If you are suffering from limited mobility, motorized wheelchairs are your best bet to go.
However, where good quality and comfortable wheelchairs can make your life better, a wrong choice can yield the opposite effects.
So, it would help if you were very careful in making your choice.
Generally, motorized wheelchairs are meant for long journeys since they do not require much physical strength to allow maneuverability.
The best way to decide which wheelchair to go for is to consult with your doctor, physiotherapist, or consultant.
After they have examined your condition, they are likely to refer you for an assessment with the local NHS wheelchair service, who have prevailed their names to suggest the best disability equipment for people in need.
If you are eligible, you will be loaned a wheelchair or provided adequate vouchers to help you with the cost of this expensive equipment.
However, if you aren’t, you can always hire or buy a wheelchair privately to give you more freedom of choice.
Therefore, before you purchase your electric wheelchair, here are some of the factors you must consider to make a bang for your buck.
Adjustability
This factor is the most crucial part for short or tall riders.
When looking for electric wheelchairs, make sure it meets the basic unit dimensions and construction ideal for your body.
This includes easy-to-use controls, adjustable seat levels, armrests, and extra footrests for people who wear leg braces.
The adjustability of your wheelchair can allow you to have the ever-needed comfort and flexibility that can make the whole traveling process effortless.
Safety Features
If you have a little bit of experience with wheelchairs before, I’m sure you’re aware of how difficult it is to take sharp turns without posing a risk to your health.
Considering this factor, you need to ensure your wheelchair has an anti-tip mechanism that allows making such complex turns and inclines.
Weight Capacity
Normally, you can expect wheelchairs to ensure up to 300 pounds of weight.
However, there are also heavy-duty wheelchairs available are designed specifically for people with greater weight and size.
You can either get them custom-made or look up heavy-duty power wheelchairs that can meet your demands.
Seating
Seating can make or break your journey.
Comfortable seating with adequate cushioning, seat padding, and headrest can quickly elevate your experience for longer journeys.
You can either opt for the fabric covering that is softer and more comfortable than leather or vinyl, but it can also add some solid bucks to your expense and are relatively harder to clean.
Nowadays, you can also opt for powered seats that can help you mount and dismount with ease.
You must also ask the retailer before purchasing your wheelchair whether the armrest can be removed or flipped up to allow mounting.
Is a Power Wheelchair Cheaper than a Scooter?
Power wheelchairs are generally more expensive than scooters.
Wheelchairs can be extremely expensive.
This is mainly because of the customization and comfort of its users.
For a person who does not like being restricted to a wheelchair, for example, there are inexpensive scooters that also cover an extensive range of functions, colors, and designs that provide aesthetics and yield numerous practical benefits like better navigating sharper turns that many disability vehicles lack.
