Wheelchairs

CHOOSING A WHEELCHAIR: WHY THEY'RE IMPORTANT & WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities use wheelchairs for a variety of reasons. Whether you need hospital wheelchairs or specialized equipment for your elderly loved one, it's important to understand the importance of finding the right wheelchair at the outset.

Here are a few important factors to consider

Mobility aid: A Wheelchair is a tool that can assist carers, family members, and disabled people or a patient with mobility problems;
Design: Depending on the design brief, a wheelchair's form and features will vary. The most important consideration is to satisfy the user's basic but frequently complicated demands and requirements while taking into account the financial constraints of the buyer;
Budget: Prices differ considerably. A manual wheelchair with a metal frame and two wheels for example, can cost as little as £90. Electric or ergonomic chairs for bariatric users may be several thousand pounds each.
Types: These come in a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from foldable or car transit wheelchairs to rigid chairs to bariatric chairs for the heavier client. Electric, paediatric that are smaller for children's use, and more exist.
Comfort: Typically, chairs for elderly or disabled have comfortable seating with armrests, four wheels, two on the front and two rear, and footrests that may be fixed or adjusted.
Safety: Safety is a key consideration for any wheelchair user or carer. If you have limited mobility or use an assistive device, it's important to know how to safely operate one of these chairs. A wheelchair has brakes to stop itself when travelling down and incline or transferring into the chair. Additionally, when using your chair in public places like shopping malls or airports where there may be a lot of foot traffic, wear your safety belt at all times. These are frequently included as part of a wheelchair or available separately.

WHEELCHAIR SERVICE

Wheelchair services set the stage for assessing individual user requirements, selecting an appropriate chair, training users and caregivers, and offering continuing support and referral to other services where needed. Feel free to get in touch using our contact details if you have more questions about assessment, rehabilitation or clinic - our team may be able to provide suggestions.

Also, if you are seeking more information relating to wheelchair services the NHS foundation trust has guidelines on walking aids, wheelchair and mobility scooters.

HOSPITAL WHEELCHAIR FAQ

YOU ARE IN A RESIDENTIAL OR NURSING HOME, DO YOU QUALIFY FOR A WHEELCHAIR?
Answer: This is subjective and depends entirely on patient requirements. Generally speaking, it depends on mobility. The hospital wheelchair is a mobility device for people who are unable to walk or have severely limited mobility or the ability to weight bear. These type of robust wheelchairs are often suitable for Care or Nursing home use as the are robust in design and can be used continuously in a care home setting.

WHAT TYPE OF WHEELCHAIR CAN YOU PROVIDE?

Answer: Feel free to browse the selection on this page which includes all types of hospital grade chair - self-propelled, lightweight and configurable - and get in touch if you require advice.