using an electric wheelchair indoors, ensure that you will have enough space to maneuver and move around in the wheelchair within all the important rooms of your home. It would also be convenient if you could wheel down to your backyard or front yard allowing you a bit more mobility. Install an inclined path for those surfaces that need it.

If you have stairs in your home, then consider installing a wheelchair lift for greater convenience.

Also, you should be able to make 90 degree turns into rooms and go through doorways despite the controllers sticking out. Space in bathrooms of older homes is tight and squeezed – you will need to ensure your power wheelchair can squeeze through such tight spaces easily.

Larger and wider wheels and casters will allow you to use an electric wheelchair outdoors without much difficulty. You can navigate different terrains smoothly in this manner.

Most power wheelchairs are meant for both indoor and outdoor use so that should make your choice even easier.

3. Is the Wheelchair Portable?

Do you need to travel quite often with friends, families or on your own? It would make your life much easier if you could buy an electric wheelchair that’s easily compactable and transportable.

Some travel or portable wheelchairs can fold and are easily disassembled by removing the seat, battery, and base. This way you can fit these items into the trunk of a car or even into an airplane cargo.

These portable wheelchairs tend to be smaller so they are great for when you are going on a cruise or to a mall.

But they are not suitable for people who spend all day long on an electric wheelchair as the seat padding isn’t supportive enough. Also, the weight capacity for portable electric wheelchairs is 300 lbs.

Consider how and where you will be using your electric wheelchair primarily and this will give you a clear indication of what kind of wheelchair to purchase.

4. What Kind of Seat Size Do You Find Comfortable?

If you are going to be spending all day long in the electric wheelchair, then getting a full-size wheelchair with proper padding, seat cushions, a larger seat, armrests, and footrests, is crucial. All that extra cushioning will be well appreciated by your body after a long day in the wheelchair.

You can also get custom backrests and seat cushions made of contouring form, gels, and other material if you require extra support.

Also, full-size wheelchairs have a bigger battery ensuring that your wheelchair won’t run out of juice in the middle of your busy day. The weight capacity for full-size wheelchairs is usually 300 lbs.

5. Would You Need a Wheelchair That Tilts or Reclines?

Again, if you are going to be spending all day long on your wheelchair, you will need something that tilts or reclines (elevates the legs) so you can relieve pressure and increase blood flow. This can also help you manage a proper posture when in the wheelchair, as you don’t want your back muscles and stomach muscles to deteriorate after sitting for too long in a wheelchair.

6. What Kind of a Controller Would You Like?

The most common type of controller on the market is the joysticks and keypad one. The joystick controls the direction and speed. The keypad can control the speed and degree of recline and horn.

Most controllers require constant pressure to control and as soon as pressure is relieved, the electric wheelchair will come to a halt.

There are also other controllers to suit the physical condition of the user:

• Sip and puff – inhaling or exhaling into a tube
• Head control – switches added to either side of the headrest
• Foot control – controller on the footrest
• Chin control – controller near and operated by the chin
• Speech control – simple vocal commands

The electric wheelchair you choose has to suit you and your needs, not the other way around. Click the link if you are searching for ‘motorized wheelchair near me‘.

A Motorized Wheelchair Can Improve Your Quality of Life Greatly

As with most good things, you don’t know what you are missing until you get it. Once you have a motorized wheelchair, you will wonder how you ever lived without one before.

Don’t forget to check out related articles on quality of life and mobility on our website and keep learning!