[Cecilysdaughter]

Hello

I am new and hope you don't mind me joining your forum as I really need some help. My 74 yr old mum was in a car accident in February and is now in a wheelchair for the foreseeable future. She has just come home from hospital and my dad is finding it hard to push the wheelchair so we need to look for a better chair for my mum. She doesnt have spinal injuries but smashed up both of her legs and her left arm has severe nerve damage. Hence I wasnt sure what to put for injury level. Sorry! I hope it is ok.

The problem they have is they live on a shared drive which is gravel and dad (80) cant push the wheelchair across it.

Mum was very active before her accident and whilst at the moment she is happy being at home, she will want to go out soon.

Can anyone recommend a good wheelchair that would help them ? We are thinking an electric one or all terrain (but they are so expensive) but tbh have no idea about good or bad makes and what we should look for. At the moment she needs neck and leg support. Would an ordinary electric wheelchair be ok? Is there any company that offers a try before you buy option?

Are there any good sites for second hand ones? Any makes to steer clear of?

She may walk again but will never walk unaided hence we though secondhand might be an option but not sure what the problems could be with this.

I would really appreciate some help from you guys.

We will almost certainly be looking for other aids such as stairlifts etc so any other advice would be welcomed. Sorry I have so many questions but we are at the beginning of the long road ahead. I hope you can help.

Thanks

This post has been edited by Cecilysdaughter: 04 September 2008 - 08:53 PM

[Webwych]

Hi

Where do you live? If you live in England, get in touch with your GP and ask them to refer you to your local wheelchair services department. It's usually based at a local hospital and they will see about getting her a wheelchair that fits her properly.

I gather that Age Concern in the UK are very helpful too, so have a look in your Yellow Pages for the number

[disjointed]

Cecilysdaughter, on Sep 4 2008, 04:50 PM, said:

The problem they have is they live on a shared drive which is gravel and dad (80) cant push the wheelchair across it.

Can anyone recommend a good wheelchair that would help them ? We are thinking an electric one or all terrain

Have you thought about having the driveway resurfaced?

[Kwag_Myers]

Wider tires. Take a look at this thread. This is pretty extreme, but I think you get the idea. I know there is one member here who works outdoors and has a chair with the coaster in the back. But I haven't been able to find what brand the chair is. I'll keep looking and post if I find it.

In the mean time, you may want to look through the Adaptive Equipment and Mobility forums for ideas.

[Cecilysdaughter]

Kwag_Myers, on Sep 5 2008, 11:50 AM, said:

Wider tires. Take a look at this thread. This is pretty extreme, but I think you get the idea. I know there is one member here who works outdoors and has a chair with the coaster in the back. But I haven't been able to find what brand the chair is. I'll keep looking and post if I find it.

In the mean time, you may want to look through the Adaptive Equipment and Mobility forums for ideas.

[Cecilysdaughter]

Thanks to everyone. Sorry, I havent worked out how to reply individually.

They have thought about the driveway but it is a private road rather than individual driveway (difficult to describe) so a lot to resurface.

We are in North Hampshire. She has a wheelchair provided by the NHS which is actually quite good (better than the standard ones) and it is fine for most of the time, just not on gravel.

I will try some mobility forums etc too. Hadn't thought about Age Concern, thanks.

I will also look at the other suggestions too.

Thanks again.
C

[Scribbler]

If its just the gravel drive, which you cant alter that's the main concern, how about laying something removable over the part you need to access? Its just an idea for starters. Your Ocupational Therapist should have helped you with this problem but I'm sure someone here will come up with the correct solution; everyones very friendly and helpful on this site.

Good luck and keep us all informed how you get on.

[Cecilysdaughter]

Well I have got my OH on to the case! He is an engineer! He has got hold of some chequer plate which will help to get to the car tracks on the gravel. I am not sure dad will manage it even so. Whichever way he goes he has to go over a lot of gravel! And it is on a slope. They could move but they are right in the centre of the village so if we can help them to cope we feel it is better for them to stay where they are.

Does anyone know about the motors you can attach to a standard wheelchair? Are they any good?

Have done some research on the all terrain and whilst I think it would be great for mum nipping round the village, dad wont be able to lift it into the car. I think they are hoping that mum will eventually be able to get into an ordinary car with help.

It is really hard to know what to do as we have no idea of the long term prognosis. They are not entitled to any financial support except attendance allowance so anything they buy has to come out of their savings (or ours). Hence why we dont want to make a mistake.

Oh just thought of something else LOL! If we did go for something like the all terrain or fatso tyres, would we have to have the doorways widened?

This post has been edited by Cecilysdaughter: 06 September 2008 - 06:52 PM

[Kwag_Myers]

Cecilysdaughter, on Sep 6 2008, 02:46 PM, said:

Oh just thought of something else LOL! If we did go for something like the all terrain or fatso tyres, would we have to have the doorways widened?

One option is to have a second set of regular tires. If you have the right kind of hubs, the tires come off with a push of the button.

[wheeliebear75]

This may seem like a silly question.....but......uh......have they tried backing in and out? On grassy and dirt areas I can go to where I need backwards easier than forwards, the back wheels used to push go over almost anything and the smaller ones are less likely to get stuck. Just a thought. Oh & the heavier the chair the harder to push or pull. Cardboard boxes cut to lay flat works great for sand and gravel.

[azx43]

I work and play outdoors, aznd go over all sorts of terrain. I have a Tilite Tr chair with Kenda mtn-bike tires, and it is the most rockin' combination. I really reccommend the light weight for anyone, especially those with reduced strength. I personally have good upper body strength, but I love the lightweight chair because I can go anywhere I want to. I 'vge seen small children and older folks who have a lightweight chair, and they seem to love them as well!

Wheeliebear's tip about backing up is a good one. The bright-orange plastic snow fencing laid on the ground also makes neat 'sidewalks', and is lightweight, too (I'm such a worrier about weight!!)

Another thing my friends and I came up with is a 'rickshaw'; two poles that go in or alongside the bars parallel to the big wheels and when held by a standing person, lift those pesky front wheels off the ground. The wheelchair then rolls on the back wheels only and is much easier to move, plus the standing helper doesn't hurt their back.